The Nature of Gossip and God's Solution

I was just recently asked about the nature of gossip and what it produces. Over the years I have seen all forms of gossip, much of it is non-verbal.

When someone treats us disrespectfully through dismissiveness or encourages someone to disregard us through, what I call, disapproving grunting sounds, instead of communication, with the hope that the only person who will notice is the target of the disrespect and those looking on who will conclude that something is wrong with us, there will be a continuing occurrence of this mentality that is so far reaching that only God can fix it.

Contemptuous actions come in many forms, one of which is disregard for our lives in general. Have you ever met someone who seem to disapprove of everything you say and do when there is nothing wrong with what you have said or done? This is rampant among those who do not know Christ. Acting superior to control the minds and emotions of others is the very tactic the devil uses often. Not only do these people attempt to control the minds of their targets they also attempt to influence others to treat the target the same way they treat them.

I have seen these tactics used in extended families in which the main narcissists drive the thinking and emotions of all the other flying monkeys. Whatever the main narcissist is doing is followed by the rest of the family without any evidence of wrongdoing. As long as the leader desires to think something is wrong the rest will think there is too even if they have never seen it for themselves.

When this happens those who are involved in group-think will evaluate everything the target is doing, even good deeds, as foolish or wrong just because of their prejudice against the target. Once the narcissistic leader has instilled this attitude of contempt in their flying monkeys it is impossible to change their minds.

This is why broken relationships based on the influence of the narcissist can never be repaired. This is the reason we have racism in our culture and judging based on feelings far more than rational thinking that leads to investigation to find out the truth about an individual.

I have seen and experienced groups who were given a "heads-up" about someone and would base how they treat them on what they have heard and not on anything they have seen for themselves.

The fact that it is rare for the hearer of the gossip to go to the target and ask whether something is true or not is because the hearers are loyal to the narcissist and fear going against them, so they choose to believe what they heard, and continue the trickle down effect to other new comers to the group.

This is why it is crucial to find those who do not know the narcissists and their flying monkeys and move on from them in a new life free from gossip and drama.

Thank the Lord He gives us plenty of scripture that describes them with the instructions to remove ourselves, cleansing our lives of the ungodly who create drama for no other reason than to feel superior.

2 Timothy 3 describes these trouble makers and shows us that they are increasing in the world right before Christ comes for His church. We have this to look forward to as we "look up" toward God in joyful expectation of our homegoing.

Do not be discouraged or intimidated just keep on following Christ, expunge from your lives those who want to believe their lies and omission about you and be confident that God will give you new relationships that are not like the world and will edify us as we edify one another.

Ephesians 4:29

"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."

Romans 14:19

"So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding."

1 Corinthians 14:26

"What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up."

1 Thessalonians 5:11

"Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing."

Let go of all those who attempt to discourage you from your calling and wait on God to bring others who love Him as much as you do.

Tom Wadsworth on @r4e Podcast: What Was the Purpose of the Christian Ass...

Beware of False Preachers Who Teach False Doctrine

Beware, there are many preachers on the internet now who are teaching that one can lose the salvation God gave us by grace when we repent and trust in Him.

Christ does not require us to "do" anything to earn salvation. He justifies us by His sacrifice on the cross imputed to us.

God saves us by His grace in response to our desire to be changed into a new creation by Him. Nothing we do can save us, we cannot be good enough to earn heaven. When we become born again the way we think is changed but the Spirit in us battles against our flesh.

Hebrews 12:5-7 "…5And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you. 6For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises every son He receives.” 7Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?…"

If we could keep ourselves perfect we would not need passages like this one that demonstrates God loves us and because He loves us He disciplines us to return to obedience. He also provides an advocate for us to the Father, that is Jesus Christ.

1 John 2:1 "

"My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;"

Galatians 5:17-25

"17 For the desire of the flesh is against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, in order to keep you from doing whatever you want.

18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.

19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: sexual immorality, impurity, indecent behavior,

20 idolatry, witchcraft, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, 21 envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

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. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus crucified the flesh with its passions and desires."

25 If we live by the Spirit, let’s follow the Spirit as well."

No child of God continues in sin, when we fall we confess it to be cleansed of it but we do not lose the salvation of Christ.

