GOD'S WILL - NEW VIDEO BY "WRETCHED"

The facts...just the facts, ma'am (or sir)!  Love this man.  Enjoy and God's will be done. Share the Gospel so God's will can be done for all!

First Corinthians 15:1-11

AVOID THIS WEBSITE PLEASE!

I'm not going to pretty this post up with pics.  Not sure how I came upon this page but I'm warning you to avoid it like the plague.  Oh, I remember, I was trying an experiment, seeing how many of today's best pastors are called out as false prophets.  This site has a very huge list that includes true wolves, no doubt, but many I have shared, listened to and learned a lot from.  However, if you want to read how arrogant, boastful, and just how cruel they are to everyone who writes with such a simple question as "how to be saved" to see they are called snakes, bastards, satan, and many other horrible and cruel names, maybe you should.  I even read one that said we must confess our sins to man (remind you of the confessional) and besides him and his partner that he has now called out as something (who knows) and demoted, he knew of no man other than them.  ARE YOU KIDDING ME?  I will tell you this, if you doubt your salvation, don't go to this page.  They will convince you that you are not saved.  You know, the name should have been a huge clue but I wanted to prove my point, that all men of God are labeled as false prophets and to a degree, yes we all are because we are fallible and we ALL get things wrong.  If pride is a great sin as in the case of "Lucifer" then what would God say to them?  If any does visit this page The Path to Truth I'd love to hear your thoughts.  I'm not labeled as one nor are any other bloggers so that's good. However, "the path...." to anything should be a HUGE warning sign that it is a cult.  God bless and use discernment if you visit but don't buy into what they say.  Rely on the Word of God but I have to admit, it's kind of well, hilarious, in retrospect.  Oh, the refuse to give a Statement of Faith for fear of being "misunderstood." They preach we are not given the Holy Spirit until we have a separate "experience," teach we'll have all the Spiritual gifts at some point in our life IF....and other unsound doctrines.  This is my personal POV as well as many others.  Read some of their comments and does this sound like "chastisement in LOVE as commanded" to you?  Don't wanna steer anyone wrong about salvation but although they claim it's not works-based, judge for yourself.  They also teach that not all, just certain people, will be saved and we have no choice in making that decision.  So then what's the point of sharing the Gospel of Salvation then?  It comes back to the very misunderstood verse about "predestination."  I don't understand that.  Can anyone elaborate?  You are so loved by Christ Jesus.  He died for all, not just some, according to MY Bible.  How about yours?

CLICK HERE IF YOU DARE TO VISIT "THE PATH TO TRUTH"

AND....

THIS SHOULD SAY IT ALL!

HEBREW WORD OF THE DAY

Bestseller...

Now, this one is just so easy...

SHALOM!

THE "FALSE CHURCH" SYSTEM

This is why I have abandoned organized churches.  Think of me what you want but I eat at home.  I get plenty of Spiritual meals and don't settle for slop and lies.  I fellowship with other believers, I do my blog but I've been told to stop looking.  I'm going to try to start a home Bible study and hope it grows into a home church.  I hope to have this started by Dec/Jan.  Anyone in Jacksonville, Florida is welcome.  We can start now so share this.  God bless you.

PLEASE PRAY FOR MY HOME STUDY AND SHARE THE GOOD NEWS!

SCIENCE AND THE BIBLE AGREE!

I was told by a friend I must disregard science and only go by the Bible.  Well, that's all well and good except for the fact that the more science discovers, it PROVES the Bible and that we DO have an Intelligent Designer, YHWH, who loves and cares about us, otherwise why would He have given us laws and rules to live a happy, healthy, joyful life?  Many accept we had an intelligent designer but not a loving "god" who cares about us.  I fear in today's world NOT to know what science and the Bible says is not going to be very effective, especially since so many believe WE are the most intelligent beings.  No, I'm in no way suggesting we compromise the Word of God in any way or compromise with the world but I believe that we'll be far more effective when we're able to answer the hard questions of die-hard unbelievers with solid Biblical verses AND what science has proven.  Not what man says but what science says because God created ALL things so therefore, He created science and gave us all we need to PROVE His existence.  The problem arises when man puts his opinion in the mix.  Also, there's a huge difference in real science and pseudo-science.  We've discovered many ancient artifacts told in the Bible.  Do you really want to disregard that?  Science by itself is good, upholds the Biblical accountings and can be faith building. God left us so much to leave no doubts.  Go where the evidence leads because it leads to God.  That's my personal opinion but many other Christians believe as I do.  In fact, I recently heard that many radical atheistic scientists are now born again believers.  

