Often many of GODs precious people are being used as mere merchandise, victims of elaborate schemes that have become a cash cow for many ministries.. It is BIG business, we have Ford, GM , ATT and so on and now the CHURCH...
The Bible provides us with clear indicators that reveal this rampant church malaise termed Spiritual Abuse;
Ezek 34:2
"Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and say to those shepherds, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Woe, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flock?
The emphasis is on the flock and not the Shepard. The sheep are the benefactors of the Shepard's care.
I remember talking with a dear sister in Christ who told me how much she loved her Pastor. And sure we should love our Pastor, and not to the exclusion of even the least of the faithful we should love. We should not love our pastor any more or any less than the least thought of brother or sister in the church...
In this instance with my beloved sister in Christ... I was a little dishearten to learn that her Pastor hardly knew who she was.
Ezek 34:3
"You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat sheep without feeding the flock.
Ezek 34:4
"Those who are sickly you have not strengthened, the diseased you have not healed, the broken you have not bound up, the scattered you have not brought back, nor have you sought for the lost; but with force and with severity you have dominated them.
I have seen more than just a few people leave churches hurt disillusioned and sometimes confused . The church that GOD provides for healing and restoration did not heal or restore the objects of the LORD Jesus's love His people.
The church is GOD's agent in the earth, His representative to administer His agenda, and what exactly is the agenda of GOD; I am so glad you asked that question.
Is 61:1
THE SPIRIT of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed and qualified me to preach the Gospel of good tidings to the meek, the poor, and afflicted; He has sent me to bind up and heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the [physical and spiritual] captives and the opening of the prison and of the eyes to those who are bound, [Rom. 10:15.]
Is 61:2
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord [the year of His favor] and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,
As Jesus was sent, likewise we have the same mission until His return, the second coming of Christ. If the Church is NOT healing the broken hearted, Not strengthening the weak, Not seeking the lost' NOT setting people free from addiction's and other oppressive conditions then the church has failed in its mission.
John 20:21
Then Jesus said to them again, Peace to you! [Just] as the Father has sent Me forth, so I am sending you
Our purpose as defined is CLEAR.. Has it been muddied with other agendas being slowly adopted in our churches... where is our emphasis ????? Is it on the hurting, the lost , the distressed or the disillusioned???? Have we seen the church go after those who left the church..???Is there concerned for them???? In Fact I have rarely seen any real genuine effort to seek the lost or those who have went astray.. WHY?????
John 13:34
"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another
Tell me this, If a family member not a church member , is missing, would you go looking for them???? Yes you would and you would lose sleep until they are found..
The reason we are not seeking out the lost is because we really do not love each other as the Bible defines love.. otherwise we would behave far differently... Yes Christianity goes beyond the occasional Sunday tradition of ..Look at your neighbor, and tell them I love you...
My guess would be to seek out those who left hurting and disillusioned would exposed current church leadership in some circles . The autonomy most churches hold may come under review... accountability... might be expected.. people might have questions.. .. Much of what we describe as leadership are men and women who are many times opportunist.. and not truly called by GOD... Because when the sheep are under attack and scattered.. they hardly lift a finger of concern.. in the majority of cases not even a phone call.
John 10:12
"He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.
A good Pastor loves the sheep...
John 10:11
"I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.
The covert church agenda , meaning a not open and obvious but clothed in the guise of religion is leaning towards self aggrandisement and self exaltation...
If I give enough money, then I will get more money from GOD... We say that's is not the reason we give.. , we say we give cheerfully, because GOD loves a cheerful giver.. and The Lord declares give and it shall be given unto to you.... ALL Absolutely true..
BUT, it has been abused and in our giving WE have been abused!!! Abused?? How , let me share an enlightening verse or two:
2 Cor 9:9
As it is written, He [the benevolent person] scatters abroad; He gives to the poor; His deeds of justice and goodness and kindness and benevolence will go on and endure forever!
Notice the gifts are going to the poor..
Acts 4:35
and lay them at the apostles' feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need.
Here needs are being met , and NOT excesses. ... two Rolls Royce's are usually my limit for preaches..
I personally think when leadership lives extravagantly it sends the wrong message...our wealth is not always aligned with the worlds idea of wealth...WE ARE DIFFERENT...
Spiritual ABUSE!!! Yes many of us have witness the manipulative sermons, laced with messages designed to make you feel guilty, condemned and fearful for not giving when you knew that at the time you had pressing financial matters...
Rom 8:1
THEREFORE, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live [and] walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit.
Statements like:
Will a man rob GOD!!!
Well you are robbing GOD preacher anytime you take away resources intended to meet the needs of Christ Body the Church , the people sitting in the pews.......
Oh here is a good one... All that God has done for you and you are holding back the Money He gave you!!!!
If He gave it too me He intends for me to use it... for me and my brothers and sisters in need...
Our LORD would never make us feel guilty in fact our LORD desires mercy and NOT sacrifice... In this instance GODs mercy declares keep your money.. why because you need it... do not be presumptuous and think because you gave during a moment in which you were taken by persuasive speech that GOD is obligated to bless you.. He is not.. Why, because The Holy Bible says.. do not tempt the LORD thy GOD!!!
What I am bringing to the forefront on this subject does not stop at money.. It also means your time.. , your affections and even the gifts that GOD has given us.. We should be free to give, free to love, free to help and free to grow our gifts ... because where the Spirit of the GOD is there is liberty
2 Cor 3:17
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (emancipation from bondage, freedom)...
To be Continued Jun 21, 2008
