Jesus' disciples asked Him to teach them to pray. They had heard Jesus pray. It was different from those they had heard from the Rabbis and Pharisees. These prayers were powerful. They went into the throne room of God and got results. The disciples wanted to know how to pray like Jesus.
Unfortunately, people have often taken His teaching on prayer and mindlessly repeated it. They have thought of it as "magic" or at least iconic words which will invoke a reaction from God. They have not seen the principles laid within the model prayer that we call the Lord's Prayer. They simply repeat it.
Here are those principles that will make your prayers powerful. They are the principles laid down by Jesus.
Our Father who art in heaven- Our address is not so that God will know to whom we are speaking but to help us recognize what we are doing. We are going to our Father. He is not a stone god which is ambivalent to our cries. He loves us. We go to Him on this basis.
hallowed by Thy Name- Our Father is holy. There is no shadow of evil about Him. He will neither listen to our prayers of evil nor will He give us evil. He is set apart from all evil. Our request will be answered in His holiness.
Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven- We fully recognizing that we are seeking His will. We are not trying to bend His will to ours. We are not able to coerce Him to do as we please. We are His. His will is what we seek because we know it is best. His will honors His name. We want His will on earth like His will is obeyed in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread- We make petitions according to our needs. We can pray for any need. We can lift these things to Him with an expectation of His hearing.
And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us- Our forgiveness is inextricably tied to our forgiving. We need to forgive as much as we need forgiveness. Our own lack of forgiving leaves us unforgiven. Most of the mental institutions could be emptied if people could receive forgiveness. It is necessary for our relationship with our heavenly father. We are praying that we are forgiven just as we have forgiven. Forgiveness fails to come to us any other way.
And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil- It is hard to imagine that God would lead us into temptation. This is a prayer that we will be protected from our temptations. It is a prayer that we will not succumb to these temptations. It is an absolutely needed prayer each time we pray. How many homes would be intact if men had not given into their temptations? How many hospitals would be vacant if people didn't give into their temptations? How many children would grow up in healthy, confidence building families if parents didn't give into their temptations? Pray this will diligence for we are all able to follow our temptations.
For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever- Yes, this is what we are praying for. We want Him to receive the glory. We want to recognize that He possesses the power. We want His kingdom. We long for it.
Amen. - So be it. Yes, please so be it.
Continue to repeat the Lord's Prayer but never let yourself do so mindlessly again. It is powerful to pray this model prayer. Pray it now.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Your Complaints Will Not Help Your Pastor
I know you thought you complained in private. You thought the people with whom you spoke felt the same way as you but they told what you said. It got back to the pastor. It discouraged him because he thought you were his friend. He thought you would help. Your complaints to others are not helping.
Your complaints will not make him do a better job. He is probably doing the best job within the resources he has. You have not walked in his shoes. You do not know all the factors which keep him from doing things your way. You do not have his knowledge nor does he have yours. Why should he think like you? He is taking the resources within himself- his education, personality, life experiences, talents and gifts- and doing the best he can.
Your complaints will not improve his stature in anyone's eyes. Part of leadership is believing the leader can take you where you want to go. Complaints will result in less, not more, leadership ability. He will have a harder time leading people when there are those who complain. God left His people in the wilderness for forty years because of their unwillingness to do what He wanted. They failed to follow Him because of ten complainers. Do you want to be one of those?
Your complaints will not make your pastor a better preacher. They will make him question himself. They will cause him to drag himself up to the pulpit on Sunday morning. He will question his calling. He will question whether anything he says has any value. He will have a hard time believing that his messages will make any difference. He have a hard time preparing his messages. They will likely become worse because the fire in his heart has been put out.
What should you do if your pastor is struggling?
First, don't talk behind his back. It always gets back to him.
Second, take him to lunch and ask him how he thinks things are going. Ask if you can help.
Third, commit to him (and keep this commitment as a vow to God) your prayers. Call him occasionally to get updates and pray with him as well as for him.
Fourth, pray for his family. Nothing is going right for the pastor when there are problems in his family. He may not be able to share any of the struggles he is having at home. He doesn't have to for you to pray for his family.
Fifth, send him encouraging notes. You will be amazed how he will open up with you about his struggles when he knows he can trust you as one who will help rather than hurt him.
Sixth, defend him. He is not perfect. He will never be perfect while he is your pastor. He needs people who will admit his struggles but also point out his strengths. There had to be a reason the church thought he would be a good pastor. Accentuate those things when you speak of him.
