*Scriptures taken from Biblegateway.com
I've known for a while that I wanted to do a "Back to Basics" lesson on fellowship. But with time I realized that fellowship means so many things, especially in regards to with whom I fellowship. After much thought, I broke it down into these 3 categories.
Group A: The Christians I like to hang out with. These are my accountability partners, my very best friends. I can share with them my most intimate spiritual experiences and not feel like a wacko or have them think me boastful. I love these people, and if you don't have this group, I pray that God bring them into your life very soon. The devotional set will not be about this group, because they are easy to love, and fellowship with them comes naturally.
Group B: The Christians I don't like to hang out with. These are the people who, if I'm at a bigger church, I try to avoid speaking to. (I intend to be honest today). Group B subdivides into 2 sects: the proud and the lost. The proud are the Christian "fundamentalists," often comparable (I'm sorry to say) to the Muslim fundamentalists in that they are the ones who make all Christians look bad, the ones who the world points to and says, "Why would I even want to be like that?" They are close-minded and judgmental. Contemporary Pharisees. The lost are another sect who I avoid because I don't know how to not help them without judging. How can you experience God's love and claim Him to be your Savior and yet still participate in the most lewd and vulgar of habits and activities? They are the worldly Christians, those who feel like they are the coolest because they can pass judgment on the judgment-passing Pharisees, but inside they can be the most broken of all. I mostly avoid both sects of Group B for the same reason - I'm afraid I'll turn into them.
Group C: The non-Christians. They are broad and diverse and unique, and though I hate to generalize, I have the liberty to lump them together for this reason - they all have not come to the decision of accepting Christ. That means they're all in the same boat, heading in the same direction.
Today I will like to address the first sect of Group B. Pride is disgusting, particularly in the church. I often call it a cancer. A tumor seeks to perpetuate only cells of the same kind, continuously multiplying, absorbing the resources of the cells around it, spreading to other areas, killing off the cells in the new area which eventually destroys the body because each cell has different shape and different purpose. A body cannot survive on one type of cell. That's how I feel about this group. They use up the resources and talents in their church solely to build up their church only, mass-producing people of one mindset, confusing convictions for doctrines. They grow because no one wants to disagree, and their mentality spreads because of their growth (i.e., the "Well, they're a mega-church so they must be doing something right" idea), and other churches start become more legalistic like them. It spreads and spreads, and the body of Christ suffers because without variety we tailor to the needs of only a few, and we're left with a massive tumor. Single-minded, single-function churches that forget the call to the broken that Christians were made to answer. And yet, we are called to love the Pharisees.
I didn't want to write this devotional. I knew I should, but I have heard so many stories of pain and experienced a few myself, but one thing changed my mind. I thought of Matthew 5:46 - "For if you love those who love you, what reward have you?" I must love the very people who are the hardest to love, because to be Christian is to be like Christ, and Christ loved everyone. Even the Pharisees. People get confused, because when they think of Pharisees and Jesus, they think of Jesus turning over tables and calling them "white-washed sepulchers." [Matthew 23:37]. Jesus certainly chastised them, but He did not hate them. He warned them out His love for them, wanting desperately for them to change their ways and come to light of God's love, realizing grace and not works gets you into heaven. The Pharisees couldn't see, which justifiably upset Christ, but He never stopped loving them.
I have to love my enemies, because Christ said so. [Matthew 5:44]. And He lived it,as well; what else but love would cause a person to forgive the people who were murdering Him? [Luke 23:34] I really struggle to love this group. I want to hate them, to condemn them, to pass judgment on the judgment-passers. I want to never forgive them for the heartache they've caused me, caused my friends, for the hurt they inflict, for the way they keep anyone in the world from even approaching Christ by misrepresenting Him. I hate them ... because I am them. I pass judgment. I misrepresent Christ with my pride. I role my eyes at the flagrantly swearing God-basher, deeming them not worth my time and never thinking to initiate a conversation about Christ. I fear the bringing out of this side of me when I'm around the Pharisees, so I avoid them like the plague. But I'm suppose to forgive them as they drive nails into my hands and feet, spearing my side, stripping me naked and casting lots for my garment. They know not what they do.
