My Brother, My Judge

noeticknight · #1 08-31-2009, 01:36 AM

In light of comments made by church members over the years:

"Pray for her to find a job, we all know she can't use that (broadcasting) degree."

"I didn't see him speak in tongues tonight, must be having an affair."

"Just give him time, God will deal with him about that facial hair."

I must ask what force is responsible for such behavior? If biblical principles were explicated clearly and allowed to be practiced freely outside of the rule system, is it possible our holier-than-thou brethren could be released from their roles as crude judges?

Godsdrummer · #2 08-31-2009, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noeticknight

In light of comments made by church members over the years:

"Pray for her to find a job, we all know she can't use that (broadcasting) degree."

"I didn't see him speak in tongues tonight, must be having an affair."

"Just give him time, God will deal with him about that facial hair."

I must ask what force is responsible for such behavior? If biblical principles were explicated clearly and allowed to be practiced freely outside of the rule system, is it possible our holier-than-thou brethren could be released from their roles as crude judges?

Apostolic Pentecostals have bred this attitude into many of our churches. I used to hear my Pastor preach as I was growing up, Im not judging the bible is judging them I am just preaching what the bible says. Although this sounds, sound, (just a little play on words) It is not what God intended. How many times did Jesus tell us to judge not lest we be judged. And remove the beam from our own eyes before we try to remove the mote from our own eyes. I could go on quoting scripture but I am sure you know them just as I do. Here is the thing biblical principles are explicated clearly, all one has to do is read the word with clear eyes. In order to do this one has to get beyond their individual indoctrination. That is the hard part.

I hope I can word this right, we have salvation through religion, but we don't have a relationship with God like we should because our religion gets in the way to much.

There is much more I could say but I am not in the bussiniess to convince someone that they are right or wrong. I am in the buss. to get people to get back to God in a personal relationship where they can use the brain God gave them to seak out their own salvation.

noeticknight · #3 08-31-2009, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Godsdrummer

Here is the thing biblical principles are explicated clearly, all one has to do is read the word with clear eyes. In order to do this one has to get beyond their individual indoctrination. That is the hard part.

I hope I can word this right, we have salvation through religion, but we don't have a relationship with God like we should because our religion gets in the way to much.

There is much more I could say but I am not in the bussiniess to convince someone that they are right or wrong. I am in the buss. to get people to get back to God in a personal relationship where they can use the brain God gave them to seak out their own salvation.

I believe you are saying that we should take more responsibility for our own walk with God, correct? Avoid being eternally "spoon fed" and we can take part in working out our own salvation by learning to "feed ourselves" so to say. I like it.

Be careful my friend, a post like this one may cause the blinders to fall off!

noeticknight · #4 08-31-2009, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Godsdrummer

Apostolic Pentecostals have bred this attitude into many of our churches.

BTW, although one is a bit exaggerated (to my knowledge), I've actually heard church members speak two of the three statements in my original post.

Godsdrummer · #5 09-02-2009, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noeticknight

I believe you are saying that we should take more responsibility for our own walk with God, correct? Avoid being eternally "spoon fed" and we can take part in working out our own salvation by learning to "feed ourselves" so to say. I like it.

Be careful my friend, a post like this one may cause the blinders to fall off!

I hope the blinders do fall off for that is the reason for salvation. I am reminded of Pauls writting in I Corinthians.
1Co 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
1Co 3:2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
1Co 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
This whole chapter deals with the way most Christians walk with God. Still being spoon fed on a bottle of milk. We are grow to the point that we can eat the meat of God word.
Heb 5:11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
Heb 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
Heb 5:13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
Heb 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

IMHO many that should be shepards that lead the sheep to clear water and food, are instead drivers instead of leaders. Never allowing the sheep to graze on new grass but instead keeping them in fenced pastures. We ( I say we because I was just like that in my early ministry years) preach that the denominal chuches have become worldly because they don't preach the standards of holiness, yet I have found that their people are more truly spiritual and have a true christian charicture than many holiness pentecostals. I have attened many other churches in the last several years and found this to be true. Their leaders preach and teach things that are truely benificial to the congregation (true meat of the word of God) instead of milk.
There is a trend in UPCI to get this way but it is slow in comming. I remember growing up my pastor could be counted to preach 5 subjects. The oneness of God, Baptism in Jesus name, Holiness standards, Church attendance, and Tithing. Everything came back to these 5 subjects. Just before leaving UPCI I move my family back home and we were attending my home church for a few months. My children came to me to complain that they wished they were back where we had been living because they were not being fed.
Is it any wonder we have judgemental saints in our churches.

Godsdrummer · #6 09-02-2009, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noeticknight

BTW, although one is a bit exaggerated (to my knowledge), I've actually heard church members speak two of the three statements in my original post.

Sorry I have heard all of them spoken in one way or other. When my wife came to God the pastors wife told her one day hwen they were talking about some new female convert that had not taken their pants off. The pastors wife said that if they did not see the sin of wearing pants and jewlery and make up in 3-6 months then they did not get the same Holy Ghost she got.
We build the attitude in young converts with statements like that, to judge others.