When family causes us to diminish our walk with Christ then they have become idols to us. We love people, but we follow Christ even if we have to give up those people who distract us from Him.
Luke 14:26 " 26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters — yes, even his own life — he cannot be My disciple."
The above verse In context of the Bible, tells us that God called us to honor our father and mother and love our families. However, when we have to choose between God and family, then we are to choose God.
Losing family is minor compared to dishonoring God. We will lose family when God comes first, unless that family also loves Christ. It is rare these days that entire families have trusted Christ, mostly believers walk alone without family support or love.
We are shown in the Scriptures that this will be the end times condition. There will be and is now little faith upon the earth, everyone is doing what is right in their own eyes and most people will be hostile to Christ. Learn to accept this, it will help us to carry on no matter what comes against us.
2 Timothy 4:15-17 "15 You too should beware of him, for he has vigorously opposed our message. 16 At my first defense, no one stood with me, but everyone deserted me. May it not be charged against them. 17 But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message would be fully proclaimed, and all the Gentiles would hear it. So I was delivered from the mouth of the lion."
The machine is too big now.
The entire culture thinks something is weird about a gathering that has a group of elders as the leaders.
The pew people clamor for a leader just like Israel did when it was their downfall. God wanted to be their leader, but they wanted a man like the other nations. That is a sort of picture of what is going on in the church gatherings today.
God never appointed one man over any gathering, He commanded that the apostles assign elders and they never dictated, they preached and led by example.
Whenever man attempts to do things his own way, thinking he is helping God, it always turns out badly.
Acts 14:23
"And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed."
Titus 1:5
"This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you—"
A very good article on the misuse of the bible verses to support paid pastor positions is below:
People who are uncomfortable around us even before they know any thing about us are experiencing the conviction of Christ in us. They think its us, but its Christ in us.
Have you noticed that even family members will make up stories about you based on that uncomfortable feeling they have, not based on facts.
When you are bold for Christ you become a target for daring to presume to know truth. Since most people are not sure of what they believe, they are easily manipulated into believing things that are false. Perhaps because their ego is stroked by flattery first before they hear the guess of others who seek to undermine their targets support system.
Those who are stroked by flattery will believe everything that is said to them about the person who makes them uncomfortable. Flattery disarms all sense of evaluation of what is said.
Proverbs 29:5
"A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet."
Proverbs 28:23
"Whoever rebukes a man will afterward find more favor than he who flatters with his tongue."
Job 32:21-22
"I will not show partiality to any man or use flattery toward any person. For I do not know how to flatter, else my Maker would soon take me away."
The tactic of a gossip is to flatter the one they are speaking to before laying on the gossip about another person. Building pride and superiority in the one who hears the gossip makes it more likely they will believe the gossip.
WATCH OUT FOR THOSE WHO FLATTER TO GAIN ADVANTAGE.
When there is favoritism there is always flattery and gossip present.
Romans 16:18
"For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive."
Jude 1:16
"These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage."
Those who have been born again have a changed nature, they no longer love sin, they hate it. They also have these character qualities, that ultimately lead them to proper actions and attitudes;
Galatians 5:22-23
"22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."
Anyone who rages or acts superior on a regular basis, mocking and demeaning when it seems as though nothing happened to cause it, then we may be watching a non-believer.
Those who have been born again will not be angry enough at anything to rage over it. It takes an inner anger, even when unseen, that emerges when there is the slightest disagreement or injustice.
Rage is different from adamant or animated correction. Rage comes from the soul of a very angry person. We can be intense about our position without raging. Raging is a very big clue about the character of a person.
Proverbs 29:8-10 "…8 Mockers inflame a city, but the wise turn away anger. 9 If a wise man goes to court with a fool, there will be raving and laughing with no resolution. 10 Men of bloodshed hate a blameless man, but the upright care for his life."
Believers may have a weak moment in their infancy stage of growth, in which they become angry at a challenge, but as they walk with the Lord they will become ashamed of their anger, confess it and move on to a calmer spirit. The Holy Spirit will convict of sin until the believer confesses it.
When someone confesses their angry spirit and asks the Lord to change their heart, then we will see the anger falling away.
1 John 1:9
"9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Those who are born again grow in holiness, those who are not remain defensive of their sinfulness, even prideful that they do as they please.
Next time someone is in sin and becomes angry at the suggestion that they should stop sinning, they often will say, "God knows my heart", be sure to let them know that God does know their heart, He knows it is rebellious against Him and must choose to confess that sin and forsake it.
Proverbs 28:13-14 "13 He who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy. 14 Blessed is the man who is always reverent, but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble."
