I agonised over one particular paragraph however – and you’ll get to read it in a moment. First though, let me explain why I cut it out. Bill is a controversial and divisive figure – many people find his passion and his concern for children compelling; many others find his burnout-baiting lifestyle and tough-talking style difficult.
Over the course of more than an hour, Bill said far more inspiring stuff than he said questionable. His love of God isn’t in doubt, nor is his passion for sound theology and even revival. A couple of times though, he would say something quite shocking. That’s who he is – but as we presented him to you on a cold unmediated page, I didn’t want one or two frankly crazy statements to totally undermine all the good ones.
In the interests of honesty and integrity however, here is perhaps the craziest thing he said. Sam and I had been talking to him about his high-octane lifestyle and no-nonsense way of dealing with people who get in his way. And so he told us this story…
“I can have my nice side: at times I can even be charming. For instance, once I’m driving picking kids up one day - we work six day weeks - I was driving the bus [and we were] blocked in traffic. Cars start honking and I have this megaphone. A guy is honking away and I stick my head out the window and shout (remember I am the senior pastor): ‘I am picking up kids you moron! Are you stupid?’ The guy gives me the finger. I look at my side mirror and I see that he is going to pass me on the sidewalk. It was one of those days where I thought: ‘not today buddy.’ I went across to him, picked up a garbage can lid, threw it at his windscreen and smashed it, right there and then. I did that in Jesus’ name.”
Now clearly, these are not quite the actions they tend to teach pastors at Bible College, and I’m not for one minute going to defend them. But the thing about Bill Wilson is: he’s a genuine modern-day prophet. He is calling the church worldwide to wake up to Jesus’ concern for children and for the poor, and he’s having to shout pretty loud in order to be heard. The Old Testament prophets were, by all accounts, largely difficult and often hard-to-get-on-with people. Ezekiel laid down outside a city for over a year. And of course, who can forget Elisha’s actions in 2 Kings 2:23-24?
‘From there Elisha went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, some boys came out of the town and jeered at him. “Get out of here, baldy!” they said. “Get out of here, baldy!” He turned around, looked at them and called down a curse on them in the name of the LORD. Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the boys.’
Two bears. A trash can lid through a windscreen. Wilson looks tame in comparison.
You can read the full interview in the latest edition of Premier Childrenswork. Bill Wilson is a little bit crazy. But I also think he might be one of the most important prophetic voices in today’s Church.
