What is wrong with the church ?

The other day I good friend and colleague confided in me that he had been receieving hate mail. People being mean, nasty, rude, and basically wanting him to just be gone. It was very sad hearing this from him, for he is a good man, a great leader, a passionate follower of Jesus and a really genuine and sincere bloke for Jesus.

So why does the church have to be so nasty towards their leaders ? It isnt right, in any situation or in any church.

Officers, pastors, are sent people, people who usually have given up their lives to follow Jesus, to do their best, not alwasy getting it right, coz not one of us are perfect... we are all just trying our hardest to do our best at what has been asked of us to do.

For me, the church must not be like this... but sometimes it is. People who are sinners are in our churches, who have not yet surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and as such they are an open opportunity for the devil to use them.

There are always loads of cliches or catchphrases we can use to justify or defend or even excuse this kind of behaviour, yet ...for me that doesn't cut it either... we simply must be living in obedience to Christ, making our churches and our corps, places of grace. Places where love can be experienced, forgiveness celebrated, repentance an opportunity to be acted upon. and we ought be patient with one another, and yes that even means the Officer / Pastor.

Heaven help any leader who gets up Sunday morning, feeling apprehensive and fearful for what the day might bring at church.... worried over what bad or nasty thing will be said that day, what criticism will fly, what complaint will come loudest...

So... if you find yourself one of those grumbling saints, a well intentioned dragon in the church ? here'ssome advice to you.

STOP IT !

it is not the way of the Kingdom.

It is not the way of Christ.

STOP IT, stop hurting the Jesus appointed leader among you.

Support them, pray for them, pray with them, you will find yoru complaint will dissappear if you prayed togther often.

and to my officer friends, my pastor friends,who find yourself on the receiving end of this, sometimes every weekend.

let's love one another, spur one another on towards love and good deeds, join with like minded pastors and officers to support each other and pray with each other. remember you are the appointed and annointed by God Himself, and whilst they may not necessarily respect or trust you or even believe in you, keep preaching the message, keep living it out, do your best to be the servant of the most high God that you were called to be, chosen and positioned to be. we live for His purpose. We are His people, we are not better than anyone else but we are surrendered. We are His.

AND remember that not everyone in your church is like the nasty ones....there are some very good people in your church and corps, who are praying for you every day, loving you, hanging onto every last word you might speak when you preach, these are your saints. the People of God who are with you, they are on the same page as you, they will do everything they can to join you in the mission.

seek them out.... pray for them too...and be blessed that God has given some really awesome and amazing people to you to minister to in your church and corps.

and finally to my mate, who i spoke of earlier... I am not going to mention your name, but if you end up reading this blog, I love and respect you, you are an awesome man of God and doing a fantastic job, dont let the enemy steal your joy, through the words of that nastyness.....

May your Christmas be blessed in every way.... and to all my mates in ministry I say the same.

Keep praying and believing and trusting, that He who called you will sustain and use you for His glory.

 

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