MAVERICKS HAVE PUNCTUATED THE CHRISTIAN MOVEMENT SINCE ITS INCEPTION.
Martin Luther was not a surprise to God. The 300 people who gathered in Hot Springs, Arkansas in 1914 were considered mavericks by many in the church world. Those 300 people have now grown into the Assemblies of God Church which totals 3 million adherents in the USA with 12,000 churches. Worldwide there are 67 million people. Sounds like there is room for mavericks in the church.
Mavericks are accepted when they have an effective ministry and there is an obvious anointing on their lives.
We seem to be less tolerant with lower impact ministries and ministers.
Mavericks are not the same as rebels. Rebels defy the system and have no regard for spiritual authority. Mavericks challenge the system by pushing the boundaries of change, but they respect those in spiritual leadership.
MAVERICKS FOCUS MORE ON VISION AND EXPERIENCES THAN ON POLICIES AND PROCEDURES.
As a young church planter I was not tuned into the policies, methods and general culture of my denomination. My attitude was not rebellious, but I was thinking outside the box of the traditional Pentecostal church. We wanted to be a Pentecostal church with a worship experience and teaching style that made sense to the community. Our intention was to be a place where curious or searching or seekers hungry for spiritual truth could feel welcome and accepted. We chose the involved, believe and behave model versus the believe, behave and be involved model. Over a period of time I learned the importance of denominational structure and even became a denominational executive.
When I sat on the other side of the table it helped me make room for anointed mavericks.
MAVERICKS WALK ON A SLIPPERY SLOPE.
Anyone can slip and fall but mavericks seem to be more at risk because they are taking risks. Just ask the Apostle Peter. But Jesus taught us to work with mavericks who slip on the slippery slope. They make good preachers on the day of Pentecost.
SEEING MAVERICKS AS A CATEGORY MIGHT GIVE A NEGATIVE CONNOTATION BUT SEEING THEM AS INDIVIDUALS ENABLES US TO APPRECIATE THEIR VALUE.
When David volunteered to take on Goliath, he tried on Saul’s armor. He wisely said, “I cannot go in these…because I am not used to them…Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his Shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine”(1 Samuel 17:39,40). The rest is familiar history.
David also protected Saul, refusing to lay his hand on him because he was the Lord’s anointed (1 Samuel 26:9).
Mavericks may not always use the company armor, but they do kill giants and respect God’s anointed leaders.
We need people who will challenge the system to help keep those in charge from merely rearranging their prejudices and calling it thinking. May there always be room for anointed mavericks who inspire hope for the future.