Not everything that happens is GOOD; but is all worked to the good....

Life is an intricate orchestra of action and reaction; cause and effect.  When we have surrendered our lives in humble submission to the Lord who created us, we discover that even our missteps are rendered useful by a loving, caring, concerned and ever present God.

WHY do we DO THAT?!!?!

Scrolling through my Facebook News Feed the other morning I came across a picture of a fairly well known Christian Pastor with a caption that was obviously quoting something they had said, and then a statement slamming what they said as being "unchristianlike".  The slam was by another fairly well known Pastor.

In the comment section it was obvious that many of the "flock" of christians who saw the picture were only too happy to jump on the "tear down this soul" bandwagon, and not only were there plenty of agreement type comments, but also many "and they did this, too!" or "they said this too!"

Being unfamiliar with this person I dug a little deeper.  I actually read the article the "quote" came from.

Sure enough, they had said the statement they were accused of saying.  But just as surely, it was separated from the REST of the sentence and then displayed completely out of context.

In fact, I discovered I fully agreed with the premise and full statement that had been made as both were biblically sound.

So why did this other Pastor feel the need to tear this person down?  And why did so many who call themselves Christians gleefully join in?

I thought about the admonition of Apostle Paul in Galatians 5:14 - 16:

For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this "you shall love your neighbor as yourself".  But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another.  I say then, walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.

In Ephesians 4:3, we are clearly admonished to  endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

So why oh why do we waste so much time and effort destroying instead of building up?

SIN.

Anytime we do the opposite of what the Lord has instructed us to do, we sin.  The only way out of sin is to repent and ask God to forgive us.  We talked about this in an earlier post.  

When we focus on ourselves, elevating ourselves, grasping for power and prestige for ourselves - we do disservice to the Lord we represent.  I learned this the hard way.

By tearing down another in the mistaken idea it lifted me up.  It didn't.  It made me look like just what I was being.  Small, petty, human, sinful.  And I hurt the one I tore down. I didn't teach them anything, or inspire them to "do better".

We can cover it up and dress it up and label it "correction, instruction or speaking the "truth" in love" all we want, but once you get past the pretty pasted on fake facade you know it for what it is.

Ugly sin.

It puts me in mind of the story of the crabs. You've probably heard this one.  Why can you just throw crabs in an open bucket and not worry about them escaping?  Because if one does try to get out, the others grab hold of him and drag him back down!

That's us, when we tear others down.  We not only hurt them - we hurt ourselves.  We all end up staying trapped in a bucket of sin.

It isn't our "job" to school others on what we think is correct doctrine.  It isn't good christian behavior to point out other christians mistakes.

Remember what Jesus told His disciples when they came to Him complaining that others were casting out demons in Jesus' name, but they weren't one of the disciples?  See Mark 9:38 and Luke 9:49.  Jesus rebuked that kind of thinking.  The kind of thinking that separates and destroys unity.  He told His disciples

if they are not against us they are for us.

We are without excuse when we disobey the Lord and cause division.

True Christianity is when we submit ourselves and our selfish desires to the obedience of Christ for the sake of UNITY in the Body of Christ.

If we would get this through our thick skulls, the "world" wouldn't be so successful in coming against us.  Think about that next time you want to "call someone out".

one day

The 80/20 Connundrum in Gods Church

The polls have been done, the questions answered and the numbers just aren't pretty.

79.5% of Americans identify as Christians, but they rarely attend church services, do not trust exclusively in Christ for salvation and they do not value the teachings of the Bible as Gods Word.

If the statistics were true, 8 of every 10 people we know would be an active, believing Christian. 

The numbers are closer to maybe 7-9%, and of that percentage, according to a Barna Group poll:

46% of church going people say their lives have not changed at all as a result of attending services

61% say they have received NO significant insight from attending church services

17% of all Americans are actively antagonistic toward the Bible

The statistics go from bad to worse, and are indicative of the disarray Gods Holy Church is in here in America, at this time in His Story.

2 out of 3 Americans believe the Bible contains everything needed to live a meaningful life, but only 1 out of 5 actually reads the bible just 4 days a week.

When we take out the Sundays and Wednesdays in the church setting, this means 1 in 5 of actually reads any part of the bible just 2 more times in any given week period.  Since Apostle Paul tells us we are transformed by the renewing of our minds to His word, it leaves very little transformation going on!

Only 20% of church goers who identify themselves as Christian say they even think about the bible during any given day.

The actual numbers are far worse.  The truth is that fewer than 1 out of 10 Americans participate in the activities that would be expected of true Christians.

LESS THAN 1 IN 10:

• read the Bible 
• strive to live according to its teachings 
• submit their personal will to the Will of the Creator they say they believe in.

Sadder still, less than 1% of that less than 1% have experienced any significant transformation in their lives as a result of trusting in Jesus as their Lord and Savior according to their own testimonies.

The Lord called His people to “come out from among them” through sanctification and be a peculiar people.

From Exodus 19:5 to 1Peter 2:9 it has always been Gods intention that His people would be different from others on the earth.  That they would stick out.  That the difference would be noticeable and noticed!

How else would anyone know something was different enough about you that they might want to know what it is and thereby open a door for you to share the Gospel, the Good News of Salvation, as Jesus in Acts 1:8 instructed us to do?

Yet, particularly in the last 30 or so years, the “church” has put such effort into being exactly LIKE the world, under the false notion that being like the world would somehow attract the world to them, and then they would share the Gospel.

Unfortunately, every experiment has proven that it doesn't work that way.  If we were reading the bible, we'd remember that 1Corinthians 5:6 warned us of the opposite occurring, that "a little leaven leavens the whole lump."  Adding a little "clean" doesn't work but the opposite does.

As the church becomes more worldly, compromising in the mistaken idea they could “reach” more people this way, the only result is that the church became more worldly while the world never became more godly.  Compromise has led to a watered Gospel that lacks the power of God.

I Corinthians 5:6 and again in Galatians 5:9, we were warned against that kind of thinking and we didn’t pay attention.  Instead, we are now paying a price.

Here is a truth, straight from the Bible, that IF we will pay attention to, we can experience transformation, we can experience true salvation, we can experience lasting, glorious, joyful change in our hearts and lives that not only blesses us, but will bless those around us!

Philippians 2:12

Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

We are INDIVIDUALLY responsible before God.  We will each INDIVIDUALLY give an account of ourselves to the Lord at the Day of Judgment.

When each INDIVIDUAL makes their own personal commitment and works out their salvation according to the teaching and doctrine found in the Bible, then when we come together COLLECTIVELY, like the First Century Church:

Acts 2:40-47

And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, save yourselves from this untoward generation.

Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.

And all that believed were together, and had all things common;

And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

We will have in common the doctrines we follow, when we share, rather than dictate according to our own need, want and desire, the words found in the Bible.

We will have in common a peculiarity that smells and looks like a TRUE BELIEVER that others will recognize.  They may hate us, as they hated Jesus, but we will be true to the Lord Who made formed and created us!

 We will see God move mightily on behalf of His people when we zealously, diligently seek personal relationship with the Father and The Son Jesus through the Holy Spirit given for that purpose, and then COLLECTIVELY, CORPORATELY manifest that power in His name. 

• Not the name of a denomination
• Not the name of a church building
• Not the name of any Pastor, bible Teacher or CELEBRITY so-called Christian

In the Name above all names, the Name of Jesus the Lord.

In thinking about all of this I can't help but wonder, based on the behaviors we've encountered as we've visited churches across the US, do enough of us even still care?
WHAT DO YOU THINK?  Hit the "Comment" below and share your thoughts with the Body of Christ.