Today I was reading Michael's blog to Rhonda. The blog title was Spiritual Mercenaries. A topic often addressed under many titles. The problems are certainly real enough, but the foolishness Christians will endure is beyond understanding. We started to reminisce over some of the ridiculous things that we have seen and been through. We endured a song leader, who insisted the chain of command was God, the pastor, and herself, period. She left little room for any misunderstanding as to what she expected you to do at every given moment. If you didn't clap your hands at the assigned moment she would stop the song and give you a few moments of instruction. You felt like you were in boot camp, and she was the drill instructor, and you were, going to get it right.We had a pastor who continually gave words that were not by the Spirit of God.
We have seen in person and on television, the ridiculous, childish game, Simon says, played out many times in many ways; Let's have a wave offering, stand up, sit down, shake hands with those on your right, shakes hands with those on your left, give Jesus a hand, stand up, you may be seated if you can, it's time for an offering everyone take it in your right hand and waved it before God, it's time for an offering everyone laugh a joyful laugh, can I get an amen, somebody help me now, stand up, close your eyes, all eyes are still closed, with nobody looking around, I see a show of hands, stomp your feet on the Devil, I said, can you hear me now, waive your right hand, wave your left hand, it's Christian greeting time you have five minutes to hug as many people as you can, it's pastor appreciation Day, it's pastor's birthday, its pastor's wife's birthday, this year we're going to have two pastor appreciation days, just keep those cards and letters coming in, it's Father's Day, it's Mother's Day, it's Easter Sunday (for the uninitiated, that's a pagan event, Feast of Pentecost, or Resurrection Sunday is acceptable), for our Christmas program we will sing songs that warm your heart but have nothing to do with worshiping God, we have a one-time special offer that were only to repeat twice, stand on one foot wave one hand and say I'm a conqueror , I'm a conqueror , do the hokey poky and turn it all around that's what it's all about , repeat after me, every eye closed, every eye open, can you hear me now! You may be seated . You get the picture?
All this mind numbing exercise at the expense of the Spirit of God. You are told what to say, when to say it, and what to think about it. All given in short soundbites, so you can easily follow directions. We'll display it on the screen, we will hand out fliers, be sure to take notes, and by the tape right after the service. Don't forget to go to our Bible bookstore, where every self-help book is available to you. Can you feel the spirit of God, let's sing and other anointed song, led by our anointed song leader, accompanied by our anointed the pianist , and anointed heavy metal guitarist. And now for special song done by my lovely anointed daughter, whose anointed CD is available in our bookstore. And next week we will have a special speaker Steve T. Prophet, he wouldn't recognize the Spirit of God if he sat down right next to Him, but he has a message for our church. Sort of makes you want to vomit, doesn't it? Well, the lukewarm will be vomited out of God's mouth.
It's truly sad, when those who should be teachers need to be taught again. It's truly sad, when men think by the excellence of their ability, they can enter the presence of God, or substitute charisma for the witness of God. It's sad when people don't know the difference between whooping and hollering and the move of the Spirit of God. It is truly sad when men cannot discern between emotion and the leading of the Spirit. It's sad when a church has no one that can interpret tongues. It's sad when there is no prophet to say amen or oh man. It's sad when Christians accept self help books in place of hearing from God, directly themselves. It's sad when we think everyone who says that they are a Christian really are. It's sad that people think that every new program that comes down the pipe is from God, not realizing it was actually a sanitation pipe. No, people of God, it's we who have empowered the wicked, by being foolish, lacks in our efforts towards God, and unbelieving in the leading of the Spirit. It's we who allow the mercenaries to take advantage of God's people by our lack of judgment. It's an open shame that those who seem to have authority in God's church refuse to exercise that authority over the undeserving and wicked, but are more than willing to accept worldly programs. It's beyond comprehension that we turn over spirituality to the blind. It is sad we give to the dogs, what is holy.
L,J,P&HG
Dave
3 comments:
Amen, Dave. Thank God that we do not have to be exposed to that confusion/false joy and excitment.
It is sort of the like, "the spin stops here."
We cannot point fingers at anyone else, or judge others more harshly than ourselves. It is because of our unwillingness to speak the truth—whether it be a rebuke (wise will receive it and thank you for it), word of repentance (those who have ears would hear and be pricked to the heart knowing that they have done wrong), or a word of judgment against the very man or woman who was sent (not by God) to deceive and ensnare God's people—that this has been allowed.
Thank you for sharing this. It is truth.
Ryan
(The Lord led me to read Jude this morning, which addresses some of the very same issues— mockers/deceivers in the church, contending for the faith.)
Boy ya just got a lot bottled up inside dont ya Bro Dave...lol let it out brother...lol..Christian love is Bonnie in Australia, who rode 2 hours on a train to visit the hospitalized grandaughter and son of someone she has never met. Christian love is when she took the recipe of the person she had never met and un-asked made the womans son a carrot cake...no rewards received on earth, but oh what rewards stored up in heaven. Yes i have come out of the thing that calls itself the church, because it lacks the leading and direction of the Holy Ghost and is an abomination to an all Holy God. There is a doctrine for every demand and lots of career oportunities for people who want to make themselves famous on the backs of those who call themselves christian...oh and by the way your comment on the rain thing in Georgia on Michaels blog...was excellent..God causes it to rain on the just and the unjust.
God bless
Helen B
Dave, I know just what you are saying, having had some of these church experiences myself. These dogs control and manipulate the flock. They are bounty hunters, and we, the gullible, follow blindly...if we do dare to question, then we are counselled not to rebel against authority. There is a technique these dogs use, and I liken it to the 'cycle of violence' where the perpetrator demoralises the person in order to control them, then creates a dependency. In the case of these church leaders, they point out a person's faults under the guise of 'the Lord showed me' or 'don't question me because I'm the pastor'. The person then feels guilty and inadequate... a failure as a Christian. Of course the pastor is the only one who can then help them and so the cycle of control and dependency is created.
These are the mercenaries.
We tolerate sin, because we are told 'don't judge' when the fruit of a person's life shows clearly that they aren't even a Christian....
I am so thankful that we can encourage each other all the more as the day approaches.
God bless, brothers at Elm Street.
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