The One Man Pastor System: is modeled after the Catholic church, having no basis in Scripture.
This is the system in which one man is given all authority over preaching as well as setting down rules for the congregation. When we are born again our leader is the Holy Spirit.
When the "pastor" declares a rule that is not Biblical we are not obligated to follow that rule. When there are elders, a plurality of leadership, there is less chance of abuse. Each person is responsible for their own spiritual growth.
Too many pew sitters believe everything the one man says because he is educated in schools God never commanded. They think the pastor has a special in with God they do not have.
They have elevated that one man above others in the congregation who might be gifted in preaching and teaching but they are not allowed because they have not been ordained by man.
It is the Holy Spirit that calls men to be in these elders positions not man. This is a hard concept for those who have been raised all their lives to believe "pastor" is a special position above others in the gathering.
Friday, August 24, 2018
Thursday, August 23, 2018
What is wrong with the church today?
Leave it to God
When you are reduced to utter weakness and are persuaded that you can do nothing whatever, then God will do everything.
-Watchman Nee
-Watchman Nee
Monday, August 20, 2018
Trust Him not Predictions
I can trust the Lord for each day and each hour in each day. There is no need for me to know what tomorrow will bring, He has that covered.
I do not appreciate nor want anyone to come to me telling me what God told them about my future. If God wants me to know something He will tell me.
Its one thing to pray blessing for someone and quite another to predict what the Lord will do.
Matthew 6:34
"34 “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
I do not appreciate nor want anyone to come to me telling me what God told them about my future. If God wants me to know something He will tell me.
Its one thing to pray blessing for someone and quite another to predict what the Lord will do.
Matthew 6:34
"34 “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
Sunday, August 19, 2018
Listen to God not the Narcissist
The testimony of a young woman who grew up to believe she was not worthy of love.
"As a young child I was told regularly that I was stupid and ugly. I was told I was fat when I was thin. I was told I could not do what other people did. I was chastised with disparaging remarks when I did something right or good." The more I began to develop interests and talents the worse I was treated.
"Over the years the people that emotionally and spiritually abused me never stopped how they treated me, they just hid it a little better when I was married and left home. They knew they could no longer get away with blatantly abusing me so they did it secretly while making others believe they were a great family.
"As time passed over the years the abusers began to work on my children and husband to turn them against me too.
When we hear these kind of stories its hard to believe these things happen. Since many families do not operate this way, it seems like a story invented to invoke sympathy.
Because of my testimony I have met others who have been through this all their lives. Those who grew up believing they were too stupid to succeed, too fat for anyone to love and too ugly to be attractive to anyone. None of it was true but those that were suppose to love us wanted us to believe it and it hurt deeply.
Those who have strong personalities weather the storm of childhood and run when they get the chance. Others who do not have the strength to run, they remain for a lifetime of abuse.
The experiences of an abusive family of origin can make us or break us. Its a test for us to see if we can be strong enough to refuse to believe the lies told about us. Those who are not strong or do not have the Lord will become immoral, engaging in activities that are destructive out of anger and rage.
There is a saying I read recently, I don't know who wrote it but it goes like this; "if the narcissist cannot control you, they will attempt to control how others see you."
My suggestion is for those who have been abused and have remained silent all their years into adulthood, must allow themselves to tell the truth. If those abusers and their flying monkeys get angry and leave you, then you are better off than you were before.
Being alone with Christ is far better than remaining with abusers who will never change. Sadly they prefer to see you as the little child they loved to abuse as though you never grew up, they continue their abuse only more covertly and subtlely than before.
If they can make you look like a lunatic to others they will count it as a win for them.
Matthew 12:47-49 "…47 Someone told Him, “Look, Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to You.” 48 But Jesus replied, “Who is My mother, and who are My brothers?” 49 Pointing to His disciples, He said, “Here are My mother and My brothers."
If you are a born again believer you have a Father and your brothers and sisters are those who love Him, that is the Father in heaven and Jesus Christ. No earthly family member can be for us what Christ can be.
You will still wish your family would act correctly. Just remember that our fantasies about our families changing almost never come true. Yes, we can pray but leaving them to God to deal with them. Our continued presence in their life leaves them content with their habit of abuse. Removing ourselves may do more than remaining.
Never allow others to say foolish things like; "just love them." These are people who have never been abused, they have no clue as to the damage narcissists can do. Staying is not a show of love for abusers, it is foolish to continue with those who are not sorry for their abuse.