This is a very long video and if you choose to watch it (I am but not all at once, my earphones won't let me) I do want to warn you that there is one thing I've seen you might find a bit irreverent or maybe offensive but it deals with what the Bible says about human waste and seques into laughter.  It's a "potty scene" complete with noises which are normal and natural, from the move "Dumb and Dumber."  But the Bible does say to laugh and it IS good medicine.  I like it because it confirms my faith. I personally tend to disregard most of what comes from the science world today.  They want to disprove God so bad so that's how they wrongly interpret the evidence...to fit their agenda.  I hope it helps you but if you choose to dismiss science, that's up to you.  There is no right or wrong answer but to be effective, you may want to pray about it and have some knowledge to increase your effectiveness when sharing the Gospel of Salvation to the very skeptical.  Dazzle them with science they cannot dispute.  God bless and love you all in Christ Yeshua!

PROVE THE EXISTENCE OF A CREATOR...GOD ALMIGHTY, THEN SPREAD THE GOSPEL OF SALVATION THROUGH FAITH ALONE, GRACE ALONE, CHRIST ALONE AS TOLD IN...

SCIENCE AND PROPHECY

I think there's some things in this video in the field of science and technology you might want to know.  Then again, ignorance can be bliss.  Exciting or scary?  Scares the pure hell out of me.  God bless and pray.

IT'S GETTING HARDER AND HARDER TO DOUBT THE TRUTH OF THE WORD OF GOD!

HOW MANY APOSTLES WERE THERE? THINK HARD BEFORE ANSWERING!

I was just thinking (did you smell the smoke, lol) about the Apostles in the Bible and asked myself how many Apostles are in the Bible.  I want to hear your answer and see if you come up with the same amount I did.  All I can say is this...JUST THINK ABOUT IT.  God bless and the answer may not be what you think at first.  Have a God-blessed week and while I want be posting much (if any more) today, I did want to pose this question. Empower yourself through the Holy Spirit to make a difference by sharing the Gospel and freeing people from the bondage of sin.  Even born again believers can feel bondage to it. Encourage, inspire and be free in Christ.  Love you all.  

VIDEO BY LYN LEAHZ

I enjoy her videos and a lot of her guests.  They have some great insights into world happenings and Biblical prophecy.  No one claims special revelations but do seem to be very knowledgeable in the Word of God in ways I can't comprehend...yet.  As always, watch and take what you will from my shares.  I also don't like some of her guests or endorse them. This guest was on the Jim Bakker Show and him I consider a false prophet but, maybe he's changed.  However, I generally avoid ALL televangelists and think most are just after money and fame.  Don't forget, he's been through many scandals and jail.  However, God can work miracles in everyone.  I don't judge guests based on that criteria.  Many sincere believers use any forum to be heard.  Some say that's wrong but I don't necessarily agree.  I'd use ay way I could to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ regardless of the venue.  I don't limit nor can I dictate how God will work.  He uses unbelievers all the time for His divine will.  Read Jonah, lol.  God bless.

JONAH! WHAT A FISH STORY BY JOHN MacAUTHUR

Wonderful sermon on one my favorite books in the OT.  I link it to Romans 8:28.  He is a wonderful expository preacher that comes highly recommended.  God bless you all and be FULL OF GRACE!

IS AMERICAN SOLAR ECLIPSE SIGN OF JONAH

Excellent video I encourage you to watch and pray for wisdom and understanding.  I watch all of his videos and it's just facts, both Biblical and historical.  You'll learn some very interesting things about the book of Jonah and Ninevah.  Wow, it's quite awesome.  Just watch.  He also is much like me in what he shares and why.  God bless and be ready, it's getting rough out there!  Much love in Christ Yeshua.  Listen to God and what does He say?

