Truth in Love – blog entry

Monday, March 25, 2013

Jesus nowhere in the gospels took up an offering, made a condition of His disciples that they give their tithe to Him, or asked them to sign some partnership/membership agreement. Jesus was instead chasing those from the temple who were using it for their personal gain. Jesus never set up a “cooperate” church or told His disciples, ‘I want you to go to Bethlehem and build a building on the corner of Elm and Oak Streets and there start gathering the flock in one spot.

Yet, today what do we see in pastors; I used the term lightly because if anyone knows what a Pastor is they know what I am about to describe is not the individual with a true shepherds heart. Pastors who check their tithing records before they agree to meet with or minister to individuals within their congregations. Pastors who instead of empowering the people to be all they can be in Christ, to serve Him with their whole hearts are more interested in whether or not you have “officially” became a partner in their ministry or member of their church.

To call yourself a man of God, a Pastor, then stand in your pulpit and tell the people ‘We need two more people to help hand out candy at the parade, if you are a partner with this congregation then please come see me if you are interested in giving out candy.’ How horrid in the eyes of God. Because moreover what you are clearly saying without saying it is, ‘If you are not a member of this church congregation, if you have not agreed to what we view as partnership with this fellowship, then do not even bother to come see me about serving, to me you are not even worthy of giving out candy.’ How such must sound to the ears of Jesus a Man who spent His earthly life and gave His life so people might be and feel included not excluded, be given liberty and freedom not controlled.

The example I just gave was a real one. It came from the mouth of a gifted preacher who I believe loves God in many ways; but to call him a Pastor is still in debate. One can label themselves with the title without carrying the spiritual calling from Christ. Pastor’s gifts show themselves differently; yet, let grace note that this might just be a spiritual blind spot. Nevertheless, it is an actual example of the type of thing taking place within the Body of Christ. I ask myself, the float that will be in the parade where they candy will be given out; will it have the actual name of Jesus on it? I guess it might now. Whether the name of Jesus actually appears or not I can almost certainly guarantee you that the name of that “church congregation” will most certainly appear and appear more and/or in larger print than the name of Jesus.

May God forgive the failings of those who are meant to be His spiritual leaders.

Spiritual/Political Disclaimer:

This blog will not be for the faint of heart or the easily offended. It will not be in any way politically correct. It will make every effort to share the truth in love, [Ephesians 4:11-16], to a decaying and dying society and church. I share what I share not to hurt, harm, or offend any person[s] or group; I do it because Christ’s Standard and Truth is not being represented by enough of His Followers and I do it out of love. I love enough to tell His Truth.

Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV

¹¹And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, ¹²for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, ¹³till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; ¹⁴that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, ¹⁵but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— ¹⁶from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.