Is It Black or Is It Blue?

I have to say that I’m when told that something is black and the actual color is blue, I am NOT someone who will sit by quietly and go along with the propaganda.  Any of you who know me well, will attest to that.

Lately, it seems that situations along this line are something I’ve been wrestling with.  Things are black and white or wrong or right.  It is very disturbing to me when I see folks twisting the truth to accomplish their own agenda.  And, what’s more…when they’re found out, they refuse to admit wrongdoing. I thought transparency was the best policy?  Oh yeah, I guess that’s for everyone except church leadership! (Ouch…true, but ouch!)

Now the sticky part…of course I’m speaking about The Church…no, not any church in particular…The Church.  Now, before you get your tail feathers ruffled, please realize that I am grateful for The Church.  I am a member of The Church, The Body of Christ, and I am in no way bashing it.  I am simply going to share my thoughts on what I have experienced over the past several years.  My hope and prayer is that we…The Church…will make some decisions to focus on people…not just SAY those words…but truly focus on people and their needs in all aspects of life.  Are we so focused on numbers and growing churches bigger and bigger that we are essentially leaving folks in our wake simply because we want to have a “growing church…or look good…or have the biggest church?”

I have had conversations with leaders that spout out things like a car salesman who has memorized something as a sales pitch for the “answers” to my questions.  Those answers would be fine if all of the “book learning” they repeated were truly the answer.  They weren’t the answers to my questions.  What I have found is so many leaders, young and old, “know” exactly what to say because of what they’ve been taught.  But what is lacking is a true leading of the Holy Spirit.  Who?  Yes, the Holy Spirit. So many in the church have become so educated about ministry and running a church that they rely on their own head knowledge entirely too much.  Did you know that some Bible translators are even re-writing the Bible and leaving out important things such as the actual Holy Spirit?  It’s true!  I’m not against education in any way and I say again…I am not bashing anyone.  I am sharing with you what I have experienced at several different churches.  I have been extremely confused and upset at times at the cold and ineffective answers I have gotten to some very challenging questions I have asked several leaders over the past several years.  (Q:: “Why can’t we give folks an opportunity to accept Jesus as their Savior?”  A:: “It’s not part of the program.”---Yep, this really happened!)

 

But God!!  Yes, but God…He has crossed my path with someone who is not only highly educated, but also is a Spirit led person and has extensive experience within the church.  I have spoken with this person for several hours over the past month or so and I find that I am not alone, but I am in the minority in my thinking.  I also have learned that I’m not entirely wrong in what I’m seeing in The Church.  I cannot begin to tell you just how grateful I am for this new relationship.  I thank God…His timing is so perfect… and right when I was beginning to feel hopeless.      

I find that churches are looking for the young, educated and dare I say good looking folks to be leaders.  Hmmm…this sounds a lot like how the book of Daniel opens up in Babylon!!  King Nebuchadnezzar only wanted the young good looking, educated “movers and shakers” of their time and he wanted nothing to do with God.  (I’m not saying that churches don’t want anything to do with God…but, if we don’t rely on the Holy Spirit aren’t we ignoring Him?)  Now I have nothing against folks who happen to fall into this category, but my question is; what about the rest of us?  Are we not all called of God for the special purpose that He made each and every one of us for…regardless of where we are in our walk with the Lord?  I have had conversations with a leader who said that they actually banned a person from being on the worship team simply because they didn’t like something that was going on in that person’s personal life.  My jaw hit the floor! The issue they explained to me wasn’t even something “bad.”  My thoughts were that they were missing out on a wonderful chance for the Lord to help someone learn a different way of doing things in their life.  By banning this person from the worship team, feelings were hurt and it’s my understanding that this person moved on to another church…who knows if the issue ever got resolved.  Another is where it’s claimed that women are celebrated for their God given gifts and talents, but they’re limited to the “kitchen” ministry or working with other women and children only.  One place won’t even allow a woman’s name to be listed as a “worship leader.”  Wow!!  I hope Darlene Zschech or Kari Jobe don’t move to the area and want to be a part of this worship team.  At one place a person was told that they could play the guitar on the worship team, but the volume may be turned down because they weren’t sure that they should be heard….REALLY?!?  I happen to know this person and they are currently on a team where the volume for them is not turned down and they are an appreciated member of the worship team.  (These are only a few of the stories that I’ll share for time’s sake.)


Is this how Jesus treated his disciples?  From what I’ve read about my Lord and Savior, my answer is “no!”


One word…Babylon!!  Church, we have got to do better…much better!  We are in the world but not of the world!  Are we so focused on appearing perfect…while actually being superficial, that we’ve lost what being a follower of Christ is all about…lost hurting people?  Of course we want to be organized, focused and communicate well.  Those things are much needed within any organization.  But, doing so at the cost of hurting people who simply need Jesus is not the way to go about doing it.  Calling yourself a Christ follower without treating people the way Jesus treated them is like telling me that the color black is really blue.  That doesn’t wash with me. 