Seventh, don't be surprised when all you have done gets back to him. Both the negative and the positive things always get back to the pastor.
There are two possible results if you will be on the positive rather than the negative side of him. Things will improve around the church and the church will grow or the church will grow and another larger church will want him to be their pastor. However, he will be foolish to take a larger church (without truly considering the call of God) knowing he has people like you supporting him where he is right now.
Hebrews 13:17 (NIV)
17 Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.
Note: I could not have written this blog at one time. Thalia Lynn Baptist Church is the most wonderful church you will ever find. They are so incredibly wonderful that I cannot really express it. However, I also know what it is to be criticized, castigated, complained about and cast out. Many pastors are in this boat. I met with a young man a couple of months ago whose church was treating him this way. I wrote this article for his members and those who believe they need to stir others up so they can get rid of their pastor. This is ungodly.
At first, I thought I would challenge the readers of this blog to send it to the complainers in their churches but I realized that was as underhanded as what the complainers are doing. Instead, I challenge you to send it to your pastor's supporters. (Make sure that you note this at the top of your email so they won't get the wrong idea.) Then, those who didn't get the blog might just get the message why they didn't get it forwarded to them. Just an idea.
You pastor needs support. Please give it to him.
Your complaints will not make him do a better job. He is probably doing the best job within the resources he has. You have not walked in his shoes. You do not know all the factors which keep him from doing things your way. You do not have his knowledge nor does he have yours. Why should he think like you? He is taking the resources within himself- his education, personality, life experiences, talents and gifts- and doing the best he can.
Your complaints will not improve his stature in anyone's eyes. Part of leadership is believing the leader can take you where you want to go. Complaints will result in less, not more, leadership ability. He will have a harder time leading people when there are those who complain. God left His people in the wilderness for forty years because of their unwillingness to do what He wanted. They failed to follow Him because of ten complainers. Do you want to be one of those?
Your complaints will not make your pastor a better preacher. They will make him question himself. They will cause him to drag himself up to the pulpit on Sunday morning. He will question his calling. He will question whether anything he says has any value. He will have a hard time believing that his messages will make any difference. He have a hard time preparing his messages. They will likely become worse because the fire in his heart has been put out.
What should you do if your pastor is struggling?
First, don't talk behind his back. It always gets back to him.
Second, take him to lunch and ask him how he thinks things are going. Ask if you can help.
Third, commit to him (and keep this commitment as a vow to God) your prayers. Call him occasionally to get updates and pray with him as well as for him.
Fourth, pray for his family. Nothing is going right for the pastor when there are problems in his family. He may not be able to share any of the struggles he is having at home. He doesn't have to for you to pray for his family.
Fifth, send him encouraging notes. You will be amazed how he will open up with you about his struggles when he knows he can trust you as one who will help rather than hurt him.
Sixth, defend him. He is not perfect. He will never be perfect while he is your pastor. He needs people who will admit his struggles but also point out his strengths. There had to be a reason the church thought he would be a good pastor. Accentuate those things when you speak of him.
Seventh, don't be surprised when all you have done gets back to him. Both the negative and the positive things always get back to the pastor.
There are two possible results if you will be on the positive rather than the negative side of him. Things will improve around the church and the church will grow or the church will grow and another larger church will want him to be their pastor. However, he will be foolish to take a larger church (without truly considering the call of God) knowing he has people like you supporting him where he is right now.
Hebrews 13:17 (NIV)
17 Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.
Note: I could not have written this blog at one time. Thalia Lynn Baptist Church is the most wonderful church you will ever find. They are so incredibly wonderful that I cannot really express it. However, I also know what it is to be criticized, castigated, complained about and cast out. Many pastors are in this boat. I met with a young man a couple of months ago whose church was treating him this way. I wrote this article for his members and those who believe they need to stir others up so they can get rid of their pastor. This is ungodly.
At first, I thought I would challenge the readers of this blog to send it to the complainers in their churches but I realized that was as underhanded as what the complainers are doing. Instead, I challenge you to send it to your pastor's supporters. (Make sure that you note this at the top of your email so they won't get the wrong idea.) Then, those who didn't get the blog might just get the message why they didn't get it forwarded to them. Just an idea.
You pastor needs support. Please give it to him.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Why Does the Bible Call Us Saints When We Are Such Sinners?
I know that I sin. Is this the qualification for being a sinner?
Yet, the Bible says that I am a saint. Could it be that the definition of a saint still involves a person who sins? It must, if I am called a saint. I need to have a different definition of a saint.
