There is a growing faction within Christendom that practice "bullying" as their form of leadership in the home and in the church.
This mentality that real men bully, is demonically inspired as well as the opposite of what Christ taught in His Word the Bible.
1 Peter 5:3
"Not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock."
Titus 1:7
"For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain,"
1 Peter 5:1-4 "5 Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, 2 shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; 3 nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 5 You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
When we encounter a bully in the pulpit or in families we know they are not obeying God. Christ commanded the leaders of families and in church gatherings to be humble, sacrificial and loving.
There lacks humility and love in anyone who thinks they need to bully to force others to adhere to their idea of righteousness. When the Bible is ignored in order to follow man's traditions, or when the Bible is twisted to justify sin, we know that leader does not belong in a leadership position.
Those who dominate over others, punish and coerce those who are under them are using human desire to control others, this si not of God nor is it helpful.
God told the leaders of families to love their wives as Christ loved the church. Christ died for the church, He taught and encouraged in the way of righteousness. He never at any time forced people through manipulation or demeaning to do His will. He spoke truth and left the decision to the hearer.
Notice an interesting truth, our heart is never changed by bullying. Our outward actions can change to avoid further bullying, but the heart remains the same. When the heart is allowed to be what it is, it can choose to believe truth or not. When a heart decides to believe truth the outer actions will change. The bullying does nothing for the heart, but it might get people to do things our way so we are fulled into believing there has been a change, but only the actions have changed not the heart.
Those who depend on outward appearances to "feel" better or as thought they had an affect, that some actions have changed are living a dilution. These narcissists who believe in bullying others to think as they do are not doing it to honor God, but rather merely to feed their pride that they were able to get someone to do what they wanted.
Bullying to force people to accept your own way is not godly it is demonic.
James 3:1-18
"Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! ..."
Tuesday, May 28, 2019
Who is Your Hero?
There is no room for "heroes" in our lives. Those who have heroes often are living vicariously off of the accomplishments of others.
God is no respecter of persons, He loved everyone and wanted a relationship with them. but holds no one higher than anyone else.
Romans 3:23
"23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,"
When we spend more time admiring people who seem to have done great things, than we do admiring and praising God then we have moved into the realm of idolatry.
We can love people and we love God with all our heart, soul and mind, a far greater love for Him than any person. When we do this we will never see any person as more special than anyone else.
We have all had to come to Christ the same way, that is in brokenness over our sinful nature to be cleansed by Christ.
Often the narcissist will elevate people who have worldly accomplishments but treat with contempt and disrespectfully the person who brings scripture to bear on all situations.
Those who look horizontally comparing themselves with others, while desiring to be great vicariously through them, are empty souls.
I know of many people in my life who spent far more time praising people with accomplishments than speaking about Christ. There is a sort of "hero worship" that makes them feel superior to others merely by their association with those accomplished people.
When we see all people the same, that is desperately wicked in need of a Savior, we will not be elevating anyone according to their worldly accomplishments. We will not be judging anyone based on their outward actions so much as we will see their Spirit that witnesses to us that they belong to Christ.
We are all serving Christ in one way or another, no one's task in that service is greater than another. When we see someone who has accomplished a lot for Christ it is Christ we praise not the person.
Galatians 1:10
"For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ."
John 12:43
"For they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God."
Narcissists tend to interpret our lack of praise for them as hatred toward them because praise is the most important thing to them.
We can appreciate and love people because their Spirit is that of Christ, but praising them as special is to give the glory for their life to man rather than to Christ.
Good works in the believer are the works of Christ in them not of man all by himself.
We can more fully love people when we do not have to evaluate their "worthiness" to be loved. We love them while they are whatever they are without expectations and human rules to make sure they measure up.
However, if a human being has heard the gospel, will not listen and continues to live in rebellious ways, then God's love is spurned then we have no choice except to walk away and leave them to God.
We agonize over the person who rebels because of our love for them, but we must walk away to leave them alone with Christ. Their ability to continue to undermine our own walk is far too intense to ignore.
Colossians 3:23-24 "23 Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, for the Lord and not for men, 24 because you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as your reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.…"
There are those who elevate others because they secretly with they could be elevated. It is akin to praising a ball player, withing you could be in his place as the hero. Those who do not need to be seen as a hero don't generally have heroes in their thinking.
Remember: Love God first and fully and love man God's way! That is to never elevate one man over another. God's love for man is to share truth that one might grow in holiness. This is the love of God.
Hebrews 10:21-25 "…23 Let us hold resolutely to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds. 25 Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.?
God is no respecter of persons, He loved everyone and wanted a relationship with them. but holds no one higher than anyone else.
Romans 3:23
"23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,"
When we spend more time admiring people who seem to have done great things, than we do admiring and praising God then we have moved into the realm of idolatry.
We can love people and we love God with all our heart, soul and mind, a far greater love for Him than any person. When we do this we will never see any person as more special than anyone else.
We have all had to come to Christ the same way, that is in brokenness over our sinful nature to be cleansed by Christ.
