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The Book Warning This Book Will Shock You |
Warning This Book Will Shock You By Roxy J Nolin Chapter Seven |
Soon people begin to judge ministers and churches as doing something by what they see on outward appearances, like the biggest, the flashiest. The more entertaining. Soon aggressive individuals come looking for a position on the corporate ladder of the ministry success. It is no longer the call and leading of God but the resume or degrees behind one's name. Now I don't want to give the impression that I do not believe in big churches or ministries. As a minister we should be trained in administrating and academically sound. I do believe in good programs and how we present ourselves to the lost. They need to see us succeed but not for the price of thirty pieces of silver. Not at the cost of merchandising the true gospel of grace! It does not get better. As a pastor I have listened and tried to pick up the carnage of battle-ridden souls. Permanent scars and wounds caused by the legalistic guns and canons. Numerous times I have shaken my head at the lack of consideration for ones dignity and self-worth. Yes, most walked into it with their eyes wide open but I have found that because of a wrong view of God, they believed it was the way to go for fear of disappointing Him. I have heard confessions of those who said they heard God telling them not to go that direction, yet they allowed apprehension to override common sense. Many were sincere and repented, yet others had take the bait hook line and sinker. Justifying their actions in the name God. Selling a portion of their inheritance for a taste of success. Thank God that Christ blood is so deep and forgiving. Thank God for His grace and mercy in the times of our ignorance. We have simply allowed good doctrine be consumed with the, it feels like God, so it must be right. I fear that we as a church are stuck on a trend mode. What ever is new, lets try it. Like the world, we have come up with designer names to fit our new cloths of beliefs and doctrine. Names I dare not repeat for the sake of losing friends in the Lord. But in the end the new movement only led us deeper into the pit of legalism. A place of discouragement and disappointment. What must it take to awaken the body of Christ to this excepted sin? To recognize it putrid smell. I pray that God will raise up men and women without faces who cause a revolution against this formidable enemy. But I dread that it will not get better but worse. Now I hope you still love me in the Lord and not wrote me off as a fruit, flake or nut. Yes you probably have a lot of questions and maybe some good arguments, and that's you right, but my intention again is only to make you think about how you see and act towards Christianity and God. Speaking From the Heart. I want us to check our heart and see if some of our thinking needs to change. Remember this, much of what I have written concerns the heart. First John says, for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. So what we normally speak, is what we normally believe! I have graciously listened to individuals who speak through fables and vain imaginations, as God speaking to them. I have no problem with visions and dreams by the Spirit but when peoples lives hang in the balance with thought sand images that in no way resemble anything from New Testament doctrines, I am of great concern! These individuals are so entrenched in false perceptions that they become no earthly good to the gospel plan. Instead many become a laughing stock to a world that already has a bad image of Christianity through legalism. In some subtle way some of us have excepted a crass attitude of speaking the Word as OK for the gospel sake. I have not found scriptures that say it is all right to become brain dead. The writings of James said; Out of the mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be. Well some things that are happening in the church ought not to be but they are still happening. I desire us to take responsibility for the space in which we live. If we have created a space of insecurity, fear, suspicion or a la la land attitude, then we are lined up to legalism. Now I am not a psychologist and have no intention of getting into everyone's sub-conscience. There are many reasons for the way we are and act! I only want us to take the common sense approach of God's Word and apply it to how we treat our brethren and the lost world. Who is our councilor? The bible says that the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead lives in us. God has sent us the comforter, Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, standby and that He will remain with you forever. That means He is here to guide us through life. The problem is whom are we really listening too! Who are we getting our counsel from! Who are we drawing our strength and help from! Is it coming from a gospel of grace or a gospel of Law? It may not seem that important, but it is critical to the way we live and think concerning the Word of God and how we live and react in our Christian life. For examples, how do I react if I was a Christian consoler and had to deal with sin in the heart of another believer? This may sound simple enough but I have seen people come out of a legalist counseling session more confused and oppressed then when they went in. Why? Because the information given was based on works and performance. Legalism! Not based on the care of a loving Father of Grace! Someone may say, Well brother, we need a tough love approach! Yes I believe that we need to be strait and honest concerning sin and its destruction but only on the bases of love and acceptance. Please understand I am not talking about a mushy, gooey, compromising love but a love that has answers based on grace. Demonstrating to the person that God cares and has sufficient strength and power to help. There is nothing more arrogant and hurting then getting information from someone who has a self righteous, get your act together mentality. This approach may seem to work for the moment but in the end it only opens a Pandora's box in a persons emotion. As a counselor I have proven this to be true on more then one occasion. As those who are pastors know, that our life is entrenched in counseling to keep God's children free. I can also tell you this is no easy accomplishment, especially when we are dealing with peoples thinking! Please understand, to know me, I am not a doom and gloom type of guy but there is a sense in my spirit that there is trouble in them there hills. That if we do not quickly clue into this sin we will see and experience things that not ought not to be. |
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Copyright Roxy J Nolin 2002 |
