My thanks to Premier Christianity Magazine for the invitation to write this article. Below is the shorter version - you can find the full article here.
Provocateur. Prophet. Pioneer. Gerald Coates has gone home.
It’s hard to be neutral when it comes to Gerald. Unafraid
and unapologetic, there is no doubt he could cause one listener to become
apoplectic over his apparent criticisms, whilst another would be on their feet
applauding.
As Gerald’s biographer I learned to appreciate a man who
gave everything to the cause of Christ, uncompromising and generous hearted in
equal measure.
What can we learn from his life? Here are five lessons from
the life of Gerald Coates.
1.
IT’S ALL ABOUT KINGDOM
Gerald was spoilt for anything else. As a young man, leading what was one of the first of the modern-day house churches, he met with many fellow travellers. Their influence on his theology was considerable. There was a bride for a bridegroom. The Church was not to cower in the corner, waiting for some kind of secret rapture. They were called to be a radical people, influencing every area of society. To be God’s people, speaking and prophesying into a broken world.
It was this clear understanding of reaching every area of society that caused him unashamedly to pursue friendships with the rich and famous. He was criticised for this, but lives were changed because of his persistence. That same ‘never say no’ attitude brought him to worldwide influence, particularly with the March for Jesus.
He was extremely prophetic both as regarded national events and individual lives. He had an expectation that God would speak.
For Gerald, it was all about the Kingdom. The
Kingdom of God had come with Christ’s death and resurrection. The Church was called
to be Christ’s body, filled with the Holy Spirit and uncompromising in their
message of salvation.
2.
AVOID RELIGION
If the Church was to be the Church, it had to clean up its act. There is a difference between Christianity and religion and Gerald was hot on this. Spotting religious pretence at a hundred paces, he dealt with it ruthlessly.
Noel Richards, his worship leader and travelling companion for many years, recalls a meeting in New Zealand. The Saturday night had been glorious. The Holy Spirit moved, lives were changed. But come Sunday morning and things got very religious. Smart dress, whispered greetings and a Lord’s Table ornate in its arrangement.
Part way through his preach, continuing as
if nothing untoward was happening, Gerald threw off the white sheet from the
bread and wine, and began to eat the bread as he spoke. People were offended of
course. But that was the point. Traditionalists hated it. A whole new
generation of young Christians loved it.
3.
IT’S ONLY NOISE
How did Gerald deal with the inevitable criticism? He pretty much ignored it! In all my interviews for the book, I never came across a single time when he expresses a dislike for someone. A dislike for their religious practices, sure, but Gerald’s spirit was always pure as regarded the person themselves.
Remembering that criticism is only noise is a great way to deal with it. A great way to keep the main thing the main thing. To avoid hurt and bitterness. To maintain a clean heart.
There is a bit of a downside though – and
maybe another learning here. Gerald was largely unaware as to how upset others
were with his seeming criticism of their traditions and practices. But this
certainly affected others around him. Friends and fellow leaders were left to
deal with denominational executives accusing them of error or exaggeration.
4.
TELL THE STORIES
Gerald was a storyteller. Never a theologian, though widely read, it’s important to record that his seemingly off-the-cuff preaches were laboured over, well prepared and prayed through. There is no doubt though, that he is at his best telling stories and applying them to the Word. Often hilarious and many times at his own expense, he captured the listener. Too late for the hearer, they would inevitably realise that the story spoke to their own lives, their own attitudes, their own sins.
Later in life, Gerald would forget in
conversation, the stories he had previously told. And if you dared to
interrupt, he’d start again!
5.
LOVE WELL
Gerald leaves behind the love of his life, Anona, along with three sons and their families. He loved well. In an age when leaders fall, Gerald stayed faithful.
He loved his friends well too. The door was always open. The bottle of red wine was always available. Until his final illness, he would always reply to emails, always answer the phone: ‘Gerald here.’
Not everything Gerald did should be copied. That canary yellow suit. Really?
But we would do well to remember it is God’s Kingdom,
and as His children we have the authority to bring change to the world we live
in. Gerald did just that.
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