Jeremiah 32:27 - Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?
I'll share a quick story with you. Many years ago, I was in trouble with the IRS. I owed (what was to me at the time) a large sum of money and I didn't have the money to pay. One day there was a knock at my door. I looked through the peep hole and saw two formidable looking gentlemen wearing black suits and thought "Oh God, this is it!" I broke out in a cold sweat and after a minute of indecision as to whether to answer the door or not, I opened it.
One of the large scary looking gentlemen said: "Good afternoon sir, we're with the Jehovah Witnesses" and . . Well, at that point, where I normally would have given them the 'bums rush", I was so happy that they weren't with the IRS I said: "Boy am I glad to see you guys! and gave them a hug!" Hahaha (true story) They looked at each other a little confused, and I never did explain to them why I was glad to see them, however, we had a nice visit although they never did convert me to their religion.
There are some very good people out there, and there are some Churches that are genuinely concerned about spreading the true gospel of Jesus Christ, but unfortunately, they getting about as hard to find as a winning lottery ticket. Being too hyped up, some "followers of Christ", who are over enthusiastic, use that title as a means to elevate themselves (many times without even knowing it) as opposed to elevating their brother or sister in Christ.
Many preachers measure their success as a minister of God by the number of folks who walked up to the front during the alter call. You commonly hear preachers say "I saved 5,000 people during my ministry" or "I brought 5,000 people to the Lord". Sadly, they believe that and believe that God will have some special place prepared for them because of that statement. The reality is, they didn't save anyone, because they can't save anyone. Only God can save you or I or anyone else.
Neither did they bring anyone to the Lord. (at least not in the way that they meant it) That's a horse that you don't bring to water, you point the way to the water and pray that they stay on the trail that leads to it. You can let them watch "you" go to the water and drink and hope that they follow and drink for themselves, but only they can accept the water. Only in that sense do you lead a person to Christ.
No one can shoot down a new believers faith faster than a Christian. Not even atheists, Satanist's, agnostic's, Muslims, Hindu's, Buddhist's or even plain old regular ordinary unbelievers. Absolutely no one can ruin a new believers faith faster than a "well meaning" Christian.
Just let a man or woman who has just gone through a horrible divorce, walk out of the Church feeling like the weight of the whole world has been lifted off of their shoulders because they just heard a message about God's mercy and forgiveness, and they will surely have one of God's followers waiting for them in the parking lot quoting Matthew 5:32.
Matthew 5:32 - but I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the reason of unchastity, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
They don't simply quote Matthew 5:32, they draw it out of their scabbard like a dagger and stab them in the heart repeatedly until they are spiritually "DEAD". What's the point and why do they do it you ask? Obviously, there is no point, and the reason they do it is because they've learned to play a deadly game called religion. The rules of the game are: First you draw them in with love and compassion, then once you have them, you appoint yourself as God's police officers and point out every little sin that they commit. The game was probably played on them at some point, and now they are playing it on you!
Another part of the game of course is: "He who has the most Biblical knowledge, WINS!!" What do you win? You don't get a trophy, there's no cash prize, and God doesn't reward you in any way. It's just a bad habit, no different than when you go to the supermarket or Walmart and you play "beat the other guy to the parking place closet to the store!", simply because you are too lazy to walk a few extra car lengths to walk into the store. In other words, it really doesn't make any sense.
When a new believer has found Christ, and they are excited about this wonderful treasure they have found, they are full of the Holy Spirit and can't wait to talk about it! Unfortunately, the "Brothers and Sisters" they are talking to are too busy picking apart what they say, instead of encouraging and uplifting them. It more resembles your 3rd grade English teacher correcting your essay.
Just let someone who has been diagnosed with cancer or aids walk out of the Church feeling uplifted and there will be a "Well Meaning" follower of God waiting for them in the foyer quoting the story of Job! Meaning, Job was favored by God, yet suffered miserably at the hands of Satan. Jesus Wasn't even exempt and neither was Paul, therefore "YOUR TOAST!", go pick out a burial plot! Again, What's the point you ask? (again) There is no point! It's just Christian one-up-manship!
WORDS OF WISDOM
~ LORD SAVE ME FROM YOUR FOLLOWERS ~
I had a gentleman write to me recently and told me of his favorite bumper sticker "LORD SAVE ME FROM YOUR FOLLOWERS", I'd never heard that before and was almost rolling on the floor laughing.
Then it hit me, wow, there's allot of truth to that statement. Although well meaning, if some of these over zealous "believers" were any more tacky about it, they'd be
standing on the corner downtown with a tub of water saying to each other whenever some poor unfortunate slob walks by: "GRAB HIM, AND DUNK HIM QUICK!!!", then proclaiming: "Thou art baptized in the name of Jesus!"
~ WWJD ~
If you really want to do the will of God, and if you really want to obey him and spread the gospel to the whole world, then leave the poor new believers alone. A persons walk with God starts with baby steps, not long strides. If a new believer is filled with the Holy Spirit and is quoting a scripture to you that you've heard a thousand times before, the worst thing you can say to them is "I Know". When you say "I Know", you're simply displaying your ugly pride.
If a new believer is excited about the word of God, be excited with them, maybe even act as though you've never heard the scripture they quoted before. God knows that you've already heard it and that's all that matters. When a new believer is excited and filled with the Holy Spirit and miss quotes a scripture, don't correct them. You're just shooting them down for the purpose of building yourself up when you do so. If you really feel that it's necessary for there salvation, wait a week, then quote the same scripture to someone else while they are standing within earshot.
~ LEAVE THE NEW BELIEVERS ALONE! ~
This is amazing! No where in the bible does it state that you shouldn't drink or smoke, but it clearly says that God "hates" pride! Yet the modern day Church is completely overrun with pride. No one seems to be content just to go to God's house because it is a place of prayer and worship.
Matthew 21:13 - And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.
Instead, the prayer has been reduced to a few minutes, and only then, when the head person says: "Repeat after me". Funny isn't it? We go to a house of prayer only to have one guy pray. (in most cases) Singing is a wonderful form of worship (depending on the songs), but the main course usually consists of listening to a lecture by someone claiming to be a leader, when Christ said "Call no one your leader".
Matthew 23:10 - "Do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ.
Everyone seems to be competing for a position of authority or importance within the Church. We have a plethora of little prophets running all around the Church, people babbling in (so called) tongues, people who literally live to debate and show off their knowledge of the scriptures (therefore proving how much the opponent doesn't know), and of course the group that just sits back and watches and waits to catch you sinning so they can either point it out, or gossip behind your back.
~ PRIDE AND ARROGANCE ~
What would Jesus do? We've all heard the long sermons about being "Christ Like" and how Christ is our example and we should walk in his foot steps, however, this sermon is usually bent to fit the speakers agenda or convenience. Example: "Why, Jesus loved the poor, so vote for democrat Earl Jones because he wants to add two billion more tax dollars to the welfare system". Do you "really" want to be like Jesus? Do you really want to do as Jesus did?
Jesus was focused on God (our father) and heaven, "not" on earthly things. With the exception of riding into Jerusalem on a donkey, Jesus walked everywhere he went. Jesus trusted God for all the things he "needed". To my knowledge, the only possessions Jesus owned, were the clothes on his back, and they were taken away from him at the very end. Your pastor, no matter how small the Church, is living like a king compared to the one he is supposed to emulate. How horribly gaudy it is to see the charlatans who are making millions of dollars while claiming to emulate Jesus Christ.
So, God, Save me from your followers, but save me from your workers too!
Dan Douglass - I Have Spoken!
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