Jesus loved people.  That’s why He gave up Heaven, came to earth and lived an everyday life just like us.  He experienced everything that we have or ever will experience…but yet, He never sinned.  That blows my mind…He never sinned!  In the midst of living here on earth, He did what His Father wanted Him to do.  He was led by His Father.  It didn’t matter if He was in a hurry to get somewhere, if He was led to stop and take care of someone, that’s exactly what He did.  He is our ultimate example!  Are we open to the leading of the Holy Spirit when we’re in a hurry or when it’s inconvenient for us?  Do we “stiff arm” people because we don’t want to deal with the “mess” of their lives?  What about those who look different than us…maybe they have piercings, tattoos or colored hair?  There is a business that is known for its Christian values, but their standards are to not hire folks who “look a certain way.”  Really?!?  What an opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life who maybe doesn’t know the Lord.  And…what about those who do know the Lord and have piercing, tattoos or colored hair.  Are they discriminated against because they don’t look the part of a “typical Christian”…whatever that is?  Honestly and quite bluntly…I don’t believe that Jesus cares what they look like physically.  It’s their heart He wants.  Why aren’t we…The Church…more concerned about people’s hurting hearts?  Folks, the fields are ripe for harvest!  It’s not for us to decide that the harvest doesn’t “look” like a harvest that we want to reap.  I believe we’re hired to do a job in spite of what the harvest looks like.

With the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior at hand, I encourage you to search your heart, ask the Lord to show you what attitudes you may have about the lost and hurting.  If not for the grace of God, you or I could be that homeless man or woman looking for their next meal.  You are blessed because you have a roof over your head and food on your table whether your income is 10 dollars per year or 10 million a year.  None of us is any more special than the other. (Read that over and over until you get the reality of it.) God loves us all the same.  In Him, we are all on an even playing field…even though that’s really not how we, The Church, act a lot of the time.

Jesus is coming soon and He’s looking for a Bride without spot or blemish.  I believe it has more to do with our individual / collective hearts than it does the look of our churches, the sound of our worship team or the sophistication of the message.  Of course we want excellence for our King, don’t get me wrong, but let’s not do it at the expense of the hearts of others.  Let’s share the love of our Savior, Jesus Christ!!  Isn’t that what He wants us to do?  Don’t accept the color black being called blue just because someone you respect is calling it that.  You have a body, heart, mind, soul, and spirit of your own.  Look to God and be led of the Spirit…he will not lead you wrong!!

 

     

A House Divided Will Not Stand.

About 6 years ago, something in my life happened that caused me to keep myself and my immediate family safe from my extended family.  At the time, the fact that I had to make this decision was actually tormenting.  It’s something that I had wanted and needed to do for years, but I wouldn’t because I felt guilt about it.  Even though I knew that guilt was from the enemy, I still grappled with walking away.  The enemy attacked me from different angles telling me not only that I was a terrible person, but that I was a terrible Christian.  Well, going through that has made me a much stronger person because I’m not a terrible person, nor am I a terrible Christian…imperfect and saved by grace, but not terrible!  I was a hurting person who was forced to set safe boundaries for myself and my family...period!  And…although I don’t put myself in the same league as Abraham and Joseph, the Lord used them as examples to show me how He separated them from their families for a reason.  Abraham’s family worshipped idols and Joseph’s family had tremendous dysfunction, but later reunited them. 

At that time, the Lord spoke to me through 3 different ministries…teaching, leading, encouraging, guiding and growing me.  Overall, God has made me a much stronger person in my faith as well as in my mind.  And, although I don’t listen to those ministries on a daily basis like I did, I do still listen to them, am grateful for them and still support one of them financially.

Well, lately, I have let one of my family members back into my life.  I thought that everything would be ok.  Oh how wrong I was!  What I have found is that this person has found it their “calling” to let me know in their “subtle” ways that these ministries…that have helped me to be a better, stronger Christian…are all “false Christian teachers” and that I need to listen to the programs that they listen to so I can find out the truth. 

