Having transitioned from one thing to the other has left a hole in my heart. It is like an old friend who has moved away. The incomplete feeling I am dealing with leaves me asking more questions than I want answers from.
yet, the sense of drive and desire to mingle with and get to know those who are not in the fold fills my heart with joy.
it is as if I am in a foreign place with the opportunity to do something new.
it is a shame that I did not want to spend time with lost folks before. It is a shame that most of my time in my other work was spent soothing folks with issues about hurting feelings rather than dealing with truth. It is a shame we spend more time calming pissed off Christians than telling pagans of the love of the father.
it is a shame we have turned a movement into a destination.
it is exciting we get to do what we do...Infiltrating the area for the King...
new challenges. New passions. Old mandate for the newness.
I am ashamed of my self for then. Excited about now.
8 comments:
Paul, an apostle by the commandment of God, never walked away from his call to God's people. Even when Paul was feeling abandonned at the end of his life, he writes "At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me; may it not be counted against them."
If ever there was a time for Paul to throw stones in anger, it was then. But Paul understood God's people through the light of Scripture. He understood that we are in process. Teaching, reproof, correction, training are the work of God's Spirit as He teaches us through His Word. That is why Paul urged each of us to rebuke those in the body as fathers, brothers, mothers, sisters. Because we're family.
Those angry Christians with hurt feelings...they are your family. Dealing with truth involves people. It will always be that way. If we are fulfilling the Great Commission, lost people should become saved people. And we will still have to deal with them after they become part of the fold.
Paul committed his life to those people with whom he shared the gospel. It was not an easy road, but Paul fought the good fight, he finished the course, he kept the faith. All throughout his letters, you hear Paul's love for God's people, those who were saved and those who were yet to be saved.
Our teaching should have the same goal as Paul's teaching: LOVE from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Love from God brings about love for God and ALL people.
In Titus 3:8, Paul writes, "This is a trustworthy statement and concerning these things (those things are found in Titus 3:4-7) I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and profitable for men." God wants His people to be careful to engage in good deeds, not so as to be saved, but because we are saved. The world is watching. Our lives should adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in EVERY respect. (Titus 2:10)
Romans 15:1-3..."Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves. Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification. For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me."
Your fight is not with people, saved or not. We are not your enemies. You have left a wake of hurt feelings and confusion among members of God's family. I don't believe God is quite as quick to dismiss that as you seem to be.
"I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service." 1 Timothy 1:12
God is looking for faithful servants who will take Him at His word...the whole council of Scripture from Genesis to Revelation and, in humility, live it out everyday so that those around us will see our changed lives and want to know this great God whom we serve.
Paul also shook the dust off of his feet when dealing with the pharisees (church people) and determined to go to the gentiles (unchurched)
hmmmm. . .sound familiar? The majority of the american church people today are pharisees - consumers and prideful. How can you minister to the lost when most of your time is spent dealing with spiritual babies who have been on pablem for far too long.
You are right LOVE is the greatest of the commandments. We also must shew the overgrown eaglet out of the nest so he will learn to fly. Instead of coddling them and letting them become so self involved. - that too is LOVE.
The Pharisees were Jews physically but not spiritually as Jesus consistently pointed out. While many of them did not embrace Jesus as their Messiah, some of them did accept Christ. We use the term Pharisee to refer to someome who thought he was right with God on his own merit. Paul did not walk away from God's family members, but from the religious who would not accept God's provision for salvation.
(But we see Paul's heart for his countrymen in Romans..."For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh." If Paul could have been separated from Christ so that his fellow Jews would receive Him as their Messiah, Paul would have done that. What love and devotion, even towards undeserving prideful Pharisees.)
While many people sitting in the churches in America on any given Sunday come in their own righteousness, some of us come to God in Christ's righteousness and not our own. I personally know many people who have been left in the wake of these stones. They are not Pharisees but rather people who know and love the Lord and have been battered and bruised by these stones. They are members of God's family, who cry real tears and bleed when cut. It is time to be heart broken over that.
God's answer to Christian infancy has never changed. "Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with GREAT PATIENCE and instruction." In order for this to happen in our churches, we desperately needs strong, godly leaders. Men who fulfull the qualifications of 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1.
"It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money. He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?), and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil. And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil."
"For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you, namely, if any man is above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion. For the overseer must be above reproach as God's steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain, but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict."
There is nothing wrong with aspiring to the office of overseer. God commends that. It is what is required of the man who aspires to that office that is so important. Above reproach, peaceable, gentle, loving what is good, sensible, devout...just to pick out a few. These are not God's suggestions for His leaders. A man must fill ALL of them to lead God's people. God is not talking about sinless perfection, but He is setting forth a pattern of life that the leaders in Christ's church MUST meet.
