Church problems? Let’s blame the other guy!
If you’ve been reading this blog for long, then you know that I have a good friend who lives in southern Canada (i.e., Maine) named Dan. He blogs at “Some Church Stuff.” Alot of his writing is sarcastic and edgy.
His last two posts are not on the sarcastic side at all. They are straightforward and, I think, important for all of us to read and consider. The posts are called “Culpritless Crime” and “Blame the Victim.”
I’m not going to quote Dan’s posts, because I think it would be better for you to read both of them. But, I will tell you the point: if the church of Jesus Christ is not living as we should, then it is not the fault of the leaders (pastors). All of us all responsible for following Jesus Christ and helping others follow him. In fact, the problems among the church have arisen because all of us (leaders and nonleaders alike) are not living in Christ among one another.
As said in a comment on the first post above: “It is so easy to point our finger at other people and blame them. It is much more difficult to take stock of where WE are and move on from there, following Jesus into whatever and wherever he leads us, regardless of what has happened in our past.”
Good stuff, Dan! Thanks!
Here is the place and qualifying act and demonstration of the Spirit of God that one can say he is in Christ–> 1Corinthians 12:13, Romans 8:9 This Baptism of the Spirit into the body of Christ is not that of water but of the Spirit. Ephesians 4:5, There is no other baptism or any other qualifier one can make THEIR boast, in claiming to be in Christ.
Here is the righteousness that with the heart anyone who believes God raised Jesus from the dead that establishes not only in Christ but a sable ministers of the New Testament—> 2Corinthians 3:3-6
If you are not here, 1Corinthians 12:13 and this ministry of righteousness is not in you , you are none of His, Romans 8:9
THEREFORE; If you are judging the Church you are judging the Spirit of the LORD, and if you are judging the false and religious, you then are judging yourself for judging what you ought not to judge THE BODY OF CHRIST.
This is not an opinion it is the LORD’S judgement and the WORD AND THE SPIRIT THE WITNESS
Ed,
I’m not really sure what you’re saying. Pointing out problems among the church (which Luke, Paul, Peter, Jude, James, and John all did) is not the same as judging anyone or judging the Spirit of the Lord. This is not opinion either.
-Alan
Alan,
A loud “Amen!” to your words, “Pointing out problems among the church (which Luke, Paul, Peter, Jude, James, and John all did) is not the same as judging anyone or judging the Spirit of the Lord”.
Fifty years ago I learned a huge lesson: One of the most difficult ptoblems to deal with was those, who were members of the church (the institution), but who may, or may not have been members of the Church (the Body of Christ).
Why was it difficult? The former had an amazingly encyclopeadic knowledge of the words of Scripture,which I think Diotrophes probably had, but, like him, they don’t want to be ON the team, they want to be the MASTHEAD of the team. In other words, the centre of attention.
Aussie John,
Thanks. I’m certain there are many who hang around Christians and even act like Christians who are not actually in Christ. It’s not always easy to tell them apart. I believe that the more the church actually lives as the church, it will be less and less comfortable for those to continue to hang around. As long as the church is mostly passive, it will continue to be comfortable for them.
-Alan
Alan, awesome and thank you for the posts of dan, church stuff, very eye opening an I posted there as well agian thanks
Alan,
You are so right!