KDs are designed/developed/inspired/mused/auto-suggested/indigested to make folks think; an especially uncommon experience among Democrats, Republicans, and jingoistic mainline denominationalists who continue to discourage dissent with their ever-threatening thought police.
Praying Acerca De Godless Politicians and Apostate Clergy/Churches
For Christ's sake, por favor forward to someone needing encouragement about distancing from bad leaven/viruses.
Anyway, I was relaxing with some Christian patriots at Bad Ash Cigars in Oregon, Illinois on March 27.
A retired law enforcement officer was lamenting membership in a church that has lost His way.
When asked what I would do if I were in such a church, I answered, "Leave."
I wrote about it not too long ago: "When It's O.K. to Change Churches" (attached).
After lunch on the back porch with a stellar stick from BAC on Maundy Thursday (April 1), getting some rest for evening worship apres a draining yet exhilarating morning of care and counsel with one of our saints about to go home to Jesus, I listened to this:
The Westminster Divines came to mind: "He hath foreordained whatsoever comes to pass."
They got it from Paul among others (e.g., Romans 8:28-30).
Moretheless, it confirmed conclusions reached long ago.
I pray Godless politicians are not elected; and if elected, fail.
I pray people leave apostate clergy/churches; and I pray those clergy/churches fail to attract the naive ergo deceived and ultimately...
I pray Godly politicians are elected and succeed.
I pray clergy/churches that love Jesus by the book as enlightened by the Holy Spirit who never contradicts Jesus by the book grow and grow and grow in an Acts 2:41-47 kinda way.
With Hosea 4 in mind, the Godless and apostate are judged by Jesus: "You make people twice as fit for hell as you are yourselves" (Read all of Matthew 23).
Matthew 18:6 also comes to mind: "Whoever causes the downfall of one of these little ones who believe in Me, it would be better for him if a heavy millstone were hung around his neck and he were drowned in the depths of the sea!"
Certainly, I pray for conversion to Jesus for Godless politicians and apostate clergy/churches.
I'm a Christian.
So I've got to be with Jesus on this.
Now read all of John 3.
Scratching the Surface
of
When It’s O.K. to Change Churches
Sitting in the stands for a Belvidere Bucs high school football game with my friend and often mentor Ev about a decade or so ago, he directed my attention to some fans: “Hey, there’s…He was a member of the church about 30 years ago…Hey, there’s…She was a member about 20 years ago…Hey, there’s….He was a member about 15 years ago…Hey, there’s someone who left when you came!”
I think of pastor search committees.
Often asked why it’s common for PSC members to leave churches not long after the pastor “of their choice” has been around, I acknowledge those instances when the pastor or PSC or both erred in discerning them being called together for life and ministry.
People leave churches for many reasons.
Unfortunately, there are too many instances of PSC members leaving churches not long after “their” choice was installed that have little to do with identifying and yoking with a worship leader, discipler, and radical advocate for Jesus; as most often they leave because “their” choice failed to become “their” BFF, paramour, or champion for…
Most of them are silly, superficial, stupid, and selfish.
Really.
Go ahead, list ‘em.
Which ones aren’t silly, superficial, stupid, or selfish?
Which ones don’t make a mockery of our Lord’s expectations/commands in Matthew 18, John 17, Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, and…?
When the pastors, church professionals, church boards, and church constituents do not acknowledge and advocate Jesus by the book but rather sport religion only coincidental to Jesus by the book at the altar of denominational, traditional, or ideological loyalties from their navel-gazing left, right, up, down, inside, outside, and sideways, it’s time to leave.
C’mon, which ones aren’t ideologically, idolatrously, idiosyncratically, or just plain old ignorantly motivated?
Unless proven otherwise by the example of Jesus, Holy Scripture, and common sense, I see only one valid reason for changing churches; and whenever this comes up, I urge people to leave those churches asap for their souls’ safety and especially for the spiritual and eternal welfare of children entrusted to them.
Whenever someone in our family of faith tells me about people in such remotely-related-to-Jesus-by-the-book churches, I urge ‘em to invite, welcome, include, and agape ‘em into our family of faith.
That’s not stealin’ sheep.
That’s savin’ ‘em from…
Of course, the best way to insure your church stays with Jesus by the book is to ask prospective pastors, professionals, officers, and members, “Who is Jesus?”
If I have to explain that to you, you may be in a church that I would urge people to leave.
The real issue is the church’s leadership.
Do the women and men entrusted with leading the church believe in Jesus by the book with enthusiasm and without equivocation?
If so, embrace ‘em and work through the silly, superficial, stupid, and selfish things threatening to separate you from each other rather than insulting the One who lived, died, rose, and reigns to bring people together for life and ministry in/through/for Him.
If not, run from that church to save your/their life/lives.
If they are uncomfortable with that question, for God’s sake and everyone else’s, don’t enable them for church leadership!
If you are in a church that is all about Jesus, you will overcome the worldly temptations to schism and separation; because, uh, in the existential as well as eternal end, Jesus and all who really love Him are…out of this world.
If you cannot sense their joy and contagious excitement while struggling to answer the question, for God’s sake and everyone else’s, don’t enable them for church leadership!
If their answers are “nice” but only coincidental to Jesus by the book, for God’s sake and everyone else’s, don’t enable them for church leadership!
Bottom line.
If you are in a church that is, stay…and pray/labor through who/what threaten to insult our Lord’s call for peace, unity, and purity in/through/for Him.
Christianity is all about Jesus.
If you find yourself in a church that’s not, leave.
Psst.
If you are in a church that is all about Jesus, you will
overcome the worldly temptations to schism and separation; because, uh, in the
existential as well as eternal end, Jesus and all who really love Him are…out
of this world.
