I’ve had a few conversations with people from different contexts who have all been impacted by the testimony of Ted Herbert, Some of these conversations were with people who knew him and others were with people who didn’t know him but news of his testimony had reached their ears.

One of the things that it has helped me realise a little more fully is that many charismatics have what I would like to call a theology of escapism. Don’t get me wrong, I am a charismatic Christian, I believe that ALL the gifts are available for believers TODAY. I believe that the gifts of healing have never been withdrawn and I believe that miracles will follow the preaching of the gospel. I believe this because I believe that is what the New Testament teaches.

So what does Ted’s testimony have to do with causing me to think about charismatics and and a theology of escapism?

In Ted’s testimony I was deeply impacted by his surrender to God, his eternal perspective which gave him hope in the midst of suffering. Ted had no issue in believing that God could heal him, but his assurance of hope was not dependent upon it. I believe this is an indication that Ted knew deeply that this life was just a vapour and would soon pass. His hopes were not dependent upon this world or the fleeting hopes of this life. This is not to say that Ted did not value this life, he evidently did, but like Abraham, ‘he was looking forward to a city who’s builder and architect was God’ (Heb 11). Ted was surrendered to God, this was evident in his willingness to accept the fact that God could be glorified in his healing or in his sickness. This is something that many modern charismatics do not have yet it is imperative to the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus was absolutely clear, ‘In the world you will have trouble’, yet so much charismatic preaching tells us that Jesus has come to save us from trouble! Many are encouraged to ‘have faith’, faith to escape sickness, faith to escape difficulty, faith to escape financial hardship! Yet the only thing that most Christians with this theology manage to escape is the riches of knowing Christ and the power of his resurrection with such an intimacy that can only be experienced within the fiery furnace.

We charismatic and pentecostal types can be known to make a lot of noise about knowing Christ and the power of his ressurection, yet very little is made of sharing in his sufferings. However the two go hand in hand, you cannot have one without the other. I would suggest something of that depth of knowing Christ and the power of his resurrection was seen in Ted’s life, not just in the fair seasons, but in the midst of the stormy trial. The trial did not quench the light of Christ within him, it only caused that light shine all the more brighter.

That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death” (Philippians 3:10).