1 John 3:5-7 "…5 But you know that Christ appeared to take away sins, and in Him there is no sin.

6 No one who remains in Him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has seen Him or known Him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you: The one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as Christ is righteous.…"

No one who has been changed into a new creation by Christ practices a lifestyle of sin. if we fall we confess it and Christ in us cleanses us to continue on free from that sin.

Our lifestyle as believers is one of continual confession to grow in holiness. Those who will not confess sins and believe they have no sin in them at all, are not born again.

1 John 1:9 "9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

These passages were written to believers who are eternally saved. This provision of an Advocate, that is Jesus Christ is not in unsaved people.

1 John 2:1-2 "My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate before the Father— Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world."

Those who are not born again do not have an advocate, they remain in spiritual death until they confess their sinfulness and desire to be changed by Christ. When He changes them and saves them they will also have the Holy Spirit living in them and are adopted as His children saved for eternity.

Biblical Love is Apposed to Worldly Judgment

Biblical love:

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Love is patient, kind, and does not envy, boast, or pride itself. It does not demand its own way, is not irritable, and keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not rejoice in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, trusts, hopes, and perseveres. Love never fails.

Evil behavior, the evidence of hate, the opposite of love:

Galatians 5:19-21

"19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: sexual immorality, impurity, indecent behavior,

20 idolatry, witchcraft, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, 21 envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."

Many Christians do not practice some of these things but seem alright displaying "factions, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, envy, and more subtle forms of sin that are overlooked because they can be cloaked easily.

Judging others over things that are not worthy of judgment is becoming more common as so many seek to elevate themselves above others. The best way to feel superior to others is to judge the small matters according to one's own ideas rather than according to Scripture.

Many we all evaluate ourselves through self-reflection to mBakes sure we are not practicing jealousy, rage and a superior attitude to others. Our culture promotes self-love as though it is a virtue when it leads to many forms of mean-spirited treatment of those they do not think measure up to their idea of righteousness, much of which is not based on Scripture.

Let us continually pray for the love of Christ to dwell in us as we walk with Christ.

Translation Arguments are a Distraction Seek the Holy Spirit

When you run across someone who negates good doctrine using the excuse that a particular word is not in the Bible be careful, it is a deception often.

The trinity is a concept described in the Bible, the Three persons in God.

Genesis 11:7: "Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another's speech"

John 1:1: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God"

The Word is Jesus Christ and His Father is God the Father. The Holy Spirit is called the Helper and is in all born again believers.

John 16:7 ""Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you"

The three persons in one God is Biblical. Just because the word "trinity" is English does not mean the concept is not there.

None of the words in our English Bible are in the original languages of Greek and Hebrew. Every word that has been translated was done so to be able to understand the meanings and concepts of the original language.

The word "God" is not in the original language, the word "Baptise", the word "go" or any other English word is not in the original language.

The excuse that a word is not in the English Bible doesn't fly because there are no English words in the Greek and Hebrew languages. And, the Bible has been translated into many languages so that those of us who don't speak Greek and Hebrew will be able to understand in our own language.

Beware of "good-sounding" assertions they may be negating God's Word to confuse and distract.

Family Can Ruin Your Walk with Christ

Many families have ruined those who want to walk with Christ because those who love their families more than Christ are dumbing down their walk to be acceptable by their families.

These family systems seek to demean anyone who has chosen Christ over them. They work against what Christ is doing in the life of the believer. When these people cannot control you or deter you from Christ they will attempt to influence others against you so that you have no support system. Never mind this method because we have no need of people to support us when we have the Living Christ in us walking with us in and through everything.

The attempts of family to undermine us through gossip will not influence our walk as long as we remove the gossiper and the one who listens the the gossiper. It is possible to remove ourselves from those who work against us, even if those gossipers claim to be Christian we can discern their motives and tactics and remain separate from them.

Those who remain with ungodly family will be influenced by them ultimately dumbing down their walk to fit in to the group-think.

John 12:43

"43 for they loved the approval of people rather than the approval of God."

If your family means more to you than your walk with Christ they are the Lord in your heart, not Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 6:17

"17 Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord.

“And do not touch what is unclean;

And I will welcome you."

Christ in Us is Our Teacher

Galatians 4:116-17…16 Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth? 17 Those people are zealous for you, but not in a good way. Instead, they want to isolate you from us, so that you may be zealous for them. "

There are those who attempt to isolate us from others who enhance our walk with Christ and when they cannot accomplish this they will isolate us from them to cause jealousy in us.