The Bible doesn't define saint. We must understand it in the context of how the word is used in order to formulate a definition.
A saint is one of God's redeemed people. A person does not become a saint because of his works. The saint has no merit of his own. A person is made a saint because God has made them such.
Redemption comes from belief. A person trusts in the Lord Jesus and receives Him. This person has the spirit of Christ within him. The spirit of Christ possesses the saint so that he cannot be lost. Remaining a saint is the work of Christ within the saint.
The saint are faithful to God's word. It does not mean that the saint is perfect for the saint may sin. The saint is always called back to His Word. The saint is reminded by the Spirit when the Word is violated. The saint may fail but cannot remain a failure when concerning God's Word for the Spirit will take the saint home before He will allow the saint to sin beyond redemption.
The saint grows in his relationship and likeness to Christ. It is his calling to do so. It is a continual change. The saint knows his Lord better and becomes like Him as God will not allow the saint to remain in the condition he was in before redemption.
The saint is called upon to judge other people within the church. It is not his duty to judge those on the outside of the church but on the inside. He does so gently and carefully but still judges for the purpose of brining them back into the fellowship.
Therefore, I can be called a saint. I am not perfect by any stretch of the imagination. I am a saint by the grace of my Lord. I am a saint because He holds onto me. I am a saint because He has set me aside for His own possession. Yes, I am a saint.
Romans 8:27 (NIV)
27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.
Yet, the Bible says that I am a saint. Could it be that the definition of a saint still involves a person who sins? It must, if I am called a saint. I need to have a different definition of a saint.
The Bible doesn't define saint. We must understand it in the context of how the word is used in order to formulate a definition.
A saint is one of God's redeemed people. A person does not become a saint because of his works. The saint has no merit of his own. A person is made a saint because God has made them such.
Redemption comes from belief. A person trusts in the Lord Jesus and receives Him. This person has the spirit of Christ within him. The spirit of Christ possesses the saint so that he cannot be lost. Remaining a saint is the work of Christ within the saint.
The saint are faithful to God's word. It does not mean that the saint is perfect for the saint may sin. The saint is always called back to His Word. The saint is reminded by the Spirit when the Word is violated. The saint may fail but cannot remain a failure when concerning God's Word for the Spirit will take the saint home before He will allow the saint to sin beyond redemption.
The saint grows in his relationship and likeness to Christ. It is his calling to do so. It is a continual change. The saint knows his Lord better and becomes like Him as God will not allow the saint to remain in the condition he was in before redemption.
The saint is called upon to judge other people within the church. It is not his duty to judge those on the outside of the church but on the inside. He does so gently and carefully but still judges for the purpose of brining them back into the fellowship.
Therefore, I can be called a saint. I am not perfect by any stretch of the imagination. I am a saint by the grace of my Lord. I am a saint because He holds onto me. I am a saint because He has set me aside for His own possession. Yes, I am a saint.
Romans 8:27 (NIV)
27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.
Monday, May 3, 2010
O That My Soul Would Thirst for God
The Psalmist says that he longs for God as a deer pants for water. Unfortunately, that's often not where I am. I am not thirsting for God. This, of course, explains a lot of other things in my life.
Sometimes I wrap myself in my own little world and am very pleased with that world. I am like the man who said he would build more barns and put all that he had in them so that he could live the rest of his life in leisure without really depending on God. I give God a tip of my hat but I don't long for Him.
It is only when I am in desperate need that I long for God. I cry out to Him when my life is out of control. I long for Him when I am losing my battles. I seek Him and all He is when my way of life is in danger. Then, I pant as a deer longs for water.
But let things go well, put plenty of money in the bank, let my business grow without struggles, when my children are doing good, my marriage is intact, my health is sound and my desire for God wanes. I speak of Him more than I speak to Him. I pray more at meals than any other time. I treat Him like the rich uncle that I must keep on good terms because of the inheritance but would really try to avoid if I can.
This ambivalence toward God gets me in trouble. My lukewarm nature puts me at odds with Him. He would rather I was hot or cold. I can have no part of Him in this condition. I am farther away from Him than I can imagine, yet I don't know it. I think everything is fine but I have drifted away.
Finally, I realize the loneliness in my soul. My soul knows it is empty. It knows there it is something wrong. It is empty. Sometimes I ignore this feeling as long as I can. Eventually, I know that there is only one solution. I must cry out again. The longing for God is natural.
He quenches my thirst. He fills my soul. He takes the loneliness away.
Psalm 42:1-2 (ESV)
1)As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. 2) My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?
