Then Jesus spoke to the throngs and to His disciples, saying "On Moses' seat are seated the scribes and the Pharisees. All, then, whatever they should be saying to you, do and keep it, yet according to their acts do not be doing, for they are saying and not doing. Now they bring binding loads, heavy and hard to bear, and are placing them on men's shoulders, yet they are not willing to stir them with their finger. Now all their works they are doing to be gazed at by men, for they are broadening their amulets and magnifying their tassels. Now they are fond of the first reclining space at the dinners, and the front seats in the synagogues, and the salutations in the markets, and to be called by men 'Rabbi.' Now you may not be called Rabbi, for One is your teacher, yet you all are brethren. And 'father' you should not be calling one of you on the earth, for One is your Father, the heavenly."
Matthew 23: 1-9, Concordant New Testament
For many believers, the traditional houses of worship we all frequent have traditionally been seen as places of escape. A sanctuary against the wiles and wickedness of the world we live in. In church, we've been told, we can lay our hurts upon the altar and find peace in the Lord. But what if I was to tell you that many of those who have hurt us have indeed come from the same place where we were to find peace? Trust me when I say that I know this to be true because I've been there. I know the battle scars of the mainstream church all too well. I remember the excitement I felt upon hearing the announcement of a few guys in the church seeking men for their weekly golf outings. Yet when I approached the pastor, he told me that they were looking for guys with more experience in the game and that I should not consider joining them. Needless to say, this interaction left me feeling unwanted and unneeded. Not something you would expect to feel in Gods house. I'm not alone in my experience, for I have since talked to a few friends who have shared similar experiences which they have faced in the church. Honestly, I am not surprised that so many Christians have fallen victim to the battle scars of the traditional church. For what is the church but an assembly of men. Are we to be surprised when men in the church began to show the same behaviors as those in the world outside of it? Whenever man is involved in something, expect wickedness and bad behavior to follow in some extent. We can't help ourselves, this is who we are in the flesh. Is it no wonder that the apostle Paul referred to his own flesh as wicked {Romans 8:6-7, Galatians 5:17}? Our flesh is highly influenced by the world around us, and we all share in it. We might enter into the church on Sunday with the most well meaning intentions, but soon that changes. There are arguments, power struggles and hierarchies which affect even those assembled in the Lords name.
If anyone should be saying that "I am loving God," and should be hating his brother, he is a liar; for he who is not loving his brother whom he has seen can not be loving God whom he has not seen.
1 John 4: 20, Concordant New Testament
I have been blessed in recent years with the friendship and fellowship of a former pastor of a church I used to attend. From his experiences I have come to understand how it is that we have failed those whom we been charged to teach and lead in the Lords name. I have learned that many of our large modern day churches are simply large businesses in themselves. What is the goal of any business? To stay relevant and in business. How is it that businesses stay in business? By maintaining cash flow. There must be more money coming in than expenditures going out. Knowing this, we may get a better understanding that morning offering and why it is so important for the church to keep people in the pews. Granted, not every church follows this pattern, but enough of them do that give our traditional houses of worship a bad name. As if men in the church being led by the flesh could not give it a bad name already? I feel that part of the reason that we let our guard down within the walls of the church is due to the fact that we put our trust in those whom the Lord has placed in the church leadership. Keep this in mind, it is God who has risen up leaders of His people. If said leaders choose to follow the flesh to the detriment of the congregation, that is on them. This is not God punishing the church. Over the years I have seen many a church leader follow the flesh to their downfall. Jim Baker and Jimmy Swaggart immediately come to mind. Did the congregations of these once powerful Christian leaders bring them down? No, these men following their flesh did that on their own. The scriptures tell us to test the spirits of potential false prophets as many have already entered into the world{1 John 4:1}. It is not the act of an unbeliever to question the teaching of a pastor. In the end, our faith and trust should be with the Father and not the flesh.
~Scott~
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