So how do I address this group? Surely pure forgiveness perpetuates they wrongdoing. We cannot simply let them sin so that grace may abound [Romans 6:1, 2]. I'm not sure how to treat them. A part of me feels like they will be like the Pharisees, never understanding the power and importance of God's grace, never seeing Jesus as the only hope, the only true source of the power to change us from our sinful ways. That makes me think I should turn over some of their tables and leave them. But then I think of Paul, the Pharisee of all Pharisees. He changed when He encountered Christ. From that I gather that it is our duty to pray for these people, to pray that they will have a real encounter with Christ that will be life-changing. That way ,they are not living in ignorance; they will know what they do. The second thing is that once Paul converted, there was a Barnabas to encourage him. We all need to be Barnabas to someone who wants to change. We need to be ready to forgive them for persecuting us, to open our arms in embrace.
I've been thinking about how difficult it is to turn the other cheek. If I'm talking to someone and they slap me, my face turns to the side. But to turn the other cheek doesn't mean to look to the opposite side; it means to face them again, knowing that they could very well slap the other side. When they hurt me, I want to walk away, but I am instructed to look at them again. To not avoid them, but to look at them, talk to them, and try to bring them to the light of God. It is impossible without God's help, but that is what makes Christianity different. We do not live by our own strength, but His strength is made perfect in our weakness. [2 Corinthians 12:9]
For all you ladies who have been broken and are struggling to forgive, learn to rely on His strength. He is faithful to provide it.
God bless,
Alisha
I've known for a while that I wanted to do a "Back to Basics" lesson on fellowship. But with time I realized that fellowship means so many things, especially in regards to with whom I fellowship. After much thought, I broke it down into these 3 categories.
Group A: The Christians I like to hang out with. These are my accountability partners, my very best friends. I can share with them my most intimate spiritual experiences and not feel like a wacko or have them think me boastful. I love these people, and if you don't have this group, I pray that God bring them into your life very soon. The devotional set will not be about this group, because they are easy to love, and fellowship with them comes naturally.
Group B: The Christians I don't like to hang out with. These are the people who, if I'm at a bigger church, I try to avoid speaking to. (I intend to be honest today). Group B subdivides into 2 sects: the proud and the lost. The proud are the Christian "fundamentalists," often comparable (I'm sorry to say) to the Muslim fundamentalists in that they are the ones who make all Christians look bad, the ones who the world points to and says, "Why would I even want to be like that?" They are close-minded and judgmental. Contemporary Pharisees. The lost are another sect who I avoid because I don't know how to not help them without judging. How can you experience God's love and claim Him to be your Savior and yet still participate in the most lewd and vulgar of habits and activities? They are the worldly Christians, those who feel like they are the coolest because they can pass judgment on the judgment-passing Pharisees, but inside they can be the most broken of all. I mostly avoid both sects of Group B for the same reason - I'm afraid I'll turn into them.
Group C: The non-Christians. They are broad and diverse and unique, and though I hate to generalize, I have the liberty to lump them together for this reason - they all have not come to the decision of accepting Christ. That means they're all in the same boat, heading in the same direction.
Today I will like to address the first sect of Group B. Pride is disgusting, particularly in the church. I often call it a cancer. A tumor seeks to perpetuate only cells of the same kind, continuously multiplying, absorbing the resources of the cells around it, spreading to other areas, killing off the cells in the new area which eventually destroys the body because each cell has different shape and different purpose. A body cannot survive on one type of cell. That's how I feel about this group. They use up the resources and talents in their church solely to build up their church only, mass-producing people of one mindset, confusing convictions for doctrines. They grow because no one wants to disagree, and their mentality spreads because of their growth (i.e., the "Well, they're a mega-church so they must be doing something right" idea), and other churches start become more legalistic like them. It spreads and spreads, and the body of Christ suffers because without variety we tailor to the needs of only a few, and we're left with a massive tumor. Single-minded, single-function churches that forget the call to the broken that Christians were made to answer. And yet, we are called to love the Pharisees.
