Have We Been Trained NOT To Win Souls?

[BroJoe]

Originally Posted by AreYouReady?

This article shoots straight into my soul. It is spot on!

When I was a young convert from Catholicism at the age of 24, I knew little of the Bible. But I was so happy upon learning about God and that He still lives and brings about His will in this day and age, that I would try to spread the word with my very, very limited knowledge of the word.

One evening I was talking to a lady who was about my age now about God's saving grace and Biblical salvation. She looked up at me with some anger in her face and asked me if I was saying that she was not saved. My response was that the Bible was saying it.

So...perplexed at her reaction (ignorant as I was) I went to my pastor to tell him about the exchange between the two of us. Instead of educating me and having someone from the church to disciple me, he got angry at me and told me that I was not called to preach. That was his job! My job was to bring them to church so that he could preach to them!

That most definitely squelched me.

It took me several years of trying to bring people to the Pentecostal church that I finally realized that people will not easily come to the church and they responded more to one on one discussion rather than group worship. However, I was basically "forbidden" to teach Bible on my very limited knowledge at that time in my life.

So I wholehearted agree with this assessment about our churches.

I am so sorry your Pastor at that time treated you that way.

I fortunately came in under leadership that allowed me to teach Bible Studies as soon as I got the HG. I preached my first message 6 months into the Church.

[BroJoe]

Originally Posted by jediwill83

Its not just about getting people to come to church.The body must become more active in true ministry.Its like what happened in the instance of the lame man laying in the gate Beautiful...if you meet their needs outside the church they will gladly follow you in.I think God has especially impressed this upon me because of my job.We refer to the church as a hospital all the time but as a medic on an ambulance I am well aware that some need lifesaving help and treatment well before they darken a hospitals door....its not enough to simply invite the patient to the hospital or simply "transport"....its a messy affair and you gotta get your hands dirty...no longer can the priest or the Levite ignore the need or cross to the other side of the road....Its not only for the "patients" good we do this but also for our own...we limit exposure to His annointing therefore become unused to becoming comfortable being His hands and feet and voice when we say "God is available for you at these times and at this location all you gotta do is show up" What kind of harvest would break out if the church would be ready to be a spiritual "medic" anywhere at any time?

Go ahead and preach bro!

[BroJoe]

Originally Posted by AreYouReady?

Those pastors run the church like it is a business instead of Christ's bride.

Truth.

[AreYouReady?]

Originally Posted by BroJoe

I am so sorry your Pastor at that time treated you that way.

I fortunately came in under leadership that allowed me to teach Bible Studies as soon as I got the HG. I preached my first message 6 months into the Church.

Perhaps the difference between us is that I am female, who at that time, was carrying a lot of emotional baggage. I still think it would have been really neat to be discipled by a stronger member, who would be willing to come with me as I shared in my own measly way.

I am learning that churches do things differently in different parts of the country. Not going to see very many, if any, snake handlers in Chicago or New York.

[bbyrd009]

Originally Posted by AreYouReady?

I agree, but this was my pastor's ruling. He insisted on being the "head". When our Assistant pastor left to take a church in another state, he told the people that no church can operate with "two heads". Therefore, he was not going to look for an assistant. No man in the church was going to "correct" him. The board did not either. So...in this case, the article was spot on when it says that church leadership will not train people to disciple others. I've found that for many years, the church leadership in this area only wants total obedience out of people. They want full-grown adults to "ask permission" to do any type of discipleship with the lost. One church kicked a man out because he wanted to reach the lost people that would never step foot in the UPC church he attended. He also had friendly get together on non church service days with other denominations at his home...BBQ's etc. He was strongly discouraged from doing this, saying it may get "out of hand". So he put up a tent anyways.

Discouraging believers from trying to do something for the Lord is not New Testament teachings. It is more like teachings from Diotrephes. Those pastors run the church like it is a business instead of Christ's bride.

.

ya, that's not Church. I don't think God needs help to keep things in hand.

[BroJoe]

Originally Posted by AreYouReady?

Perhaps the difference between us is that I am female, who at that time, was carrying a lot of emotional baggage. I still think it would have been really neat to be discipled by a stronger member, who would be willing to come with me as I shared in my own measly way.

I am learning that churches do things differently in different parts of the country. Not going to see very many, if any, snake handlers in Chicago or New York.

You got that right lol!

[AreYouReady?]

... not that I will ever handle a snake!

[BroJoe]

Originally Posted by AreYouReady?

... not that I will ever handle a snake!

In Jesus Name!

[tv1a]

Jesus recognized ministry as a business. Jesus was about his Father's business.

[BroJoe]

Originally Posted by tv1a

Jesus recognized ministry as a business. Jesus was about his Father's business.

Please explain, my friend.