THE STRANGEST THINGS TV PREACHERS SAY

Wow!  Does this sound like Christ Jesus, our Father and Holy Spirit?  Do you punch people in the face or smash women's crippled legs?  This is NOT Christian.  This is not who we are.  We must trap the wolves because the world is perishing and no one is listening and I pray not to this.  God bless and pray for them.  They need it.  So do I, by the way.  Have a blessed and JOY-FILLED weekend.  However, there are a few on here that ARE true men of God, esp. Wretched.  The rest though, unbelievable.  This is not done by a Christian so keep that in mind.  Most are spot on but a few, not so much.  I won't share anything else like this and may end up deleting it.  Tell me what YOU think cos I'm not sure about this except you need to be aware of maybe why people are so turned off by Christians.  The church (earthly buildings) NOT THE BODY OF CHRIST, has failed.  Jesus Christ has not NOR will He ever! Okay, I just checked out this channel and it IS by a Christian exposing charlatans and wolves, using Christian Apologetics.  I don't ever want to misdirect you and this is a Christian only blog, not secular.  We all do secular things, of course.  That's not a sin but I don't want to ever share atheistic ideology.  

Not sure this is by a Christian but you need to hear what so-called "men of God" are teaching the world today.  PRAY!

A GOOD VIDEO ON ONE WOMAN'S DELIVERANCE FROM THE CHARISMATIC CHAOS!

Delivered from Charismatic Chaos/Pentecostalism/Strange Fire

I am noticing a trend, many people of God Almighty are coming out and speaking against these charismatic churches that do not teach sound doctrine.  The Apostle Paul warned the Church in Corinth about abusing/misusing the Spiritual gifts.  Also, if you read his books, you'll find that even in his lifetime, the Spiritual gifts given on the Day of Pentacost was starting to cease.  He told Timothy to drink a little wine for his frequent illnesses and stomach issues.  Paul was a great healer so why didn't he heal Timothy?  Read First Corinthians 13 very carefully.  I believe God heals today and we are given fruits of the Spirit and if it pleases Him, He will give someone a Spiritual gift but it may be just a one time gift, not to be forever to use us as vessels for His will.  Tongues were a known language and a sign for the Jews.  It started and confirmed the early Church.  God will use us for His will so be open to whatever He has planned for your life.  As far as tongues, I believe if needed, He'll give that gift but it will be a known language and always with an interpreter.  Also, no scriptural basis for a secret prayer language either.  Stay grounded in the Word and you won't be deceived.  God bless and I say this with love for you and Christ Jesus!

3 THINGS I'M LEARNING ABOUT EVANGELISM WHILE "NOT" BEING A PASTOR

I'm sort of hesitant to share this because I'm not quite sure exactly what he's saying BUT as long as you share sound doctrine and the RIGHT GOSPEL/RIGHT JESUS CHRIST, he does make some very good points that I think we could take heed of.  He said "he was a fan" of Jesus Christ.  I posted something about that and why you shouldn't be a fan but a genuine follower and LOVE Him sincerely.  Visit www.notafan.com.  I'm not going to get all caught up in that but is he speaking of going with the changing times and compromising?  I don't see it so take what good you can as there is nothing necessarily wrong in what he's saying. In fact, other than a few misunderstandings on MY part, I agree this IS the right way to share our passion and love of the saving grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  NEVER compromise the Word of God or put people's "feelings" ahead of the Word of God.  We are to please Him, not man.  However, we are to share from LOVE.  As far as how he goes about it, I hope I can do the same.  God bless you all and have a blessed AND happy weekend.  Be JOYFUL!  Have some good Godly fun.

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By

 Joshua Pease

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July 28, 2017

A month ago I wrote here at ChurchLeaders about transitioning from a pastor at a church in California to “El Pastor” (a nickname given to me by some co-workers) at a restaurant in Colorado. While I didn’t expect to be a 36-year-old husband and father of two waiting tables at a restaurant, I’m really enjoying it. In many ways I really have become the pastor* to a work-family filled with self-described alcoholics, degenerates, and pagans.

* Actually two of our 18-year-old hostesses recently called me their “work dad” … which, I mean, I’m not THAT old.

Over the past month, as I’ve gained trust with my coworkers, I’ve found more and more opportunities to talk frankly about sex, relationships, addiction, abuse, and – yes – Jesus. In all of this I’ve found myself thinking a lot about evangelism, and how differently I’m thinking about it as a “restaurant pastor” then I did as a “church pastor.” Since that “church pastor” part of me is still deeply entrenched though, here are three points about evangelism that all use a slightly-stretched metaphor.

