“But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” – 1 Corinthians 2:14

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After about a year’s worth of reading, researching, reviewing, reflecting and praying I will now post my conclusions about the challenging elements of the ministry of Smith Wigglesworth. (Certainly, the world has been waiting with bated breath!)

But, a legitimate question is – Why?

Why bother? Couldn’t I have spent my time in a more constructive pursuit? Along the way, I have asked myself this question but then I’m reminded that this is more about seeking God. To explore His character and how He works in us and through us. This has not been just an effort to legitimize the life and ministry of one man, it is about coming to grips with the ways of God and our charge as Christ-followers to be imitators of Jesus.

I certainly can’t say, as most everyone alive today cannot, that I know Smith Wigglesworth (1859-1947) from personal experience. But, based upon all that has been written of him, often by those who were closer to him, we get a consistent theme of his character – one described by the full Fruit of the Spirit.

Even having read about how he handled controversy over his ministry during his lifetime, he seemingly couldn’t have cared less about how people judged him. His sole concern was to discern the leading of God’s Holy Spirit and to act on that leading. He did not seek to please man. God’s reward was enough.

Based upon what I have read of the life of this plumber/evangelist, he became a devout follower of Jesus Christ, whose life was a great imitation of Jesus. After his conversion to Christ, he was known to be a tender-hearted, loving, caring, humble saint who was selfless in the pursuit of the ministry and relentlessly drinking in the word of God. He was never about flashy self-promotion but dedicated himself to reading and studying and living out the Word of God to an extent that few Christians I know of can ever claim.

The overwhelming body of evidence tells me that Smith Wigglesworth was an amazing modern-day Apostle of Jesus. How many Christians, in or out of Christian ministry, do I know that were totally dedicated to absorbing the word of God such that they would not even read another book or let a newspaper into their house to entertain messages contrary to God’s word?

You can react to say, “That’s just weird!” or “That’s too extreme!” But, I believe the Biblical message is that extreme dedication to God’s word and the steady filling of the Holy Spirit, along with boldness to step out with radical faith consistent with the Character of Christ leads to extreme results. Yet, very few of us are willing to go to such extremes.

That’s what I see in the life of Smith Wigglesworth – a radical faith along with an extreme reliance on God’s word and a steady filling of the Holy Spirit. This led to the reliable exercise of a spiritual gift to see into the spiritual realm. His was a dedication far beyond where many of us are willing to go.

Equal of Jesus?

In Matthew 10:37 Jesus says, “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” He goes on to say in verse 38, “And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.” These are extremely challenging words from Jesus.

Part of the challenge for Christ-followers is to dig deeper. Consider the word ‘unworthy’ that seems to reflect great offense by Jesus. He seems to be saying that He will have nothing to do with us, dismissively waving his hand signifying that we are not really his disciples. I am being rejected by Jesus because I am so pathetic and unworthy.

However, the Greek word for ‘worthy’ is axios—meaning the weight of something – something that has the equal weight of another thing of like value, like the equal values on both ends of a balanced scale.

What is Jesus saying? That we can’t be His equal in some way? How can we be equal with the Son of God? But, Jesus seems to be saying that he who does not take up his cross is not equal to Jesus. So, if we do take up our cross we can be equal to Jesus? Whoa! How can we possibly be His equal? We certainly can never be the equal to the Son of God – an equal member of the Triune God! Certainly not. How then?

Perhaps Jesus is saying that we will not be able to do what He did in His ministry while the Son of God chose to walk the earth as Son of Man – being guided by the Father and empowered by the Holy Spirit. We could never be able to fulfill the challenge Jesus posed in John 14:12 that we can do even greater things than Him.

So, I’d say it is not about being loved and accepted by God or being equal with God but about being fully empowered for the ministry that Jesus modeled for us.

My conclusion with regard to the Christ-likeness of Smith Wigglesworth:

Smith Wigglesworth, along with everything he determined to do to save the lost should be celebrated as an amazing work of God’s doing. One episode should not be focused on any more than another. Some things God does may challenge our notion of how God works but if nothing else it should then draw us deeper into searching out God’s wisdom on a matter. Each of the thousands of recorded healings of SW deserves equal honor TO GOD as Peter declared even of Jesus in Acts 2:22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst. . .”

I have no doubt Smith Wiglesworth fell short of the perfection of Christ. We all do. But, I venture to guess that his imitation of Christ was a lot closer than mine may ever be. Does that mean I’m loved any less by God? No! But, still, God keeps beckoning me to draw closer to the image of Christ and like Paul, if our desire is to grow in the things and the power of the ministry of Jesus, if nothing else, Smith’s life says “Imitate my dedication to imitating Christ.”

Also, when I look at the life of SW, I am not who God made SW to be, nor am I what the world made out of SW that perhaps God took what was meant for evil and used it for the good – to take bad and put it to good use. Genesis 50:20, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good. . .”

My conclusion concerning the Smith Wigglesworth kicking the baby controversy:

With all I have considered, my conclusion is that Smith Wigglesworth did not wind up and kick a baby like a football nor did he slam a baby against the wall. This is man’s irrepressible desire to elaborate and exaggerate an event to make it more intriguing and compelling and even salacious than it needs to be (as a writer I know of this temptation all too well). As if the version of the miracle described by SW’s great-granddaughter, Lillian De Fin wasn’t amazing enough? Also, it is not beyond our enemy in this world to take something of God and twist it into something that would then be used to divide the Body of Christ.