When we encounter those who use manipulation and indulge in superior attitudes we are free to and should walk away and leave them to one another.

Christ should be our sole purpose in this life not the "group." When we spend too much time in "groups" we become like the group, not like Christ.

Matthew 23:15 "… 15Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You traverse land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are."

In my opinion based on my many years of experience with churches and people I am convinced that too many friends are a hindrance to our walk with Christ. I am not speaking about those who are diligent to obey Christ and His word, but those who have a form of religion and are self-satisfied with what they think they know, which often is not very much more than what they hear for one hour in church gatherings once a week.

There is an old saying; "a man with too many friends has none."

A friend of the born-again believer is one who will encourage us to read the Word, question all things and obey what the Holy Spirit tells them. They are a precious few in our day and very special because they walk with us, not against us.

Matthew 23:13

"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let in those who wish to enter."

Many church attendees in our day have a form of religion but do not love Christ. They love their self-elevated stance that resides in their own mind but does not match with the scriptures. Their belief system about God is heavily peppered with psychology of the world and the culture around them, not in Christ.

Galatians 6:12-13 "12 Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised. They only do this to avoid persecution for the cross of Christ. 13 For the circumcised do not even keep the law themselves, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.…"

Many church attendees have their own set of rules God never made, contorting the scriptures to justify what God never said and excluding those who know the truth.

I used to think when I left the Catholic church that the Protestant church was better, then I grew in Christ and realized they are very closely linked in the mentality of following men, both seek the approval of men and pretend to seek Christ but demonstrate arrogance as they add to scripture and take away from scripture when it suits their purpose.

Thank the Lord we are free in Christ to obey Him, rejecting what has been added and what has been taken away, to know the truth fully and without reservation. We need not give into the pressure of those who love their legalism and hierarchy.

Christ in us is all we need, He is our teachers.

1 John 2:27 states, "But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you".

If anyone trusts in any man or calls themselves by any man's name, Christ is not pre-eminant in them.

If you say "I am a Baptist" or " I am a Presbyerian" or "I am following Calvin or Luther." Then this person is not following Christ because it is only Christ Who is perfect and able to have all the answers from our Father in heaven.

1 Corinthians 3:1-17

3 And I, brothers and sisters, could not speak to you as spiritual people, but only as fleshly, as to infants in Christ.

2 I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to consume it. But even now you are not yet able,

3 for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like ordinary people?

4 For when one person says, “I am with Paul,” and another, “I am with Apollos,” are you not ordinary people?

5 What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one.

6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth.

7 So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.

8 Now the one who plants and the one who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.

10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each person must be careful how he builds on it.

11 For no one can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw,

13 each one’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each one’s work.

14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward.

15 If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet only so as through fire.

16 Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

17 If anyone destroys the temple of God, God will destroy that person; for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are."

Hallelujah! Our freedom to follow Christ and His Word transcends any human wisdom or practice that only serves to elevate self. When we follow Christ He will be elevated and not ourselves.

Seek the Truth Through Christ and His Holy Scriptures

Years ago there was a story about a man who wanted to see what people would do if he walked onto the elevator and faced the back. The next people that came on also faced the back and some other who entered did the same.

This is rather disturbing since it only takes half a brain to ask, "why are you facing the back of the elevator. The sad thing was that in the video no one who entered the elevator asked the question even though they acted confused about it.

Are we so intimidated by others that we won't even ask questions for clarification?

Of course there were probably people who would ask that question and find the humor in it.

Another time there was a video of a man looking up in the sky on a street corner while waiting for a bus. The next few people who came to wait for the bus began looking up to discover what the man was looking at, but no one asked him what he was looking at which was nothing.

Perhaps this is a small picture of HOW people think in our world, they want to fit in, they want to know what is happening but are too timid to ask to come to their own conclusions about what is happening.

1 Thessalonians 5:21

"21 but examine everything; hold firmly to that which is good,"

How can we discover truth and hold fast to it if we never ask the questions through prayer as well as asking people what they mean by something so as to make a decision based on God's truth? Often people will quote a favorite mantra and never even know what that catchphrase means. I think "catchphrase" is a good way to describe it because often good-sounding phrases catch people to believe what they heard without having to analyze the meaning.

May every believer make a practice of asking the meaning of everything they hear and turning to prayer and the Bible to find the answer. YES, I understand this takes work and will often lose us family and friends when God shows us the meaning and we share it with others.