Sometimes I wrap myself in my own little world and am very pleased with that world. I am like the man who said he would build more barns and put all that he had in them so that he could live the rest of his life in leisure without really depending on God. I give God a tip of my hat but I don't long for Him.
It is only when I am in desperate need that I long for God. I cry out to Him when my life is out of control. I long for Him when I am losing my battles. I seek Him and all He is when my way of life is in danger. Then, I pant as a deer longs for water.
But let things go well, put plenty of money in the bank, let my business grow without struggles, when my children are doing good, my marriage is intact, my health is sound and my desire for God wanes. I speak of Him more than I speak to Him. I pray more at meals than any other time. I treat Him like the rich uncle that I must keep on good terms because of the inheritance but would really try to avoid if I can.
This ambivalence toward God gets me in trouble. My lukewarm nature puts me at odds with Him. He would rather I was hot or cold. I can have no part of Him in this condition. I am farther away from Him than I can imagine, yet I don't know it. I think everything is fine but I have drifted away.
Finally, I realize the loneliness in my soul. My soul knows it is empty. It knows there it is something wrong. It is empty. Sometimes I ignore this feeling as long as I can. Eventually, I know that there is only one solution. I must cry out again. The longing for God is natural.
He quenches my thirst. He fills my soul. He takes the loneliness away.
Psalm 42:1-2 (ESV)
1)As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. 2) My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Predetermined for the Praise of His Glory
I flew a lot of miles this week. I am amazed that planes that get us around the world arrive at their destinations within a reasonable estimation of the time it would take. I watched the plane from Cairo to New York go along a predetermined path and yet almost always be slightly off course. This plane had a monitoring system in each seat which would allow us to watch individual movies, tv shows, play games and watch our progress. I spent a lot of time watching our progress.
Yet, I knew that the pilot could disengage the autopilot at any time. He could have taken a different path than that which was predetermined. I also knew that he would have been putting us all in danger if he did so. Commercial planes are scheduled and routed to bring about the greatest safety. The deviation could result in using up the fuel or entering other air space. I am sure that planes are not allowed to fly over our White House. I believe other countries probably have areas that are just as protected.
God has a will for me and you. It is the best course to take. It will take us through the things we need to go through. It will protect us from things we do not need to get involved with. If we walk in His ways by listening to the Spirit we shall be like a plane on autopilot. Our spiritual autopilot does not know every turn. It is given information by God on a daily basis. It is followed moment by moment. It will be called predetermination if we follow God. It is called free-will when we fail to do so.
I want to arrive safely at my destination. It means following these instructions and fighting all other information which will cause me to deviate. It is my moment by moment walk with the Lord which allows me to do so. It is His revelation of His will for me- for salvation and for living the rest of this earthly life.
Thus, I am created for His glory.
Ephesians 1:9-12 (NIV)
9 And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment--to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ. 11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.
Yet, I knew that the pilot could disengage the autopilot at any time. He could have taken a different path than that which was predetermined. I also knew that he would have been putting us all in danger if he did so. Commercial planes are scheduled and routed to bring about the greatest safety. The deviation could result in using up the fuel or entering other air space. I am sure that planes are not allowed to fly over our White House. I believe other countries probably have areas that are just as protected.
God has a will for me and you. It is the best course to take. It will take us through the things we need to go through. It will protect us from things we do not need to get involved with. If we walk in His ways by listening to the Spirit we shall be like a plane on autopilot. Our spiritual autopilot does not know every turn. It is given information by God on a daily basis. It is followed moment by moment. It will be called predetermination if we follow God. It is called free-will when we fail to do so.
I want to arrive safely at my destination. It means following these instructions and fighting all other information which will cause me to deviate. It is my moment by moment walk with the Lord which allows me to do so. It is His revelation of His will for me- for salvation and for living the rest of this earthly life.
Thus, I am created for His glory.
Ephesians 1:9-12 (NIV)
9 And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment--to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ. 11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Why the Person Who Says There Is No God Is a Fool
I used to think that God was like a bus. He came at an appointed time. You missed the bus if you weren't at the stop or you refused to get on. He may come by a few more times but you never really knew which time was the last opportunity to get on the bus. I realize that I was wrong.
God has placed within all of His creation a yearning for Him. We search for what we believe to be at the end of this yearning. We may substitute something else for it. We may try to fill it with money, pride, possessions, sensual encounters or even personal accomplishments but our hearts know that we are lying to ourselves. It is like taking the wrong jigsaw puzzle piece and trying to make it fit. We can cram it in but we know it really doesn't fit.