Evangelism is going with, not against, the current

When I was a kid my dad took me on a river rafting trip. This was a river in Missouri, not Colorado (those familiar with Colorado rivers will appreciate this distinction—it wasn’t some raging cauldron of death); however there was a point when I was standing in the river, got swept off my feet, and had to fight with all my might to hold ground while my dad came and rescued me.

Most church attenders think of evangelism as a raging river, with them desperately trying to fight up-current, hoping their Father comes and does something to save them. Sharing their faith feels like a fight, something to be forced, something unnatural or altogether foreign from their inclinations. In my recent experiences, I have come to find this isn’t true.

I would describe evangelism over these past few months as one of those lazy “rivers” they have at water parks, where you sit in a tube and let it float you along the current. What I mean by that is evangelism doesn’t need to be forced. I don’t look for opportunities each day to shoe-horn in an evangelistic opportunity (“Oh you like hockey, huh? Well you know who made the greatest save of all time?!”). Instead I pray before (most) every shift that God would give me opportunities to point toward him in some way, and then try to rest in the current of where He’s at.

Sometimes this might be talking about sex with coworkers and saying “yeah, I’ve actually only had sex with my wife” (they thought that was pretty cool surprisingly!). Other times it might be someone mentioning they grew up religious and me asking follow-up questions. In many cases, this has been me alluding to God while giving relationship advice. And then on a couple very special occasions at work, I’ve been able to explain to someone why I’m such a big fan of Jesus.

There have certainly been a couple times I’ve asked God to give me courage to say something I was afraid might not be received well, but even in those times, it stemmed from an organic, God-breathed moment I was stepping into.

I wonder how much weight we’d take off people if we encouraged them to think of evangelism less as a fight against the current of the “secular world” and more as floating with the current of the Holy Spirit?

Evangelism is matchmaking

I recently watched one of my church attending co-workers (Ryan) badger an atheist co-worker (Mark) about going to church with him. These guys were friends so it was somewhat playful, but I could tell Mark was a little annoyed. As I watched this, I kept thinking Ryan was making two huge mistakes.

The first was that Ryan was pitching a moral/religious lifestyle change, something which Mark could not have been less interested in. Rather than Ryan sharing stories of how God was changing his life and letting that speak for itself, he was bullying Chris into some sort of religious duty.

The second problem is I see little evidence from Ryan that his Christianity runs any deeper than going to a religious building once-a-week. I’ve watched Ryan sexually harass several co-workers. He’s known for positioning himself to get the best tables and make the most money, even at other people’s expense. To be clear I like Ryan, and I genuinely hope he is taking steps toward Jesus. But in both words and actions Ryan is pitching a religious experience devoid of a life-changing relationship.

Evangelism, I’m convinced, is mostly about matchmaking. Our job is to introduce God (who is always already at work in that person’s life) and say “hey, here’s what Jesus is doing with me, I have a relationship with Him that’s changing everything,” and then say “and I can see him, right there, doing things in your life too.”

While I know apologetics have a place in evangelism, I wonder if we’ve gotten imbalanced toward pitching people a set of facts or religious practices, but failed to focus on how we are as Paul said “ambassadors” coming to people with a message of peace that says “God wants you to know Him.”

How different would our evangelistic programs look if we explained to people they don’t need to be fact-peddlers, but matchmakers when they evangelize?

Evangelism is a swap meet

At this point I have shared some version of my spiritual journey, beliefs and life practices with most of my coworkers, but that only happened after two months of me intentionally listening to their stories. I asked questions, took an interest, found out why they were working there, and made sure they knew I cared about them. I treated them (usually) with respect and kindness. In other words, I viewed sharing my spiritual story like a swap meet.

What makes swap meets fun is that the selling process goes both ways. You can bring an item and exchange it for someone else’s item. The process involves a mutual interest in each person’s product.

I passionately believe people will not care about our stories as Christians unless we care—and I mean really, truly care—about their stories first. This isn’t a means to an end, evangelistic sneak attack, it’s allowing someone’s life story to break your heart, for you to care about them and their problems, to understand their point of view, to make them feel seen and respected by you.