My conclusion with regard to the use of getting physical as a part of miraculous healing:

God used this particular man for all of who he was at that particular time and for those particular people in those particular places and in particular ways to 1. grab people’s attention, 2. stir up their faith, and 3. occasionally use physical means as part of invasive ‘machaira’ surgery Jesus alludes to in Matthew 10:34-36 – “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.”

Further thoughts on Jesus words in John 14:12  “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.”

Some of the alternative translations of the Greek word meizon translated as “greater” are – larger, elder, stronger, more (In James 4:6, it is often translated as more). Could it be that Jesus may be challenging the church (body of Christ) and even his individual disciples to do things beyond what He had done?

I believe Jesus is actually encouraging his followers to not be limited to just the things he did. Throughout the Bible there are examples of God working through His people in miraculous signs and wonders that could be described as ‘greater’ than any of the miracles performed by Jesus.

Yet, for myself, I insist upon the qualifier that we strive to maintain the Biblical Character of Christ in all we do. Of all the things Jesus may have “emptied” Himself of when he came to earth as stated in Philippians 2:7 (NASB) – “but emptied Himself by taking the form of a bond-servant and being born in the likeness of men.” He certainly did not give up His very character as God – that God’s goodness, righteousness, and truth would be fully displayed in the flesh. (Colossians 1:15 – The Son is the image of the invisible God …..)

So, with all that said, are you going to see me anytime soon punching or kicking someone who needs healing? No, I can’t imagine it.

But, is my ability to hear and see God’s guidance dedicated enough to be certain I know that it is God’s voice saying, “Do it out of my love” and to proceed with the faith of Abraham to know it will not hurt but only heal? Whew! I have a long way to go if that is my heart’s desire.

For myself, as I pursue growing in Christ I feel certain that it requires stepping out into new territories that may be awkward and strange (Faith). But, I will have to be pretty darn certain of God’s voice if I hear him say, “Give that demon a good whack” and there just happens to be a human body in the way.

So, who am I to judge?

Every healing work documented in the Gospels was unique and only the author knows with certainty exactly why those unique elements were required. (BTW – based on the Apostle John’s estimation, the 37 or so miraculous episodes recorded in the Gospels were only a taste of that which could fill volumes to fill up the world.) Jesus saw, listened, and obeyed to follow the Father’s instructions. That is what I see of the heart of Smith Wigglesworth.

As I have already mentioned, I don’t believe it was Jesus’ intent saying in Matthew 7:1 “Judge not, that ye be not judged” for us to ignore our need to make judgments about the things (physical & spiritual) that challenge us in life. The ministry of Smith Wigglesworth should challenge us. This is fair game – to look at others’ words and actions, not necessarily to condemn but to decide where God stands on a matter and how we are to be led. But, it is only a righteous judgment if we consider our own personal challenges to becoming all God wants us to be and look to God’s guidance and wisdom on these matters.

That leaves me with a major takeaway: Yes, I should follow the character of other mature Christ-followers as they are consistent with Christ. But, I don’t believe we are called to imitate how God leads others in the exercise of spiritual gifts. It is the Holy Spirit who guides and directs us in the exercise of spiritual gifts that are tailored uniquely for each individual.

Just because SW may have been led to be physical on occasion does not mean I have a license to do the same. Who do we look to? Jesus as our example, the Father’s leading and the Holy Spirit’s power are unique to who we are and how God calls and directs us.

Unless I am determined to imitate Jesus to the extent I am fully dedicated to only act on what I see and hear the Father do, empowered by the Holy Spirit, how can I judge someone whose life seemed fully dedicated to just that – regardless if he got it right every time?

Still, that God can even use my poor imitation of Jesus continues to amaze me as I am reminded in Ephesians 2:13 – “for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose.”

Concluding with Lillian De Finn’s response to my posts (Great Granddaughter of Smith Wigglesworth)

Hi David,

. . . I’m sure you have read how as a young believer Smith Wigglesworth fasted for ten days specifically I believe to humble himself before the Lord with regard to his quick temper. The Lord met him, and Grandma Polly said after that he never fussed in the house or complained about his food. So, I find it hard to hear that people would contribute his unusual behavior to a violent temper. My mother said he was always compassionate and gentle.

I believe people are genuinely looking for the secret of Smiths’ power. It is found in:

Luke 3:16 – John answered, saying to all, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

It’s not Smith Wigglesworth’s anointing that we need. It is the baptism of the Holy Spirit and fire. Jesus said in Luke 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me ………

……… Lately the Lord has been challenging me to live in this scripture:

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

I trust you will be able to distinguish the truth from the exaggerated stories. The good report from the false report and the pure and lovely from anything harmful to his reputation. Find the praiseworthy and meditate on these things.

Yours in His Service, Lilian de fin

To the above I say – Thank you Lillian and AMEN!

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Because of the continued interest in the ministry of Smith Wigglesworth, I have combined the posts with additional material into a book. Feel free to enjoy the posts or purchase the new book on Amazon.