We have love in our hearts, we are not bitter but we are protecting our walk with Christ. Bad people will attempt to influence us to be bitter and angry like they are, while glorying in our falls.
1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
How does bad company corrupt good character? There are two ways bad company corrupts good character, one is to make us so angry at their antics that we explode in anger leaving a bad witness for everyone watching, bringing out the worst in us. Another way bad company corrupts good character is the propensity for us to want to do and say what others do and say just to be accepted by them.
God knows our weaknesses and so does the devil. God warns us to stay away from people who promote sin in us. While the devil says, "just love them", to cause guilt in us to remain in company with them.
When in doubt, go to the Word of God and do what He commands. Expunge from your mind all those lies the culture has taught, even the Christian culture who has bought into the lies of the enemy through psychology.
There are those who will pressure you to remain with abusers as though allowing them to abuse us will cause them to change. Here is God's answer to that.
Isaiah 26:10-11 "10 Though grace is shown to the wicked man, he does not learn righteousness. In the land of righteousness he acts unjustly and fails to see the majesty of the LORD. 11 O LORD, Your hand is upraised, but they do not see it. They will see Your zeal for Your people, and be put to shame. The fire set for Your enemies will consume them!…"
Be encouraged, God cares deeply for your plight, He sees it all, all the time.
"As a young child I was told regularly that I was stupid and ugly. I was told I was fat when I was thin. I was told I could not do what other people did. I was chastised with disparaging remarks when I did something right or good." The more I began to develop interests and talents the worse I was treated.
"Over the years the people that emotionally and spiritually abused me never stopped how they treated me, they just hid it a little better when I was married and left home. They knew they could no longer get away with blatantly abusing me so they did it secretly while making others believe they were a great family.
"As time passed over the years the abusers began to work on my children and husband to turn them against me too.
When we hear these kind of stories its hard to believe these things happen. Since many families do not operate this way, it seems like a story invented to invoke sympathy.
Because of my testimony I have met others who have been through this all their lives. Those who grew up believing they were too stupid to succeed, too fat for anyone to love and too ugly to be attractive to anyone. None of it was true but those that were suppose to love us wanted us to believe it and it hurt deeply.
Those who have strong personalities weather the storm of childhood and run when they get the chance. Others who do not have the strength to run, they remain for a lifetime of abuse.
The experiences of an abusive family of origin can make us or break us. Its a test for us to see if we can be strong enough to refuse to believe the lies told about us. Those who are not strong or do not have the Lord will become immoral, engaging in activities that are destructive out of anger and rage.
There is a saying I read recently, I don't know who wrote it but it goes like this; "if the narcissist cannot control you, they will attempt to control how others see you."
My suggestion is for those who have been abused and have remained silent all their years into adulthood, must allow themselves to tell the truth. If those abusers and their flying monkeys get angry and leave you, then you are better off than you were before.
Being alone with Christ is far better than remaining with abusers who will never change. Sadly they prefer to see you as the little child they loved to abuse as though you never grew up, they continue their abuse only more covertly and subtlely than before.
If they can make you look like a lunatic to others they will count it as a win for them.
Matthew 12:47-49 "…47 Someone told Him, “Look, Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to You.” 48 But Jesus replied, “Who is My mother, and who are My brothers?” 49 Pointing to His disciples, He said, “Here are My mother and My brothers."
If you are a born again believer you have a Father and your brothers and sisters are those who love Him, that is the Father in heaven and Jesus Christ. No earthly family member can be for us what Christ can be.
You will still wish your family would act correctly. Just remember that our fantasies about our families changing almost never come true. Yes, we can pray but leaving them to God to deal with them. Our continued presence in their life leaves them content with their habit of abuse. Removing ourselves may do more than remaining.
Never allow others to say foolish things like; "just love them." These are people who have never been abused, they have no clue as to the damage narcissists can do. Staying is not a show of love for abusers, it is foolish to continue with those who are not sorry for their abuse.
We have love in our hearts, we are not bitter but we are protecting our walk with Christ. Bad people will attempt to influence us to be bitter and angry like they are, while glorying in our falls.
1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
How does bad company corrupt good character? There are two ways bad company corrupts good character, one is to make us so angry at their antics that we explode in anger leaving a bad witness for everyone watching, bringing out the worst in us. Another way bad company corrupts good character is the propensity for us to want to do and say what others do and say just to be accepted by them.