Growing up I was trained to treat evangelism like a salesman, rather than someone attending a swap meet. I honed my sales pitch, learned to anticipate objections, and then (literally) went cold-calling door-to-door. If you’ve ever had someone from another religion come to your door (or someone trying to sell you magazines) you know how this approach feels.

What if in our churches we told people to go make friends with non-Christians—like, literally gave them that as homework one Sunday? What if we told them not to do it as a sneak attack but to just genuinely go out of their way to love those far from God? And then what if we told them to just ask questions, take an interest, sit and listen, and do that for a few months?

And what if we told them after that to go with the current of the Holy Spirit and be matchmakers? In my experience as “El Pastor” at my restaurant, this approach is pretty powerful, and for me incredibly freeing.

If I someday become a “church pastor” again I’m excited to bring this approach with me.

AN APPEAL TO OUR CHARISMATIC FRIENDS BY PASTOR JOHN MacAUTHUR

To be an effective leader to the unsaved, you must have sound doctrine and teach the truth. This is not to be offensive to any denomination but an appeal to get back to the clear scriptures without adding to or taking away.  Jesus tells us it's like the blind leading the blind, they will both fall into the fire and perish.  As born again Christians, it's not out of hatred or superiority that we share this and beg you to get back to your first Love (Christ Jesus) but rather out of deep love for you and the Body of Christ.  We have to call out false prophets (wolves); those who teach a different Gospel or Jesus Christ because it does matter a lot.  Don't be a stumblingblock and pray that we ALL be of one voice and one accord.  We can agree to disagree on SOME things (age of the earth, timing of the rapture, etc.) but not on the Gospel.  Pray for those you know are leading their flock in the wrong direction but it's very important to call them out to warn our brethren.  If we didn't love you, we would not care.  God bless you!  Shalom.

Read Titus 1:1

Shalom and God Bless You All!

HEBREW WORD OF THE DAY

I usually try to share this before sunset to show respect to our Jewish friends but time slipped away.  So I do apologize and I never share on Saturday.  Please accept my very sincere apology and no disrespect intended.  Shabbot Shalom to you!

Bean Sprouts...

Yum, looks delicious!

GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND SHALOM!

Read Isaiah 53...best chapter on Messiah Yeshua!

ONLY THE BLIND MAN CAN'T SEE - VIDEO BY "JUST THINK ABOUT IT"

He's not a pastor, just a regular man sharing the truth of the Bible and what's going on the world today.  I don't share the fear-mongering, spooky type videos but are we not told to watch AND work?  While from experience, getting overly involved in politics and the world isn't healthy, mentally as well as Spiritually, I do think it's important to keep watch and pray.  Go about your daily lives, share the Gospel of Salvation and pray for a great harvest. While I hear "I won a soul to Jesus Christ" all the time, I don't care for that.  We sow, He increases and only by the Holy Spirit by the blood of Christ Jesus can anyone be saved.  We don't "win," the Body of Christ and Jesus Christ won!  We have a new sibling and pray for multiples, lol.  We don't "save," we lead...by speaking and leading by example.  BE the salt of the earth and the light of the world.  Show the unbeliever what a true Christian is by following Jesus Christ in ALL things.  We don't put Him in a box, taken out only on Sunday (or Saturday) but every minute of the day.  We take Him to work, to the grocery store and to our neighbor's house.  We should never leave Him at home.  God bless and like this man says...Just Think About It.  Subscribe to his channel and look for more of his videos on my blog.  By the way, I made the picture above.  Not bragging, just letting you know it's not his picture or associated with him.  It's my picture for when I share his videos.  It will probably change.  

GOSPEL OF SALVATION

THE CROSS/BURIAL/RESURRECTION

SIX SIGNS YOU ARE NOT HEARING CHRISTIAN SERMONS AT YOUR CHURCH

This man, Todd Friel, of Wretched TV comes highly recommended by men of God and personally, I love him.  He's funny and never fails to tell it like it is.  I hope you'll watch, they are generally pretty short, and add him to your list of people to listen to.  I'll be sharing his videos often and hope you take the time to watch one.  I guarantee if you're a Bible-believing, born again Christian, you'll be hooked.  Now that's an "addiction" you can live with!!!  God bless and enjoy.

Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, through Christ Alone!

First Corinthians 15:1-11

Ephesians 2:8-9

John 3:16-17

THE PRODIGAL CAT - ENCOURAGEMENT FOR TODAY BY CROSSWALK

July 28, 2017 The Prodigal Cat LIZ CURTIS HIGGS

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.” Luke 15:20 (NIV)

We have two cats at our house: twin gray tabbies named Sam and Bo, adopted from an animal shelter. Our early years together were filled with lavish attention on my part and copious purring on theirs. Then, one dark and stormy October morning, the unthinkable happened.

My husband Bill and I were headed to the airport for a predawn flight to New England. Rain was coming down in sheets as we dragged our luggage to the back door and fumbled with our umbrellas.

When I flung open the door, Bo — the smaller, faster, more rebellious brother — appeared out of nowhere, slipped through my legs and plunged into the darkness without a backward glance.

Suitcases forgotten, we tore after him, but Bo remained maddeningly out of reach — bounding forward, doubling back, then taking off again. Finally, we had to leave for the airport. Had to.

I was soaking wet and inconsolable. How could I abandon poor Bo to the elements? Yes, our daughter-in-law would arrive at our doorstep in a couple of hours. Yes, Bo would no doubt take shelter in the nearby bushes and be safely back inside the house before our plane landed in Boston.

But what if he got lost? Got hurt by another animal? Got hit by a car? My stomach was tied in knots, thinking of the terrible possibilities.

Phone calls and text messages flew back and forth. Our grown children put a rescue operation in motion. Sympathetic friends on Facebook offered suggestions: “Put his food bowl outside.” “Put his litter box outside.” “Put your pajamas outside.” Apparently the familiar scents were meant to woo him home.

Nothing worked. When we returned from our trip and still no Bo, my heart grew heavier. Was anyone feeding him, caring for him? Or was Bo starving to death, alone and shivering, far from home? Meanwhile, Sam wandered from room to room, searching for his lost brother, his mournful meow adding to my guilt.

After 12 long days, I stood on our back steps, prepared to try one last suggestion: “Go outside at midnight when the air is still and call out his name.” So I did, as loudly as I could, not caring if our neighbors thought I was daft. “Bo!”

Then I heard it. The faintest meow.

“Bo!” I cried out. Another plaintive meow. Like a mother who knows her baby’s cry, I knew this was my cat. Knew it.

I hurried across our backyard, calling his name, so agitated that I forgot about our back fence until I nearly fell over it. “Bo!” I shrieked, thinking he might come to me. But, no. The same sad meow was still a hundred feet away.

Minutes later, armed with a cat carrier and a bowl of food, I opened the back gate and tiptoed across the grass toward a dark shape beneath our neighbor’s deck. When Bo meowed again, but didn’t budge, I shook his bowl, hoping the sound and scent would coax him out. He extended one tentative paw. Then another.

The second he got close enough, I threw my arms around him, stuffed him in the cat carrier, and ran back to the house, my heart in my throat. My dear boy wasn’t dead; he was alive! He wasn’t lost; he was found!

I watched him dart around our brightly lit kitchen, tears of joy and relief pouring down my face, and thought about our heavenly Father, who’d once watched my own escape into darkness. He, too, had waited. Called my name. Came looking for me, knowing I was too scared to come to Him. Wrapped His arms around me and carried me home.

It’s the same with the story Jesus told of the prodigal son in Luke 15:20, “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.”

Just as Bo is a changed cat — he comes whenever I call and lets me scratch his head for hours — I am definitely a changed woman. When God calls, I come running, knowing His love alone has tamed my rebel heart.

Lord, Your love for us is endless, Your patience with us is boundless, and Your willingness to save us is beyond understanding. Thank You for pursuing us, rescuing us and welcoming us home. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:
Luke 15:10, “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (NIV)

10 WAYS CHURCH LEADERS MAY PREVENT GOSSIP BY CROSSWALK

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  Paul Tautges
  

  Paul Tautges serves as senior pastor at Cornerstone Community Church in suburban Cleveland, Ohio, having previously past...More

Gossip

This is the final post in a series drawn from Matt Mitchell's book entitled Resisting Gossip: Winning the War of the Wagging Tongue. Today, I summarize the Bonus Chapter written to church leaders, which gives counsel as to how to cultivate a gossip-resistant church. Matt recommends 10 ways leaders may protect their church from the devastating consequences of out-of-control tongues.