I have to tell you that over the past month or so, I have done some research. And what I have found is that no matter what ministry I listen to, I have found a little something that doesn’t set well with me and perhaps it doesn’t line up completely with what the Bible says…not grossly…and I don’t believe on purpose either.  But, who am I to point a finger and cry heresy?  The way I see it, I’m no expert, but I know the voice of my God and I also know that none of us are perfect.  I believe that we need to be very cautious about what we teach and that there are consequences to deliberate false teaching.  But what I’m seeing within the body of Christ is people accusing others of heresy when they themselves teach against things that are clearly stated in the Bible.  Maybe they should read the Bible on that particular subject… and not present something out of context and exploit what someone is teaching that is Biblical.  No one person has the Bible figured out.  I certainly do not profess to!  No one person is so wise that they have the authority to condemn other Christian teachers publicly!  Now, if these teachers were teaching that we should isolate ourselves and follow only one person(not Jesus)and then advised us to drink laced Kool-aid to take us to “heaven,” then we would have a problem.  Or if they were twisting the scripture to mean something that it wasn’t meant to mean, this too, would be a problem.  Gross wrong teaching should be addressed properly! This is definitely not the case!  Just today I read this passage from Beth Moore’s  Jesus:  90 days with the One and only.  Day 48  ‘I remember a time when a critical letter from a seminary graduate shook my confidence.  As I read the list of mistakes she was pointing out, I started thinking, “She’s right!  What in the world do I think I’m doing? I have no formal theological education.  I shouldn’t even be doing this!”  But God reminded me during the following days that I was exactly right; I shouldn’t be doing this.  This ministry is God’s.  If my confidence is in myself, I’m in big trouble.  God also assured me that I will always make mistakes, but they will serve as reminders to my readers never to think more highly of this teacher than they ought.  Only One can be taken at His every word.’    This is such a true statement!!  Yes, we are all human and we will make mistakes…none but Jesus is perfect!!

This is truly an example of how the enemy works.  He is the accuser of the brethren.  Just like this family member has done to me, the enemy will cause all sorts of trouble and then turn around and accuse us falsely to try to break us down and try to discredit us as well as others.  This is what the enemy loves to do, and all too often, he uses Christians to do just that within the body of Christ.  I have to tell you that some of the teachings I watched on the internet were shocking…from both the accusers and the accused.  I approached it with much prayer.  But what I did find is that on one side, when questions were raised and the person was reprimanded, they humbled themselves, corrected themselves and apologized.  I did not find that on the other side…those making accusations and causing a ruckus.

I know that when I worship Jesus Christ through music that He accepts my worship.  I don’t believe He disapproves of me because I’m not worshipping Him through hymns or music that is traditionally acceptable by certain denominations within the Body of Christ.  Who sets the standards for worshipping with music anyway?  The most wealthy in the church who threaten to leave if it’s not done their way?  What if we were in Africa and all we had to worship with were our voices and sticks to keep a beat?  Does God reject that form of worship because it’s not the traditional hymn performed in the traditional way?  I don’t believe He rejects any of our worship as long as the great name of Jesus is being lifted up by folks whose hearts are set on Jesus…whether it be in Africa or any other part of the world who may have only limited means, in denominations that worship only with hymns or non-denominational churches that worship with contemporary music.  God created us to be unique!  I believe He loves the different ways that people worship Him.  Why do we get so hung up on the differences?! No one way is the perfect way!  In fact, getting hung up on the different styles of worship and causing a ruckus takes the focus off of God and puts it onto ourselves.  Are we truly worshipping if we’re being judgmental of the style of music while we’re in the midst of worship?

This scenario reminds me of places in the Bible where Jesus healed people and the Pharisees said that He was filled with Satan.  I ask you; how is it that the enemy…Satan, Lucifer, the Devil…whatever you want to call him… would lead me to praise Jesus, learn from God’s word and continue on to help others in Jesus’ name?  A house divided against itself will not stand.  It is simply ridiculous!!

So, once again, because of all of this, I have had to make the difficult choice to protect myself.  But, I know that the Lord knows of my love for this person and even though they have tried to cause problems for me, I know that the Lord loves this person as much as He loves me or anyone else for that matter.  I don’t wish bad things for them, nor do I doubt their belief in Christ.  But, I will protect myself and my family at all cost.  I will protect my well being.  I will not let the enemy bring me down…period!  God has created me, like you, for a specific purpose and I will not let accusations stop me from fulfilling what God has created me to do…Lord willing. 

With all of this said, I believe that we should all be very cautious about who we let into our “inner circle” of friends…or even family.  Of course we should never be above or beyond correction!  But, be sure of who is behind this correction.  Is it a person who truly cares about you, or is it the enemy trying to get you off track from our mighty God?  We are at the end of the end of days.  The enemy is doing all that he can to tear the Body of Christ apart.  Don’t fall for his tactics and surely don’t be one he uses for that purpose.  Our Great Shepherd said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me.”  John 10:27  Stay tuned into His voice…it’s His voice that truly matters!

If you like this, check out my other, shorter blog.  I post there 2 times a week.  http://actnowday2daydevo.blogspot.com/

The Full Armor of God

The Full Armor of God

Recently, I heard someone teach a lesson on how we don’t need the armor of God if we continually praise / worship God through good times and bad.  They used the example of David and how he didn’t use any armor to defeat Goliath.  He drew from the time of preparation as a shepherd to defeat the giant…time that included praising/worshipping God along with taking care of sheep which includes defending them from would be assailants.  Simply because David was confident in what God had equipped, or rather, created him to do, he knew that there was no way he would miss taking out the enemy…who had openly been defiant to the God of Israel.