I didn't want to write this devotional. I knew I should, but I have heard so many stories of pain and experienced a few myself, but one thing changed my mind. I thought of Matthew 5:46 - "For if you love those who love you, what reward have you?" I must love the very people who are the hardest to love, because to be Christian is to be like Christ, and Christ loved everyone. Even the Pharisees. People get confused, because when they think of Pharisees and Jesus, they think of Jesus turning over tables and calling them "white-washed sepulchers." [Matthew 23:37]. Jesus certainly chastised them, but He did not hate them. He warned them out His love for them, wanting desperately for them to change their ways and come to light of God's love, realizing grace and not works gets you into heaven. The Pharisees couldn't see, which justifiably upset Christ, but He never stopped loving them.
I have to love my enemies, because Christ said so. [Matthew 5:44]. And He lived it,as well; what else but love would cause a person to forgive the people who were murdering Him? [Luke 23:34] I really struggle to love this group. I want to hate them, to condemn them, to pass judgment on the judgment-passers. I want to never forgive them for the heartache they've caused me, caused my friends, for the hurt they inflict, for the way they keep anyone in the world from even approaching Christ by misrepresenting Him. I hate them ... because I am them. I pass judgment. I misrepresent Christ with my pride. I role my eyes at the flagrantly swearing God-basher, deeming them not worth my time and never thinking to initiate a conversation about Christ. I fear the bringing out of this side of me when I'm around the Pharisees, so I avoid them like the plague. But I'm suppose to forgive them as they drive nails into my hands and feet, spearing my side, stripping me naked and casting lots for my garment. They know not what they do.
So how do I address this group? Surely pure forgiveness perpetuates they wrongdoing. We cannot simply let them sin so that grace may abound [Romans 6:1, 2]. I'm not sure how to treat them. A part of me feels like they will be like the Pharisees, never understanding the power and importance of God's grace, never seeing Jesus as the only hope, the only true source of the power to change us from our sinful ways. That makes me think I should turn over some of their tables and leave them. But then I think of Paul, the Pharisee of all Pharisees. He changed when He encountered Christ. From that I gather that it is our duty to pray for these people, to pray that they will have a real encounter with Christ that will be life-changing. That way ,they are not living in ignorance; they will know what they do. The second thing is that once Paul converted, there was a Barnabas to encourage him. We all need to be Barnabas to someone who wants to change. We need to be ready to forgive them for persecuting us, to open our arms in embrace.
I've been thinking about how difficult it is to turn the other cheek. If I'm talking to someone and they slap me, my face turns to the side. But to turn the other cheek doesn't mean to look to the opposite side; it means to face them again, knowing that they could very well slap the other side. When they hurt me, I want to walk away, but I am instructed to look at them again. To not avoid them, but to look at them, talk to them, and try to bring them to the light of God. It is impossible without God's help, but that is what makes Christianity different. We do not live by our own strength, but His strength is made perfect in our weakness. [2 Corinthians 12:9]
For all you ladies who have been broken and are struggling to forgive, learn to rely on His strength. He is faithful to provide it.
God bless,
Alisha
3 comments:
That was a hard hitting message-but one that desperately needed to be written. I have the same problem. I struggle with forgiveness of Christians who tend to use the Bible as some kind of license to be non Christ Like...There are times when I am around group A and I see the features of group B and I say nothing-because I don't want to offend or I have no idea what to do. Those are the moments I should follow the example of Christ. And it's not easy. Thank you for pointing it out. God Bless.
such a powerful message..and i hope and pray that God deals with each and everyone of our hearts with this very goal that you have pointed out for all of us to follow through...=) thanks for writing..thiss...GOdbless you abundantly and all Glory to God!
Thank you Latara and Jessi. Your comments confirmed to me that this was a message that needed to be written, even though it was so convicting to write.
Post a Comment