Return to Your First Love

Every person no matter how lowly or how popular should be able to be corrected, rebuked and admonished on a regular basis to remain faithful to the Word. No man or woman knows perfectly all of a matter, in fact we are learning all the time if we are humble enough to pay attention.

Every person who thinks they or anyone else is above correction, rebuke and admonition, is walking in insolent pride. Those who place "famous" preachers or any preacher, in the category of "don't touch God's anointed", are using manipulation and intimidation to cause others to feel wrong about evaluating those they worship.

Insolent: "lack of respect", "ill mannered" and "rude."

Pride: "deep pleasure in oneself."

One who walks in "insolent pride" is one who has a deep sense of self importance and feels entitled to mock, show disrespect and display rudeness without conscience, justifying themselves.

If we love Christ we will care very deeply about pure truth. This drives us to find out truth and weed out any error. The reason we are in the mess we are in today in the churches is because too many people have ignored error in favor of good feelings.

We are instructed by Christ to evaluate everything all the time. There is no need to be offended about exposing error, it helps us, grows us and rejects that which is harmful.

Those who become angry at someone who evaluates the teaching of a man, because they like the man, have an idol in the form of that man.

If Christ is our first love, then no man will hold the position and privilege of saying whatever he wants without challenge.

Proverbs 27:6
"Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy."

Romans 15:14
"And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able also to admonish one another."

Colossians 3:16
"Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God."

Psalm 141:5
"Let the righteous smite me in kindness and reprove me; It is oil upon the head; Do not let my head refuse it, For still my prayer is against their wicked deeds."

Luke 17:3
"Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him."

1 Thessalonians 5:14
"We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone."

Since the development of the "one man pastor" as leader instead of the Holy Spirit, we have created idols who are men.

We need to return to our first love, that is Christ Jesus.