Something I've been pondering. I keep thinking back to a statement my ex-father in law said, when I invited him to come to a service with us. He had been bouncing around from one congregation to another, finding fault with this or that. His answer stuck to me like glue. "I won't go anywhere that my guitar isn't welcome".
He didn't mean just congregations that didn't believe in using musical instruments in the worship service, but rather anywhere he couldn't personally get up front and play and sing. That was his primary prerequisite. That made me wonder...who is he REALLY serving?
Of course over the years I've heard of individuals getting upset, not over a preacher not sticking to the Bible, but because a particular sermon included certain verses that really stepped on some toes.
I've heard of congregations splitting because someone accused the preacher of something or another--the preacher was judged guilty until proven innocent. I've heard of people leaving a congregation to follow a preacher when he moved on. I know of some folks that, when the preacher found some vulgar notes their kids had been passing at the service and confronted the parents, rather than discipline the kids they got mad at the preacher and went elsewhere. Even heard of one split that stemmed over an argument of whether or not the ladies should wear a hat to the service on Easter. Etc. etc. etc.
Who are these people REALLY serving? So, who do you serve? If you really like a preacher's style, will you give him a pass when he strays from the Word, or even preaches something you know is false? Will you trust your eyes and/or ears more than the Word of God? Will you get mad and leave if a sermon focuses on scripture that steps on your toes? If you aren't allowed to take a certain position when you want it, will you pack up and go elsewhere?
Rhetorical questions of course. Just something I've been mulling over in my head for a while now.
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"We can have no '50-50' allegiance in this country. Either a man is an American and nothing else, or he is not an American at all."-- Theodore Roosevelt
A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left. Ecclesiasties 10:2
The last four letters in American..........I Can
The last four letters in Republican........I Can
The last four letters in Democrats.........Rats
That something to give some honest thought to. We sing the old song, "where he leads me I will follow". Sure we will!! When we hear Christ preached, we will say, here is water, WHAT does hinder me? When we read, "forsake not the assembling of yourselves together" we want even argue about what day of the week he meant. There will be no crying of legalism when the scripture says it is our whole duty fear God and keep his commandments. We will walk with our brother a second mile, how much more will we walk with God? If it offends our weak brother we will eat no more meat as long as the world stands, how much more will we lay aside things for our God? We shun every APPERANCE of evil don't we?? If there is any question concerning doctrine, morals, ethics, ect. don't we always err on the side of caution rather than looking for a loophole of justification?
Cast judgement upon our brother? Never! Get offended when he tells us the truth? Unheard of! God is our shepard, we are his sheep, we never question his leading. We are content to graze in the pasture of his choosing. Drink of the still waters where he takes us to drink. Our shepard makes ALL the decisions for us, we just follow him without question because we know his voice.
Can I hear an Amen?
Back many years ago, I worked in a furniture factory as an upholsterer. I got in some lively debates with co-workers that were working near me, and others on breaks (you think it gets lively here? not even close!) I remember one fellow who bragged about being an "adult Sunday school teacher and substitute preacher". Nice enough guy, had a lot of pride, and a lot of hot air. I was in my early 20's, even more ignorant than I am now (hard to believe huh?), but he couldn't debate with me. His final words to me concerning the Bible were "YOU HAVE BEEN BRAINWASHED AND INDOCTRINATED!!!" and he refused to ever discuss religion with me again. He got mad when I asked questions he couldn't answer. But anyway........
The fellow I thought about was one of the janitors at the factory. A very nice, quiet, soft-spoken fellow and we talked a lot. He was also a preacher for a small congregation. I was familiar with his religion, and brought up topics where we should have differences (hard to debate things you agree on). He always agreed with me, even pointed out things I had missed. We discussed the religion he represented, and I asked how the congregation felt about his beliefs. He said "If I preached what I really believe from that pulpit, they will throw me out on my ear". That was the last time he would discuss religion with me. I still think about him, wonder if he is still with us, and if he ever changed his ways.
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"We can have no '50-50' allegiance in this country. Either a man is an American and nothing else, or he is not an American at all."-- Theodore Roosevelt
A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left. Ecclesiasties 10:2
The last four letters in American..........I Can
The last four letters in Republican........I Can
The last four letters in Democrats.........Rats
Chad, your story about your ex father-in-law made me think of a family that I have known since I was a child. The entire family is musically gifted in different ways. They bounce around from church to church usually winding up in the music ministry of wherever the're at. It doesn't usually take very long for them to be offended and then they are off to the next place. If they go to a place that is not using their talents, they will make a lot of trouble for the pastor until he gives in, thereby offending whoever was already there, or complain so much about the people who are doing the ministry until they leave or give up. Then they take over until they are offended by something and then they leave, usually leaving the church without any options. So who are they serving? In a word, themselves. I'm sure that each one of them love the Lord but they let their need for the lime-light get in their way. It is one thing to want to be used by God and share the talents He has given us. It is quite another to just want attention for what we think we can do, when all the time it is a gift from our Heavenly Father.
Blessings.....Pastorjim
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Mere religion is just hanging around the cross.......True Christianity is getting on the cross.
Sometimes, the message that needs to be preached will step on some toes because the congregation hasn't been living according to God's will or by His standards. I am convinced that many of us - and I mean us Christians - have other idols before us. By that, I mean that we will put something in God's place when He should be the center of our existence and the One who we consult before we act.
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Today' s small bucks are tomorrow' s trophies.
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I am convinced that many of us - and I mean us Christians - have other idols before us. By that, I mean that we will put something in God's place when He should be the center of our existence and the One who we consult before we act.
Very good advise Brother. Walk in the Spirit and we will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. So often we spend time seeking the will of God, simply because we have allowed the oil in our vessel to drop below the safe operating range. Be ye "filled" with The Spirit, never let the oil get low on the stick. Neither let it become old. It is to be renewed daily with fresh, choice, beaten oil from the olive. Plenty of fresh oil produces a good bright light in which to walk. Walking in the light causes no occasation of stumbling. A bright light shows plainly the way we should go, removing the need to stop and seek instruction and directions. Time isn't wasted by walking in the light. Walking in The Spirit redeems the time. However if there is any question, STOP!! before you make a wrong move and seek God until you know what his will is before proceeding.
The way I see it, if the preacher ain't stepping on some toes, he ain't doing his job correctly.
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"We can have no '50-50' allegiance in this country. Either a man is an American and nothing else, or he is not an American at all."-- Theodore Roosevelt
A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left. Ecclesiasties 10:2
The last four letters in American..........I Can
The last four letters in Republican........I Can
The last four letters in Democrats.........Rats
Who Do You REALLY Serve?