Romans 3:4

"4 Far from it! Rather, God must prove to be true, though every person be found a liar, as it is written:

“So that You are justified in Your words,

And prevail [b]when You are judged.”

Worship #6 How the Later Church Developed Worship Services

Christ Reigns Through all born again believers, there is no Heirachy in God's church, only the Holy Spirit

For those who are born again, there is no hierarchy among born again believes, the only Authority over the believer is Jesus Christ Who lives in each one.

Romans 14:4-6 "…4 Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

5 One person regards a certain day above the others, while someone else considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.

6 He who observes a special day does so to the Lord; he who eats does so to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.…"

Every born again believer is a priest set aside to the Lord.

1 Peter 2:9

"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."

Revelation 1:6

"And made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen."

1 Peter 2:5

"You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."

Those of us who are born again do not have temples to worship our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit.

Revelation 5:10

"And you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”

Revelation 20:4-6: The saints will reign with Christ for a thousand years. "

Romans 5:17: "Those who receive the gift of righteousness will reign in life through Jesus Christ."

As believers we have no righteousness of our own, Christ in us is our righteousness and He reigns in us.

Hallelujah!!!

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Why They Didn't Preach Sermons in the Early Church (updated)

Jesus Christ Will Rule with a Rod of Iron

The self-esteem teaching that has permeated our culture from churches to schools for the past 60 years has destroyed and fractured all systems that used to work together for the greater good.

The individualistic mentality that comes with this self-exaltation has shattered every institution from the government, schools, and help organizations to churches and families.

When everyone is out for themselves they will run rip-shawed over others justifying their right to be free from duty to the society as a whole. While raising up self aggrandisement every deed, even good deeds are done to bring glory to oneself.

Personal rights have been elevated to god status overriding the natural desire to be helpful to others. God placed it in every mother to protect her children even if it meant sacrificing her own life to preserve the safety of her children.

2 Timothy 3:1-5 describes our time, the times of the end of the end in which it is like the days of Noah when everyone did what was right in their own eyes without regard for anyone else.

There is more anger and disrespect than ever before in culture. Yes, it has always been around since the beginning but it has increased all over the world, making it difficult to find any place on earth where the culture has preserved righteousness.

2 Timothy 3:1-5 "3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult (ragingly insane) times will come.

2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, slanderers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,

3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,

4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,

5 holding to a form of godliness although they have denied its power; avoid such people as these."

Praising the Lord every day for our hope as born-again believers we know He has a purpose for us in the midst of all this mess and that one day He will come for us whether it be through death or the rapture, we have much to look forward to in connecting for eternity with Jesus Christ in person as well as all those others who have trusted Him too.

Our reunion is going to be amazing for the seven years we are in heaven at the marriage supper of the Lamb while the triubliation is taking place on this earth.

Our time in heaven at our marriage supper will be something amazing and wonderful. However, those who are left behind will be experiencing the most horrific time of torment on this earth. The first half of these 7 years will be monstrous natural disasters and the second half will be demonic influence and torture for those who are so devastated by the time, will be asking to die but will not be able to, they will cry out for the rocks to fall on them.

Revelation 6:15-17 "…15 Then the kings of the earth, the nobles, the commanders, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and free man hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. 16 And they said to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the One seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb. 17 For the great day of Their wrath has come, and who is able to withstand it?”…"

Those who trust in Christ after the rapture will endure terrible things but will be saved for eternity. Many will be martyred and others will be preserved in the caves until the end of it all.

What a wonderful time when at the end of the 7 years we will come back with Christ as he destroys evil upon the earth and sets up His kingdom.

This is one of the reasons I am not excited about the politics of this earth, I know my King is coming and He will rule over the entire earth with a rod of iron, there will be perfect Justice when King Jesus rules the earth.

Revelation 17:14 and 19:16: Jesus will return to earth as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Revelation 1:5: Jesus is the "prince of the kings of the earth" and rules over all human affairs.

Matthew 28:18: Jesus says, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me".

Luke 10:22: Jesus says, "All things have been handed over to me by my Father".

John 5:22: Jesus says, "The Father . . . has given all judgment to the Son".

Through all the hardships and lack of companionship we endure now we always have the hope and promises of God for what is coming very soon!!!

Hallalujah!!!!