It is foolish to believe you have something when you know you really don't. It is foolish to pretend to others that you have something when you don't. It is foolish to deny something exists because you simply don't want to believe it. It is foolish because the heart yearns for its filling. The denial of this filling is a daily task.
I believe this is why so many atheists speak of religion more than religious people. They are constantly trying to prove that the yearning in their hearts is already full. They are more religious about their atheism than most religious folks too. They will turn to ridicule and anger in a heartbeat when you discuss their atheism because you are challenging their religion.
God is not like a bus. He is more like oxygen. We can hold our breaths and say that we don't need it but He is always there if we are ready to take a breath. Some people are amazing in how long they can hold their breaths. Yet, it is foolishness to deny yourself something that you truly need when filling this need will not only change you but all of those around you. It is like starving yourself so that you can't go to the fields to plant the seeds that will produce the food for the village. Once you have eaten, you can feed others.
I pity the person who denies God all their lives. Their foolishness will not last forever. They will realize what they have done too late. They will stand one day to say that they knew but denied what they knew. That is, indeed, foolishness.
Psalm 14:1 (ESV)
The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none who does good.
God has placed within all of His creation a yearning for Him. We search for what we believe to be at the end of this yearning. We may substitute something else for it. We may try to fill it with money, pride, possessions, sensual encounters or even personal accomplishments but our hearts know that we are lying to ourselves. It is like taking the wrong jigsaw puzzle piece and trying to make it fit. We can cram it in but we know it really doesn't fit.
It is foolish to believe you have something when you know you really don't. It is foolish to pretend to others that you have something when you don't. It is foolish to deny something exists because you simply don't want to believe it. It is foolish because the heart yearns for its filling. The denial of this filling is a daily task.
I believe this is why so many atheists speak of religion more than religious people. They are constantly trying to prove that the yearning in their hearts is already full. They are more religious about their atheism than most religious folks too. They will turn to ridicule and anger in a heartbeat when you discuss their atheism because you are challenging their religion.
God is not like a bus. He is more like oxygen. We can hold our breaths and say that we don't need it but He is always there if we are ready to take a breath. Some people are amazing in how long they can hold their breaths. Yet, it is foolishness to deny yourself something that you truly need when filling this need will not only change you but all of those around you. It is like starving yourself so that you can't go to the fields to plant the seeds that will produce the food for the village. Once you have eaten, you can feed others.
I pity the person who denies God all their lives. Their foolishness will not last forever. They will realize what they have done too late. They will stand one day to say that they knew but denied what they knew. That is, indeed, foolishness.
Psalm 14:1 (ESV)
The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none who does good.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Conflict in the Church
There are at least four listing of spiritual gifts in the Bible. Each of these are mentioned for specific reasons. One common theme is found in all of these lists: the gifts of the Spirit are to bring harmony to the Body of Christ which is the Church.
It is hard to find a church today without conflict. Is this because many of the people who comprise these churches are not acting within their spiritual gifts? Absolutely!
Often churches use the concept of family to describe their fellowship. Family comes from being brothers with Christ and having God as our Father. It does not describe the function of the members adequately. We all have family members who are disfunctional. We may still love them but they can cause a lot of chaos. They may cause conflict within our families but we generally ignore their tirades, their misguided personalities and their abuse. Sometimes we give them money to go away. They are our family members. We can't do anything about it.
The functional model of the Church, however, is the body when the Bible mentions spiritual gifts. The body has many members. Each functions differently but must function for the body to be healthy. The lack of health in many churches can be directly tied to the number of members (body parts) which are either not functioning or functioning outside of their spiritual gifts.
Those who do nothing within the church have a spiritual paralysis. They are no more than spectators. They are along for the ride. They are like the limbs which have been paralyzed by a spinal injury. They are not getting the message though they may like being fed by the rest of the body. They are dead weight.
Those who are acting outside of their spiritual gifts are like cancer. They may do great works within the church but they do them our of their own abilities. They may do these works out of pride so that others will see them. They may do them to condemn others. They can point to themselves and look down on those who do less. They certainly castigate the dead weight of those who are doing nothing. They may be serving to get onto ruling committees and boards. Their service is merely a con to run the church. They look so much like a blessing when they come, are given places of responsibility and take over in a short span of time. They are like the Pharisees who want to be seen doing their good works, who look down on the rest of the people and want to be in charge of every meeting.
