The Belringer

Introduction Why are people so blind and foolish? You start with an earnest and determined goal, led by the Holy Spirit. But now you try to reach those goals by human means.

The traditional church had caused the Morris family so much pain that, in the early ’90s, they stepped away from religion altogether. Barrett remembers the turning point in his own journey. After years of searching for God’s Kingdom, he finally reached a place he would never forget.

He described it this way: It was the most rewarding time of my life, but also the most painful. I was tired of hearing preachers boast about their success and how they were reaching the world for Jesus. Churches painted themselves as the Kingdom of God, but in reality, they were façades. I couldn’t be part of it anymore. I chose God and His Spirit as my leaders. For me, the institutional church was over.” For a while, Barrett had no congregation. Though he missed some aspects of church life, he wanted no part in “playing church.”

During that season, a friend kept telling him about a small group in town. Barrett resisted at first, but eventually curiosity won. His first visit was awful—the music was loud, the worship seemed endless, and people lifted their hands and clapped. He was shocked. In his old circles, Charismatics were considered dangerous, even demonic. He had spoken against them before, so his first instinct was to leave and never return. But then the preacher spoke. His words carried the truth Barrett had long believed but never heard from a pulpit. The message stirred his spirit. Despite his dislike for the worship, Barrett knew he would return. That was his first taste of the Kingdom church he had longed for. The following week, he arrived late, skipped the worship, and only heard the teaching. Over time, though, he began to appreciate the “wild” services. There was no rigid program—everything seemed led by the Spirit. Sometimes people shared words of knowledge, sometimes they spoke in tongues with interpretation, and occasionally prophetic words touched lives. At times there was laughter, at other times tears. Sometimes the preacher never spoke at all, and the congregation simply waited on the Spirit. Spontaneous songs would rise, and everyone joined in. What Barrett once despised became the highlight of his week.

He also noticed the people were genuine. They prayed boldly for one another, met needs without hesitation, and lived with joy. Slowly, the Holy Spirit reshaped Barrett’s old beliefs. He embraced the life of this Spirit-led community. The midweek gatherings were significant. Instead of traditional prayer meetings, they met in homes as “cell groups”—mini-churches modeled after the early Church believers. The people worshiped, studied Scripture, shared openly about their struggles, prayed for one another, and looked for ways to serve the community. It was Kingdom living at its best. Word spread. Some came and stayed, others couldn’t move past their old traditions. But the church grew steadily, one person telling another.

Lives were transformed, miracles happened, and people found joy in serving. Barrett had read about the Kingdom church in Scripture, but now he was living it. It was a season of spiritual prosperity. He hoped it would last forever—but with growth came challenges.

The Church That Disappeared Eight or nine years into the church's life, growth brought change. What had once been free and Spirit-led began to take on structure. Leadership formed a government, and spontaneity gave way to rules. If someone had a word from the Lord, it now had to pass through an Elder. If a topic arose during Sunday School, it had to be cleared by the pastor. Spontaneous songs faded, prophetic words grew fewer, and laughter or tears were no longer welcome interruptions.

Spirit-led dancing disappeared. Eventually, youth and leaders were required to sit in the front rows, showing outward expressions of worship as examples for the rest of the congregation. Home groups, once vibrant and Spirit-driven, became scripted. Leadership introduced programs, and every group followed the same outline. The Spirit’s freedom was slowly squeezed out. The church expanded as far as its building would allow, then constructed a new worship center on the edge of town.

With the new building came new staff, and long-time servants were quietly replaced. The phrase “We are going in a different direction” became common, leaving faithful members confused and hurt. One of the church’s central doctrines — baptism in the Spirit with the gift of speaking in tongues — became law. No one could serve in leadership without it. For the youth, this law became a mockery. Youth retreats were powerful times of worship and fellowship for the young, but attendance required speaking in tongues. Children desperate not to miss out “received the Spirit” just to go. Many had no idea what it meant, only that it was the price of admission. Slowly, the ministry that had once been alive with the Spirit began to resemble a business. Laws multiplied, and those who broke them were reported. Rebukes were handed down, and expulsions carried out by delegated leaders. Control replaced freedom. Man’s authority drowned out the Spirit’s voice. Barrett felt the loss deeply. The church he had cherished disappeared before his eyes. Yet he still called those years the most rewarding of his life. The night of the new building’s dedication was the breaking point. Amid the pageantry, Barrett heard a familiar voice whisper: “You don’t belong here; this is not for you.” He left immediately, tears streaming as he drove home. He pleaded with God, asking why he must leave the church he had longed for all his life. The answer was clear: “The church you love is gone.” In time, Barrett accepted the truth. What had begun as a radiant picture of the Bride of Christ had become an imposter. Thankfully, God moved him and Beth onward — not to attend a church, but to be the church. Barrett often reflected on Paul’s words: “Oh, foolish people…why are you so foolish? You started in the Spirit but now try to reach goals through human plans.” The question haunted him. Was it even possible to have a church wholly led by the Spirit? He and others wrestled with the idea, but no clear answer came. Growth seemed to demand rules. Success seemed to require structure. Yet why so many? Why must Spirit-led freedom always give way to human control? The early church had few guidelines. Discipline came directly from the Spirit, as with Ananias and Sapphira. Has the Spirit lost His power, or do men believe they know better? History shows a pattern: man finds “better ways” than God intended. Leaders neglect the Spirit and rely on their own understanding. From the outside, everything looks remarkable. But beneath the surface, man’s kingdoms are built on time, money, and loyalty.

Charismatic leaders surround themselves with loyal followers, gaining absolute control. Without meaning to, churches drift into cult-like assemblies. Barrett grieved this reality. What had once been a Holy Spirit-led Kingdom Church became something else, with laws and man-enforced mandates. Heaven weeps when man’s plans replace God’s Spirit.