We want to throw stones at the baby Christians in the pews. (Yes I know some in the pews are not saved, but MANY of us are.) Maybe the men stepping into the pulpits need to better understand what God expects His overseers to be as they lead His sheep. A wise man recently said on any given Sunday in the church in America, the sheep look up and leave hungry. How very sad. Shepherding God's flock is serious business. Their health, growth, and well being depends on the shepherd. As God's undershepherd, any man who steps into that position will give an account for how he cared for God's people. It is rather sobering what God demands of His leaders.
As Christians, we must know the Word, we must live according to the Word. Then and only then can we teach the Word.
Paul going to the Gentiles was God's idea, not Paul's. It was always God's plan, God was going to make one man of the two: Jews and Gentiles. This was a mystery that was hidden that God used the apostle Paul to make known. While Paul was the Apostle to the Gentiles, Peter was the Apostle to the Jews. The Gospel is for both groups. Paul taking the Gospel to the Gentiles (unchurched) did not remove his responsibility to care for them God's way once they came into the flock
In 1 Timothy 2, Paul says, "First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of ALL men." All means all: saved people, lost people, churched people, unchurched people, mature Christians, immature Christians. God loves them all and wants all of them to know Him and to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Exactly - that is the shape of the collective church today. Not everyone, but a large majority 'think' they are in Gods family by keeping this strict list of rules and berating anyone who doesn't see as they do. Or happens to not agree.
For some reason people think that we ministers cannot bleed or be hurt by the things said and done. I know of more ministers that have been driven away by mean and backbiting church members or worse two-faced members that smile to your face and then are raking you over the coals because they did not get their way. . .
Who are you to judge this guy who obviosly believes God is calling him to minister to the lost and hurting. Those who don't hear the Word every sunday am, pm & wed. How is that wrong may I ask you??
Just as the Disciples had a hard time accepting going to the Gentiles. Church people have a hard time accepting that God may call someone to leave ministry in it's traditional form and go work a job ministering to those he comes in contact with.
You may want to try showing this guy some love and understanding. In reading his blogs I think he is a very humble man who just wants to serve the God he loves. Obviously the friends you know that have been hurt by him need to adhere to the scripture about going to a fellow brother that has hurt you and making it right. He will never know if they stay anonymous who he may have hurt inadvertantly.
You can quote scripture all day long. It is good to know the scripture, but if you don't do it out of love and there seems to be an underlying meanness here. You are no better.
Deep Bro!
I needed that. It is a special privilage to hold the key to salvation. I am also ashamed that I have "hidden" it from those who need it most. I am also encouraged that today I have the oportunity to share it with someone. Pray for me, I am praying for you.
God Bless You,
Pan
Church members who deal with their pastors in a such as way as you point out are to be dealt with according to God's word. That was happening to Paul in his time as well. That is nothing new. The sins of the flock are never an excuse for the sins of the pastor.
I don't believe that a man who walks away from "traditional" ministry is necessarily walking away from His call to God's people. My point is if a man decides to lead a flock, be they corporate executives, HOMELESS, mechanics, bikers, whomever they may be, it is a huge responsibility. While the members may not have any idea of God's standard, as their leader, you better know and live and teach God's standard. The ministry, whether traditional or not, MUST BE BIBLICAL.
The New Testament is full of people with problems. Rich people, poor people, strong people, weak people, people teaching the right doctrine, people teaching false doctrine, people who fit in, people who do not fit in. If we are in ministry, we have to deal with people.
Paul stayed committed to those people in Ephasus, Colossae, Phillipi, Galatia, and many other places throughout his ministry. Difficult people with difficult problems. If a pastor feels God has called him to move on to new places with new people, he should not leave behind messes for other Christians involved to clean up.
i would like to publically thank the Holy Spirit for His leading and guidance.
however, since you are not him, it would be prudent to know all the facts before your judgement is passed.
since you obviously have a desire to share your love with me...let me share mine with you.
when one asks Jesus for an opportunity to get back to the original reason he, me, was called to, it is reasonable to follow that direction. bad descisions have been made. but through it all has been an honest attempt to follow the jesus I fell in love with. asking him to help me with the lack of desire in my heart to play the game of ankle biting has led me to become bivocational.
not in the tradidtional sense, but since i asked for the non tradional, my prayer have been answered.
so as the plank in your eye hits the wall by your screen, know this. my heart is clean on this one. I asked to be taken off the starting line up and placed in the minor leagues.
understanding my place has taken some time, but I have realized my role. and as I seek to follow His leading it is joyful for me to be a believer again. joyful to follow again. joyful to talk with people again. joyful to sew seeds again.
it is just a shame that it took me this long to get it right.
but hey...thanks for joing me on this journey. it helps me rethink my descisions and helps me to work through them as i write it out.
and youknow what? I can honestly say that i love you. could not do that not so many months ago.
your brother in Christ...
To the Angry Anonymous,
Sounds like you are the one that has been hurt - why don't you contact this man and get it right - seems to me you are the one in the wrong here. And are too prideful to go to him and get it right. I will be praying for you.
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