There are not a great number of these people in many churches. I have found that most churches only have five to ten people who will fit this category. They stir up others who will join them in conflicts. These are the mindless individuals who could not understand a spiritual concept if it were to hit them in the foreheads. Some of them are not believers. They became members by walking an aisle or going through a class because it was expected of them. They join the cancerous individuals because they can't see their lack of spiritual maturity.They treat the church like any other organization they have joined. They pay their dues and attend when they would like.They serve when they have to. They come to conflict meetings to keep the club just like it has always been.
The people who act within their spiritual gifts bring harmony to the body. They are busy and happy. They are working and enjoying what they are doing. They fail to criticize others because they are too busy doing what they are supposed to do to notice what others are not doing. They seek to help the body function properly. They are surprised by conflict. They know the purpose of the church without having a committee formed who will state it and put it on placards all over the church. They know they are supposed the worship the Savior, win the lost and work for the glory of God. They know that they need spiritual insight. They know they need to mature in their own faith. They are the diamonds which are rare but so incredibly valuable that the church's value grows all around them.
What can change this disfunction of the church? The Holy Spirit must. It is a spiritual problem and must be met on a spiritual plain. We need unsaved members to be saved. We need cancerous believers to repent and come humbly before the throne. We need leaders to accept their responsibility of bringing the church to unity. We need a return to biblical rather than political themes within the church. We need to cry out so diligently that the Lord will send the might Holy Spirit to cleanse us.
Otherwise, I think we will just have conflict within the Church.
Ephesians 4:11-13 (NIV)
11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
It is hard to find a church today without conflict. Is this because many of the people who comprise these churches are not acting within their spiritual gifts? Absolutely!
Often churches use the concept of family to describe their fellowship. Family comes from being brothers with Christ and having God as our Father. It does not describe the function of the members adequately. We all have family members who are disfunctional. We may still love them but they can cause a lot of chaos. They may cause conflict within our families but we generally ignore their tirades, their misguided personalities and their abuse. Sometimes we give them money to go away. They are our family members. We can't do anything about it.
The functional model of the Church, however, is the body when the Bible mentions spiritual gifts. The body has many members. Each functions differently but must function for the body to be healthy. The lack of health in many churches can be directly tied to the number of members (body parts) which are either not functioning or functioning outside of their spiritual gifts.
Those who do nothing within the church have a spiritual paralysis. They are no more than spectators. They are along for the ride. They are like the limbs which have been paralyzed by a spinal injury. They are not getting the message though they may like being fed by the rest of the body. They are dead weight.
Those who are acting outside of their spiritual gifts are like cancer. They may do great works within the church but they do them our of their own abilities. They may do these works out of pride so that others will see them. They may do them to condemn others. They can point to themselves and look down on those who do less. They certainly castigate the dead weight of those who are doing nothing. They may be serving to get onto ruling committees and boards. Their service is merely a con to run the church. They look so much like a blessing when they come, are given places of responsibility and take over in a short span of time. They are like the Pharisees who want to be seen doing their good works, who look down on the rest of the people and want to be in charge of every meeting.
There are not a great number of these people in many churches. I have found that most churches only have five to ten people who will fit this category. They stir up others who will join them in conflicts. These are the mindless individuals who could not understand a spiritual concept if it were to hit them in the foreheads. Some of them are not believers. They became members by walking an aisle or going through a class because it was expected of them. They join the cancerous individuals because they can't see their lack of spiritual maturity.They treat the church like any other organization they have joined. They pay their dues and attend when they would like.They serve when they have to. They come to conflict meetings to keep the club just like it has always been.
The people who act within their spiritual gifts bring harmony to the body. They are busy and happy. They are working and enjoying what they are doing. They fail to criticize others because they are too busy doing what they are supposed to do to notice what others are not doing. They seek to help the body function properly. They are surprised by conflict. They know the purpose of the church without having a committee formed who will state it and put it on placards all over the church. They know they are supposed the worship the Savior, win the lost and work for the glory of God. They know that they need spiritual insight. They know they need to mature in their own faith. They are the diamonds which are rare but so incredibly valuable that the church's value grows all around them.
What can change this disfunction of the church? The Holy Spirit must. It is a spiritual problem and must be met on a spiritual plain. We need unsaved members to be saved. We need cancerous believers to repent and come humbly before the throne. We need leaders to accept their responsibility of bringing the church to unity. We need a return to biblical rather than political themes within the church. We need to cry out so diligently that the Lord will send the might Holy Spirit to cleanse us.
Otherwise, I think we will just have conflict within the Church.
Ephesians 4:11-13 (NIV)
11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)