Love Has a Face: Mascara, a Machete and One Woman’s Miraculous Journey with Jesus in Sudan. The title had caught my eye, as well as, the compelling picture on the cover: Michele Perry surrounded by Sudanese children. Perry takes the reader into the world of her missionary efforts in the Sudan and surrounding territories. Her self-described purpose of the book is to encourage the reader to “…take a journey down an unpaved road into yielding a little more to His heart every day until our vessels are so transformed that we become the message we are called to bring.”
I might as well state it up front: On one hand I was touched with the stories of her work; on the other, I was sorely disappointed in her book. From the reading of this book one quickly realizes that Michele Perry is extremely mystical and dependent on “supernatural” leading which materialize in visions of God and dances with Christ. She speaks of burning lights, time travel, and even a well-stocked heaven in which various limbs, organs and even spinal columns line shelves awaiting miraculous implementation. Sadly she speaks of healing as accomplishing the will of Christ here on earth…and then only seeing maybe “90%” of those desiring healing receiving it. It doesn’t seem her God can wholly accomplish his will. She, perhaps ignorantly but in heretical fashion, describes Jesus asking her if it was “okay” to keep a young girl that had died so that she would “grow up in her Father’s house”. In chapter 8 she closes the chapter by a muddled musing of what the Kingdom is really all about – a musing that leaves the reader wondering if she truly understands the Gospel at all.
There is no doubt in my mind that Perry is a compassionate person and touching many lives in her work in the Sudan. There is clearly communicated a need for additional workers to go and reach these people dying and stepping off into their eternal destinies. Sadly, Perry may be confusing a social gospel with the true Gospel. I pray that she comes to clarity in her relationship with Christ – one based on the clear truth He has communicated in His word.
While searching for Michele Perry’s contact information to thank her for writing such an impactful book, I saw your book review. I might as well state up front I couldn’t be more disappointed in your review.
Obviously doctrinal differences in having a relationship with Jesus Christ, the Father, and Holy Spirit are apparent from your writing, but I am totally amazed by your putting Perry’s testimonies under “social gospel”. If she is indeed using a social gospel instead of the authentic Good News of the Kingdom of God then she is in good company with Jesus as he fed the thousands, walked on water, translated through walls, Philip who was translated after ministering to the Eunich, Daniel who visited with lions, Moses whose face shown from the Glory of God, Peter, whose presence (shadow) brought healing.
She never once claimed to be able to heal anyone that was around her. That ability was only delegated to Jesus though He certainly left the teaser that greater works shall you do. Trying to understand why everyone is not healed is our problem, not God’s. However, in love, why would you ever stop pursuing all that Jesus has for others? Because we don’t see healing 100% of the time should we never pray for the sick, should we never go and do likewise? Is one person healed out of 100 not a good enough reason to pray for 100?
For Perry to stop and ask the Father if He wanted to raise a baby from the dead or take it home, is called prayer. Prayer is a two way conversation, and because the language is not liturgical, it somehow has become offensive to you. Whether people express themselves in musings or cloaked in theological doctrine, it will always be exposed or demonstrated by its fruit. Perry demonstrates fruit. There are healings, there are miracles, there is deliverance, there are salvations.
Jesus’ accusers were always the learned Pharisees. His accusers were not the blind that were healed, the lepers that were cleansed, the demoniacs that were set free. When Christians separate themselves from the full gospel, they demonstrate a religion that has a Savior who is not alive and is not the same yesterday, today, and forever. Perry is a testimony of believing that Jesus has not changed.
Jesus did nothing without first checking in with His Father (prayer). He demonstrated exactly what His Father wanted, a clear indication of the Father’s love and will. Perry checks in with Her Father and carries out His will, obviously not perfectly, but in pursuit of His will. If there is error it is not from disobedience or being in error of the “true gospel”. She is following the footsteps of Jesus.
When you boil down miracles and healing to mystical experiences you are agreeing indeed that the Godhead is divine that it takes supernatural power, love, grace, mercy, etc to see and walk in the manifest presence of God. In fact if you are doing it without the supernatural, you are doing it in your own strength…and that in the Bible its called “works”.
