During the Second World War, a phenomenon came to light that shines a light on the way that people perceive the link between certain behaviors and the results that they produce.
As the islands of the Pacific became the focus of one part of this world-wide conflict, American and allied troops advanced their way from one location to another. Through the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Micronesia and New Guinea and other areas, these armies would land on these islands, establish bases of operation and often give aid to the people in the surrounding areas. What were once primitive areas were transformed into fully functioning bases with airstrips, warehouses, control towers, ports and living quarters.
On a regular basis, ships would roll into port and off-load supplies. More often, however, cargo planes would fly in and deliver the much needed food, ammunition and other materials needed for a successful war to be fought. With each arrival of fresh supplies, the indigenous people would receive a portion that was used to appease them and keep their favor. After the end of the war, many of these bases closed up and the infrastructure was removed. This left these native populations with a sudden loss of goods that they had grown dependent on. In response, they began to imitate and emulate what they had seen the troops do, believing that in so doing, the planes and ships would return. Thus the “Cargo Cult” was born!
Australian anthropologist Peter Lawrence saw this unique behavior in 1949 in the Madang district of New Guinea. Persistent rumors abounded that a cargo ship was about to arrive in the harbor with huge consignments of goods for him, and the local people asked him to help them supervise the clearing of an airstrip. When he asked what the airstrip was for, he was told that cargo planes were about to arrive bringing tinned meat, rice, tools, tobacco and a machine for making electric light. And when he asked who was sending this cargo, they replied 'God in Heaven'.
What had happened was that the people became convinced that if they imitated the behavior of the troops, they would obtain the same results. The people busied themselves with clearing strips of land, to reproduce the airstrips and building “control towers” out of bamboo and grass. Some even built “communication headsets” from coconut shells and other materials. Fires were lit to become the lights to guide the planes in and “airplanes” were built of straw to “attract” the real planes to land. Even more amazing is that the people began to stage “drills” and “marches” with sticks for rifles and the insignias of the real troops painted on their bodies. Some even repeated the custom of afternoon tea, as practiced by the British, in an effort to better attract the loads of cargo that they believed were on the way.
What a sad situation, yet one that is repeated in the religious world today, where people imitate the actions of the authentic, believing that in the repetition of action they can get the same result and are participating in the same phenomenon. A prime example of this was observed in the services of the now disgraced charismatic preacher Todd Bentley. This Canadian born evangelist was famous for a number of practices; that of covering his body with tattoos and piercings, and hitting people with exuberant “BAM”s as they supposedly fell under the power of the Spirit of God. As these people fell to the ground, there was a team standing nearby to drape a cloth over the legs of those who have “fallen in the Spirit”. The roots of this action go back to the real experience of Apostolic women who, when being slain in the Spirit, were covered by a suit coat or by another cloth, to maintain a sense of modesty. These modern imitators of the Apostolic church are following in the footsteps of the Cargo Cult - believing that by following our practices, they will get the same results.
Another example of this is the charismatic preacher Jentezen Franklin. This speaker regularly takes messages from our wonderful United Pentecostal ministers, and passes them off as his own. He uses the same titles, tells the same jokes and tries his best to be just like an apostolic preacher - yet without the same results. Some examples of his plagiarized messages include Wayne Huntley’s message “The Miracle of More or Less” and Mike Williams’ message “Don’t Tear the Garments”: both preached in recent years at Because of the Times, a large meeting of Oneness Pentecostal Ministers in Alexandria, Louisiana.
These people, following in the footsteps of the Cargo Cult, are aptly described by Paul:
2 Timothy 3:1-5
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
Paul spoke of a people that would act like the church, imitate the ‘godliness’ of the church, but would not be in communication with the real power of the church.
As the church of the living God, we can be trapped into allowing these “Cargo Cults” to influence us in a negative way. Several decades ago, the “Latter Rain” influenced many in the Apostolic movement to the point that the legitimate use of the gifts of the Spirit was brought to a halt in many assemblies. Thus the imitators of the real thing caused the real thing to cease to function. One can hardly imagine the United States army ceasing to do their various functions because there are some cheap imitators in various locations making a mockery of what they had observed being done by the real thing!
We cannot allow what others are doing to cause us to draw back from being the church God has called us to be. It seems that everyone is trying to copy true Apostolic worship, our style of music and our enthusiastic preaching. As we do have the greatest singers, preachers and most exciting worship, we simply note that imitation is the best form of flattery and continue to be the church!!
Our greatest challenge remains in maintaining our authenticity. I believe we can achieve this in three ways: through prayer, through holiness and through remaining in covenant through the name of Jesus!
Concerning prayer, I am reminded often of a prophecy that is said to have been pronounced during the Azusa Street revival in 1906. It stated, “In the last days three things will happen in the Great Pentecostal Movement. There will be an over-emphasis on power, rather than on righteousness; there will be an over-emphasis on praise to a God to whom they no longer pray; there will be an over-emphasis on the gifts of the Spirit, rather than on the Lordship of Christ.” In order to maintain our true identity, we must be a people of prayer, of spirit-led worship and intense communion with the living God.
In regards to holiness, we need to be reminded over and over again that the core meaning of the word “church” (ecclessia in the Greek) is “called out ones”. Paul wrote in II Corinthians 6:17 "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you." The marks of separation upon our men and women can never descend to being interpreted as an obstacle to revival. I Peter 2:9: tells us "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:"
Lastly, we are the people of the name of Jesus. It is that name, through faith and baptism, that marks us as a unique people in the world today. Paul, in writing to the Colossians, made the connection between the Old Testament practice of circumcision and the New Testament rite of baptism, in Colossians 2:11-12 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. It was during the ceremony of circumcision that every son received his official name. I’m so glad that I have received the family name of God - the name of Jesus.
In a world of cheap imitators, let’s be the real thing. Let’s not allow the shoddy charlatans of the religious world to cause us to shrink back from our Apostolic heritage, doctrine and practices. We are the church so let’s just keep on being the church!!
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