In all of this I can completely see the truth in what was taught.  But my question for God was; why then does Your word tell us to put on the full armor of God?  The word of God is truth and our manual for life’s issues.  Why wouldn’t we need the armor of God?  The Lord answered my question in this manner.  The armor of God isn’t just speaking out that we’re literally putting on the spiritual armor.  It’s found in each piece of armor itself.  (See Ephesians 6:10-18)

1. The belt of Truth…the Truth being the Word of God…reading it on a regular basis…learning/knowing who God is through His word.  The belt is a foundational piece of armor that holds other pieces of the armor in place.  The word of God is our foundation to knowing who God is and how to live our lives out in a Godly manner.

2. The breastplate of Righteousness…truly knowing that you are righteous because and only because of the work that Jesus did on the cross for all mankind.  Jesus is righteous and He has made us righteous.  When God looks at us, He sees us through the Righteousness of Jesus…making us Righteous.  The breastplate guards our heart and all other vital organs.

3. The shoes of Peace…walking in peace and love, imitating Jesus, the Prince of Peace…learning about Jesus from the gospel of peace.

4. The helmet of Salvation…full knowledge and confidence in Salvation through Jesus Christ…the Savior of all mankind.  That knowledge protects our mind from the lies the enemy uses to try to break us down and destroy us.

5. The shield of Faith…continual growing and deepening our Faith in God…knowing that He is for us, trusting and believing in Him without a doubt.  The shield used to quench the fiery darts the enemy uses to try to take us out of commission.

6. The sword of the Spirit…speaking the Word of God out to situations in our lives or the lives of others…the Word of God, when spoken, does not come back void and it accomplishes what He wants it to accomplish.  (See Isaiah 55:11)  It is also sharper that a two edged sword.  (See Hebrews 4:12)

7. Praying in the Spirit…praying without ceasing, continual communication with God (See 1 Thessalonians 5:17) …prayers led by the Holy Spirit…not out of our own understanding or interpretation of things and not restricted to praying in tongues only.

All seven things listed are a form of worship to God.  Honoring Him in these things, basically putting Him first in our lives is a form of worship to the God of the Universe.  And adding to that…

8. Praising God in word or song is putting our focus…our attention on God…worshipping Him…making and keeping Him the Center of our lives our everything.

When we live a balanced life, this spiritual armor is one way God covers us…protecting us from the enemy.

Be sober; be vigilant; because your adversary, the devil, roams about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. 1 Peter 5:8

The definition of vigilant is:  1. keenly watchful to detect trouble; wary.  2. ever awake and alert

It says for us to be keenly watchful or ever awake and alert because the devil is seeking whom he may devour.  The way that is stated let’s me know that not everyone “is available” to be devoured.  You see it’s very easy for us to get out of balance.  Of course we’re not perfect and this is a journey we’re on…a journey where we learn and grow in God.  He watches over us and when we do get out of balance, His mercy and grace covers us.  But, it also shows me that we have a part to do in all of this.  As Joyce Meyer says, “We have a part to do and God has a part to do.  He will not do our part and we cannot do His part.”  Being vigilant and staying “on task” is very important.  The life of a follower of Jesus Christ is not a walk in the park…that is, as long as you are continually growing.

Now I’d like to touch on the fact that there are seven item listed in Ephesians for the armor of God.  Seven is the number in the Bible for completeness and spiritual perfection.*  It’s no surprise to me that there are seven items that comprise the full armor of God.  Oh…but what about number eight…praising and worshipping God in word and/or song?  I’m glad you asked!  The number eight signifies new birth, new creation or new order.*  Just as eight people were saved from the Great Flood and repopulated the earth, this was a new birth of the world population, a new order of things.*  Or just as there are eight notes in a musical scale…the eighth note is also the first note in the next octave…also a new beginning.*

So, even though praising and worshipping God is not listed with the full armor of God, it is a type of armor that we use in spiritual warfare…number eight…a new order of things, a new creation or a new beginning.  It doesn’t make the other items obsolete.  It sums up the seven pieces of armor listed.

Now this brings me back to the beginning of this lesson...a new beginning.  (Ha! ;D I couldn’t resist that!)   Even though I didn’t doubt what I learned from the teaching that day…I wanted to understand it more thoroughly.  I praise God for who He is!  His word says that if we lack wisdom, all we have to do is ask for it and He will give it without reproach. (See James 1:5)  This is a wonderful example of just how faithful God is to answer our prayers…and also how His word, when spoken, does not come back void.  How awesome and amazing He is!!

Selah 


Taken from Dr. Ed Vallowe’s “Biblical Mathematics”

Also, see my Day2DayDevo   http://actnowday2daydevo.blogspot.com/