Often the narcissist will elevate people who have worldly accomplishments but treat with contempt and disrespectfully the person who brings scripture to bear on all situations.
Those who look horizontally comparing themselves with others, while desiring to be great vicariously through them, are empty souls.
I know of many people in my life who spent far more time praising people with accomplishments than speaking about Christ. There is a sort of "hero worship" that makes them feel superior to others merely by their association with those accomplished people.
When we see all people the same, that is desperately wicked in need of a Savior, we will not be elevating anyone according to their worldly accomplishments. We will not be judging anyone based on their outward actions so much as we will see their Spirit that witnesses to us that they belong to Christ.
We are all serving Christ in one way or another, no one's task in that service is greater than another. When we see someone who has accomplished a lot for Christ it is Christ we praise not the person.
Galatians 1:10
"For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ."
John 12:43
"For they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God."
Narcissists tend to interpret our lack of praise for them as hatred toward them because praise is the most important thing to them.
We can appreciate and love people because their Spirit is that of Christ, but praising them as special is to give the glory for their life to man rather than to Christ.
Good works in the believer are the works of Christ in them not of man all by himself.
We can more fully love people when we do not have to evaluate their "worthiness" to be loved. We love them while they are whatever they are without expectations and human rules to make sure they measure up.
However, if a human being has heard the gospel, will not listen and continues to live in rebellious ways, then God's love is spurned then we have no choice except to walk away and leave them to God.
We agonize over the person who rebels because of our love for them, but we must walk away to leave them alone with Christ. Their ability to continue to undermine our own walk is far too intense to ignore.
Colossians 3:23-24 "23 Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, for the Lord and not for men, 24 because you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as your reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.…"
There are those who elevate others because they secretly with they could be elevated. It is akin to praising a ball player, withing you could be in his place as the hero. Those who do not need to be seen as a hero don't generally have heroes in their thinking.
Remember: Love God first and fully and love man God's way! That is to never elevate one man over another. God's love for man is to share truth that one might grow in holiness. This is the love of God.
Hebrews 10:21-25 "…23 Let us hold resolutely to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds. 25 Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.?
Monday, May 27, 2019
Deceptions in the church
1. Acceptance of divorce and remarriage.
2. Yoga
3. Prosperity Preaching
4. Holidays God never commanded
5. Gospel in the Stars
6. Christian Astrology
7. Calvinism
8. Reform Theology
9. Holy Laughter
10. Replacement Theology
11. Women in the Pulpit
12. One Man Salaried Pastor
13. Appearances over Substance
14. Worship Teams
15. Secular Music to Draw People
16. Depending on human strategies rather than the Holy Spirit
17. Elimination of preaching on Hell
18. Elimination of preaching on Holiness
19. Appearances over Substance
20. Relegating truth of the Bible to "back then"
21. Children separated from parents in Worship
22. Elimination of the Lord's Supper
23. Super Bowl in God's House
24. Levity Preaching to entertain the flock
25. Preaching more about politics than Christ
26. Dumbing Down of Instruction to entice non-believers
27. Modern songs that have 7 hooks and no substance
28. Christian Witches
29. Pagan symbols used in worship
30. Using Scripture out of context to fit into the culture
5. Gospel in the Stars
6. Christian Astrology
7. Calvinism
8. Reform Theology
9. Holy Laughter
10. Replacement Theology
11. Women in the Pulpit
12. One Man Salaried Pastor
13. Appearances over Substance
14. Worship Teams
15. Secular Music to Draw People
16. Depending on human strategies rather than the Holy Spirit
17. Elimination of preaching on Hell
18. Elimination of preaching on Holiness
19. Appearances over Substance
20. Relegating truth of the Bible to "back then"
21. Children separated from parents in Worship
22. Elimination of the Lord's Supper
23. Super Bowl in God's House
24. Levity Preaching to entertain the flock
25. Preaching more about politics than Christ
26. Dumbing Down of Instruction to entice non-believers
27. Modern songs that have 7 hooks and no substance
28. Christian Witches
29. Pagan symbols used in worship
30. Using Scripture out of context to fit into the culture
31. Increasing anti Israel Mentalities
I am sure there are many more you could come up with if you have been someone who seeks after Christ with your whole heart. These are just a few that have infiltrated the gatherings of believers.
Psalm 95:1-11
"Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land."
Psalm 24:8-10
Seminary: A Concoction of Men
God never intended for men to learn from seminaries. Godly men were to learn from the Bible guided by the Holy Spirit. Now we have pastors in the pulpits who were looking for a career and were never born again. I see no commands in the Bible for men to go to a formal school to learn how to run a church. I do see in there the command to teach and preach as led by the Holy Spirit.
God never said; "seminary will lead you into all truth."
He did say this:
John 16:13-14
"13 However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come. 14 He will glorify Me by taking from what is Mine and disclosing it to you.…"
God never said; "seminary will lead you into all truth."
He did say this:
John 16:13-14
"13 However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come. 14 He will glorify Me by taking from what is Mine and disclosing it to you.…"
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