1. Pray Hard. The church is God's, not ours, so we need to take its needs to Him. Pray against gossip. Pray the flock you help lead will resist the temptations of ungodly speech and pursue up-building speech instead. Lead the people of the church in prayer against gossip.
2. Set a Godly Example. Leaders are to be thermostats, not thermometers. We do not just measure the spiritual temperature of our congregations; we help to set it by our examples. If you do not already do this, improve your screening process for leaders by incorporating an evaluation of a candidate's character, including his or her habits of speech.
3. Teach Against the Sin of Gossip. Plan a sermon series or a special class on this subject. Have your small groups read Resisting Gossip (a participant's guide and Bible study is now available). Don't assume your people know what is right and what is wrong. Teach them.
4. Encourage Loving Small Talk. While teaching against the sin of gossip, we also need to encourage the right kind of small talk. Remember, not all small talk is sinful. Loving conversations over the back of the pew about life in general are very important for the life of a congregation.
5. Agree to Bear with, Not Bite, One Another. We are not only fallen but filled with natural differences. Therefore, church life requires forbearance. We need to agree in advance to bear with each other and not to bite one another. Some churches are including a "no gossip" commitment in their church-membership covenants.
6. Be Extra Careful with Reputations. Criticism is inevitable within the church, but we can decide in advance to be careful with each other when we make our criticisms. This is especially true for leadership. The congregation should not listen to someone (especially an anonymous someone) who wants to share bad news behind a church leader's back instead of bringing it out into the open. We should not allow this for anyone in the church, but because many pastors' livelihoods and families depend upon the pastor's reputation, we must take special care.
7. Watch What You Say to Outsiders. If we need to be careful within the church with people's reputations, how much more should we be cautious in how we talk about our fellow church members to those outside the church?
8. Open Channels for Airing Concerns. Sometimes when there is gossip within a church, it is actually the leaders' fault. Those who are gossiping should not be doing it, but gossip flourishes when there is an oppressive regime and a tyrannical atmosphere of silence.
9. Call Each Other Out. Read 3 John 9-10. The church John wrote to was being hijacked by a Church Boss. Self-important Diotrephes had tried to take over the church. Worse, he was gossiping maliciously about John. If you think being godly will protect you from gossip, forget about it. You can be John the apostle, and people will still gossip about you. We need to call each other out when we see church members maliciously gossiping and, as a last resort, be willing to exercise church discipline.
10. Remember the Gospel. Leaders have the responsibility to keep the gospel central to the life of the local church. As individuals, the gospel empowers us to resist gossip's lure and gives us the ability to love instead. The gospel also covers us with grace when we have failed.

Matt concludes his Bonus Chapter for church leaders with a powerful illustration from Chris Bruce.

Gossip is a serious problem for churches, but it doesn't have to be. If, as James says, the tongue can light a great fire, then we might think of the church as a tree. On the one hand, we can neglect to water the tree, and stand by with a hose to put out fires that threaten its dry and brittle branches. But the much better course is to continually keep the tree watered and moist with the truth of the Gospel and the Bible's teaching on godly speech. A tree like that, even when it encounters the flame, will not easily catch fire. A tree like that will grow and bear much fruit.

As mentioned before, this 5-part series is drawn from Matt Mitchell's book, Resisting Gossip, which our team of elders recently read through together. I trust this topic has been personally challenging and helpful to you, as it has been for me. My hope is that it will bear fruit by strengthening your local church and protecting it and you from the destructive fires of gossip.

OTHER POSTS IN THIS SERIES

• 3 Ways We Judge Wrongly
• 5 Types of Gossiping People
• The Best Definition of Gossip
• Two Right Ways to Respond to Gossip
•  

GO AHEAD AND SHINE BY CROSSWALK

Go Ahead. Shine.
by John UpChurch, Crosswalk.com Contributor

"Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life" Philippians 2:14-16a 

The quick burning desire to be an astronomer came during year three of my college experience. That was after philosopher, writer (the first time), and English professor, but before anthropologist, high school teacher, and writer (the second time). You can’t blame a guy for wanting to wring every cent out of his scholarships.