God knows our weaknesses and so does the devil. God warns us to stay away from people who promote sin in us. While the devil says, "just love them", to cause guilt in us to remain in company with them.
When in doubt, go to the Word of God and do what He commands. Expunge from your mind all those lies the culture has taught, even the Christian culture who has bought into the lies of the enemy through psychology.
There are those who will pressure you to remain with abusers as though allowing them to abuse us will cause them to change. Here is God's answer to that.
Isaiah 26:10-11 "10 Though grace is shown to the wicked man, he does not learn righteousness. In the land of righteousness he acts unjustly and fails to see the majesty of the LORD. 11 O LORD, Your hand is upraised, but they do not see it. They will see Your zeal for Your people, and be put to shame. The fire set for Your enemies will consume them!…"
Be encouraged, God cares deeply for your plight, He sees it all, all the time.
Narcissists Accuse Others
In a recent article my husband read that the molesting priests would abuse the boys and then send them to confessional to confess to their abuser their sin.
This is absolutely classic narcissism. The narcissist does evil to their target and then blames the target for making them do it.
Unbelievable!!!!!
Lord come quickly!!!
This is absolutely classic narcissism. The narcissist does evil to their target and then blames the target for making them do it.
Unbelievable!!!!!
Lord come quickly!!!
Saturday, August 18, 2018
Disobedient and Stubborn Servants
I find it interesting that many Christians are all atwitter when they are complimented and praised, but become angry, using covert tactics of meanness when they have been corrected.
Doesn't it seem strange that often mankind will take the good stuff but refuse to use the correction as an opportunity to make a change in their hearts?
If mankind could see correction as a good thing the way they see praise and flattery, there would be far more people improving in their attitude and behavior.
Job 2:9-10
"…9 Then Job's wife said to him, “Do you still retain your integrity? Curse God and die!” 10“ You speak as a foolish woman speaks,” he told her. “Should we accept from God only good and not adversity?” In all this, Job did not sin in what he said."
Everything that we encounter including correction or rebuke is for our own good. When someone spurns those who bring correction they are missing an opportunity to grow in holiness.
Happiness is not the goal of the born again believer, holiness is the goal. When we see spiritual growth as the goal of everything we can embrace a challenge for improvement. We can embrace an opportunity to confess what is wrong to go on to embrace what is better.
Those who resist and rage against correction will never grow but in fact they regress. What they had will be taken from them because of their own stubbornness.
Matthew 25:29-30 "29 For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. But the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 30 And throw that worthless servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’…"
The passage in Matthew is speaking of servants who did not grow the treasure that was given to them. And, those who did not grow but even wasted and refused to be diligent in their gifts will regress. The implication here is that those who are stubborn and lazy about their spirituality will be those who have not trusted Christ but wanted to do things the easy way, their own way.
If you have another perspective on this passage I would like to hear it
Doesn't it seem strange that often mankind will take the good stuff but refuse to use the correction as an opportunity to make a change in their hearts?
If mankind could see correction as a good thing the way they see praise and flattery, there would be far more people improving in their attitude and behavior.
Job 2:9-10
"…9 Then Job's wife said to him, “Do you still retain your integrity? Curse God and die!” 10“ You speak as a foolish woman speaks,” he told her. “Should we accept from God only good and not adversity?” In all this, Job did not sin in what he said."
Everything that we encounter including correction or rebuke is for our own good. When someone spurns those who bring correction they are missing an opportunity to grow in holiness.
Happiness is not the goal of the born again believer, holiness is the goal. When we see spiritual growth as the goal of everything we can embrace a challenge for improvement. We can embrace an opportunity to confess what is wrong to go on to embrace what is better.
Those who resist and rage against correction will never grow but in fact they regress. What they had will be taken from them because of their own stubbornness.
Matthew 25:29-30 "29 For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. But the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 30 And throw that worthless servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’…"
The passage in Matthew is speaking of servants who did not grow the treasure that was given to them. And, those who did not grow but even wasted and refused to be diligent in their gifts will regress. The implication here is that those who are stubborn and lazy about their spirituality will be those who have not trusted Christ but wanted to do things the easy way, their own way.
If you have another perspective on this passage I would like to hear it
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)