If in fact you have sat behind your desk, in front of piles of books and have witnessed and participated with the Lord in any healings and miracles in your own strength, then I would be very concerned that the gospel was wrong…that we could do greater things than these just by thinking, arguing, and judging. If in fact you have not stepped out in faith to pray a prayer of healing or miracles or deliverance, then that would not be pleasing to God. Without faith it’s impossible to please Him.
I would challenge you to go to the Sudan, Haiti, Chile, or Mozambique and see what part of the gospel you are willing to deny then. I have been in short-term missionary in Israel, Mozambique and Mexico and have seen and experienced much of what Perry described. For me, her book brought renewed passion for the reality of the fullness of God and a reminder that He has bestowed on us that same fullness…that demonstration of that incomparable great power for us who believe.
I write this with much trepidation, because I am not an apologist. I don’t study to argue my faith, I do my best just to follow where God calls and take that risk that when He wants to touch someone’s life in salvation (Sozo–healed, saved and delivered) that Jesus can extend that to anyone, the addicts, the hopeless, the demonic, the orphan, the widow.
I know Michele does not need defending from people that do not believe in the true Gospel, the Good News. She walks in enough love to live above argument. She demonstrates the answer.
My concern is that when there are misguided “reviews” of the authenticity of what it’s like to demonstrate His will to be done on heaven as it is in earth, that people again are left with a powerless Jesus, who is only allowed to (supernaturally) transform a heart for eternity, but not allowed to relieve suffering, pain, hopelessness, and yes poverty….(Jesus was not afraid of wealth)…only if it comes from our own good works.
If after you have shared your testimony that it has stirred others to pursue a life of demonstrating the reality of walking like Christ, then I am only confirming that it takes a demonstration, action, intimate relationship with an all powerful, all knowing, all loving God. If however, people, after listening to your testimony are left with a watered down gospel who only have hope for change when they die, are continually feeling judged, like a failure, that they can never run this race without focusing on sin, just need to work harder and then more harder, then I would encourage you truly follow the way of Grace.
Perry can be accused of this: she has gone where she believed the Spirit of God was; she has put herself in places of great risk; she has fed hundreds with very little; she has created dreams for children in hopeless conditions; she had been used as a conduit of the healing and miracle power of God, she has loved at her own expense of health (and learned that that was not her burden, responsibility to carry); she has presented the True Gospel to thousands that would not have not known Him….because no one else dared.
I pray I have that same accusation…it’s called a testimony.
Mark, I have written this, erased it, reread your review. I truly am not trying to be offensive though I am offended. When I see other Christians putting themselves above others in judgment and separating themselves as the only ones that have it right, it makes me angry. It doesn’t represent the love of God. I guess my goal in that is to be angry and sin not.
What I see in you is a loving father, devoted to using your giftings as a thoughtful, mindful, apologist for the Savior. You have great depth and a passion for learning. You love to understand, sift, and solve.
I pray increase in wisdom and revelation so that you may know him better (as I also pray for myself). I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you. I feel that He has even greater things coming for you.
God loves the way you pursue wisdom and understanding and your passion for truth. Paul walked that same walk as Saul/Paul.
I also pray that you would be in health even as your soul prospers and that your back would truly be strengthened and healed with no reoccurring or degenerative problems.
Karen,
Thanks for your reply – and your time and effort in posting it. I appreciate your passion, and after re-reading my post, must reiterate that I never mentioned that God doesn’t heal or work in miraculous ways. I definitely believe in the supernatural, for that is what Scripture teaches. However, I do not hold to the specifics that I have mentioned that Michelle Perry promotes as biblical. I have traveled to other countries and experienced the extremes of poverty and riches, both materially and spiritually. I cannot endorse material that is anti-biblical in nature, no matter how well-meaning the author may be. Thank you for your well wishes. I appreciate your prayers for continued guidance from God.
Grace,
~Mark