So, in year three, I became convinced that I would study space because… well… because I loved planets and stuff. With the same gusto that had carried me through my philosophy phase, I charged into star charts and calculated orbits with fury and fine-tipped lead pencils. I pored over research on black holes and quasars and stared intently into the night sky trying to figure out how in the world someone could think that a certain cluster of stars could look anything like a person or a goat or whatever.

Then, reality hit in the way of astrophysics. The funny thing about studying the stars is that you have to be able to calculate distances, luminosity, parallaxes, and more fancy terms. I could crunch equations just fine, but that doesn’t mean I found it more satisfying than, say, ripping off a bandage from my legs.

Before I came to know Christ, all that nadir gazing did produce one substantial result in me: deep, deep emptiness. You can’t help but feel how small you are when you peer into the infinite-seeming inkiness of space. The more you see how incomprehensibly expansive everything really is, the more you feel speck-like in the cosmic order. The weight of eternity came crushing in on me.

And in that darkness, I needed light. This “crooked and depraved” man groped about for anything that would shine, some embers of hope. Not finding them in philosophy or books or even astronomy, the pressure just got worse. I kept feeling my way through the darkness into whatever classes the university offered, but through each of my potential career paths, I found nothing that could illuminate the road around me.

Of course, I wouldn’t have put it in those terms back then. At that point, I just knew something was messed up, and I couldn’t figure out what. I needed the “word of life.” But I didn’t know I needed it, and I didn’t know where to find it.

Intersecting Faith & Life: That’s where we come in as Christians. People like the old me don't always even know what gnaws at them. Some have so subverted the pain that it plays out in pursuits of passion: They mute it with noise, clutter, medicine, or flesh. They prefer to find ways to ignore the crushing weight.

And then they see the stars. At least, they should see the stars. I don't necessarily mean the stars in the night, since city lights drown them out for most of us now days. I mean, they need to see the stars around them who shine through their Jesus-emulating behavior. That light has the power to both expose their blindness and help them see.

So, shine. People like the old me are counting on it.

For Further Reading
Philippians 2
Matthew 5

Check out fantastic resources on Faith, Family, and Fun at Crosswalk.com!

CULTIVATE A LIFE OF WORSHIP

Cultivate a Life of Worship

Having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed. - Mark 1:35, emphasis added

Listen to what one man who spent years meditating on worship has written: "Worship is something we do. Studying the theology of worship and debating the forms of worship are all good, but by themselves they are inadequate. In the final analysis we learn to worship by worshiping."

Willingly offer yourself to the Lord as an instrument for worship. As an individual, learn to let go of your agenda, your concerns, your being blessed, and your hearing of the Word of God. The language of the gathered fellowship is not "I," but "we." So surrender to the ways of God; submit to others in the Christian fellowship; desire that God's Spirit will rise up in the group, not just within you as an individual. Seek to become of one mind, of one accord. Cultivate a life of complete spiritual dependency. Dependency means that you will be completely dependent upon God for anything significant to happen. The work is God's and not yours. A simple way to start this is to pray before doing anything; invite the Lord's presence, blessing, and guidance. Then give Him all the credit for anything good that happens.

Guard yourself from exposure to harmful influences that will kill worship. Cultivating worship also involves dealing with all the weeds that grow and choke the growth of your crop, as well as the pests that try to steal the harvest. For example, some of us are in the high-risk category for skin cancer. So what should we do? We should stay away from exposure to those deadly UV rays. Since all of us are prone to soul cancer that eats away at our worship, we should avoid having a lot of exposure to TV rays because they distract, deaden, and deflate the welling up of our souls in worship to God! If you cannot fast from TV, newspapers, and magazines for even a week, then you are a very weak Christian, and at risk spiritually.

Part of learning to cultivate worship is learning how to drown out distractions through prayers of gratefulness to God. For example, when I am preaching, I love to have babies and little children in the congregation. Rather than feeling that distractions somehow deter us from worshiping God, we should learn to simply receive whatever happens in a gathered worship experience. This applies to whatever happens at home or other places of private worship, as God tests our spirit. Grumbling and complaining cannot be successfully partnered with a spirit of adoration and worship!

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