Today in Sunday school; the discussion came up about finishing the race well and the verse 1 Corinthians 11:1 or another to that affect was pondered. One participant stated that she would like that to be true for her and her children and grandchildren on imitating the example set forth. Further delving into the matter of those with integrity in scripture (there are many) brought up the examples of Isaiah and Jeremiah the "weeping" prophet. I thought of Jeremiah in Lamentations and the parallel to Christ in the New Testament weeping over Jerusalem in Matthew 23:37. We need to balance the hard truths such as the excoriation of the Pharisees and the prophets warnings to Israel and the collateral damage inevitably to result with the fact that when calamity did strike the Prophets would mourn and suffer; understanding God's own sentiments toward such things. That is brought out quite effectively with Hosea and the judgments to come on Ephriam such as in chapter 11 verse 8. In fact; in the prophet's personal life with his unfaithful wife he had to purchase again as well as with eventual reconciliation with Israel mentioned in earlier chapters we see past what many consider an unloving Old Testament God with one who doesn't have any joy in the destruction of the wicked ( Ezekiel 18:23).
In this discussion of the "goodness and severity of God" ( Romans 11:22) we can apply these principles to the discipling efforts that elders are commissioned to be part of along with the rest of the congregation. Open rebuke is better than hidden love ( Proverbs 27:5). There is too much laxity in such matters today from my vantage point. Let's be honest; we are more likely to take a rebuke to heart than some meaningless compliment and retain such in our memory. That can be true for something said in an insensitive manner; but most times we can at least apply some truth from the Word in our lives and respect the messenger.
We all need close relationships with other believers that last through thick and thin, whether or not one stays in the church where they met or not. We need people who can truly know us and us them. We need friends who will lovingly rebuke us and pray for us.
Sadly, it could often be said for some that they could find more people who cared about their welfare if they sat every Sunday ina local bar than in church. That is a very sad reality for some who find themselves in a fellowship where people are happy and friendly with you as long as things are going well, but are no where to be found when one enters troubled times.
So, let us examine ourselves and ask God to remove from us any superficial, insincere, Good Time Charlie, Fair Weather Friend type of approach to relationships with other believers. These are sinful relational approaches and we should all want to be much better than that. It can be challenging to change these attitudes out of us, but having the Holy Spirit shed light on them and then viewing them in oneself is the first step.
Richard, I don't think the church needs people who go around rebuking people constantly as if it is their "ministry". But we do need to pray to be able to receive rebuke with integrity from other believers. I always ask God, is this true of me, Lord? Help me to change this if it is true? If the rebuke is misplaced, then I can just refuse to accept it and forgive the person who tried to help me. I can thank the person who brought something to my attention and the Holy Spirit affirms what they say is true to me.
When we exercise this responsibility to rebuke someone, we will probably make mistakes at times as we grow in wisdom to know how and when to speak to someone about something. We need to be willing to apologize to the person we misspoke to in an attempt to rebuke and admit that we are just learning more about this responsibility and that we did not intend to hurt anyone by it.
I have been reading through Jeremiah this week and he was asked to point out the sins of Judah over and over again along with repeatedly telling them of the coming captivity and destruction of the city and temple. I noticed how Jeremiah pleaded with God for his people and Jeremiah calling his people to repentance. The Jews thought themselves "clean" and privileged because they had the temple and its services to take care of their offenses. Many didn't think they were wicked, but God did and said so.
God had given Jeremiah a difficult assignment to prophesy to Judah with unwelcome prophesies from God. The Judaeans despised Jeremiah with all of his "negativity" and preferred the false prophets who claim to speak for God saying, Peace, Peace, nothing evil will befall you. Continue on with what your heart imagines is best. These false prophets did not address sin nor how God was offended by it, nor did they tell the people to repent and turn back to God and do rightly before Him.
The Judeans did not want anyone to judge them. That sounds so familiar to what people think today. The mantra "Stop judging me" is so prevalant that people are afraid to bring up anything "negative" even to a dear believer. This is where we come to when everyone lives :according to the imaginations of their hearts." ( Jer. 23:17)
Many believers prefer to hear a positive message from the pulpit, never a sermon that brings conviction of sin. Niceness is valued more than truthfulness, and flattery to honest talk. People are seeking to have their ego stroked and avoid hearing about bearing one another's burdens and interacting with one another with sincerity. Superficiality in relationships are the norm in many congregations with very few people open to add more friends to their tight circles within the church fellowship. And we wonder why church members wonder about the revolving door activity of people coming and going within a few years.
Today in Sunday school; the discussion came up about finishing the race well and the verse 1 Corinthians 11:1 or another to that affect was pondered. One participant stated that she would like that to be true for her and her children and grandchildren on imitating the example set forth. Further delving into the matter of those with integrity in scripture (there are many) brought up the examples of Isaiah and Jeremiah the "weeping" prophet. I thought of Jeremiah in Lamentations and the parallel to Christ in the New Testament weeping over Jerusalem in Matthew 23:37. We need to balance the hard truths such as the excoriation of the Pharisees and the prophets warnings to Israel and the collateral damage inevitably to result with the fact that when calamity did strike the Prophets would mourn and suffer; understanding God's own sentiments toward such things. That is brought out quite effectively with Hosea and the judgments to come on Ephriam such as in chapter 11 verse 8. In fact; in the prophet's personal life with his unfaithful wife he had to purchase again as well as with eventual reconciliation with Israel mentioned in earlier chapters we see past what many consider an unloving Old Testament God with one who doesn't have any joy in the destruction of the wicked ( Ezekiel 18:23).
In this discussion of the "goodness and severity of God" ( Romans 11:22) we can apply these principles to the discipling efforts that elders are commissioned to be part of along with the rest of the congregation. Open rebuke is better than hidden love ( Proverbs 27:5). There is too much laxity in such matters today from my vantage point. Let's be honest; we are more likely to take a rebuke to heart than some meaningless compliment and retain such in our memory. That can be true for something said in an insensitive manner; but most times we can at least apply some truth from the Word in our lives and respect the messenger.
We all need close relationships with other believers that last through thick and thin, whether or not one stays in the church where they met or not. We need people who can truly know us and us them. We need friends who will lovingly rebuke us and pray for us.
Sadly, it could often be said for some that they could find more people who cared about their welfare if they sat every Sunday ina local bar than in church. That is a very sad reality for some who find themselves in a fellowship where people are happy and friendly with you as long as things are going well, but are no where to be found when one enters troubled times.
So, let us examine ourselves and ask God to remove from us any superficial, insincere, Good Time Charlie, Fair Weather Friend type of approach to relationships with other believers. These are sinful relational approaches and we should all want to be much better than that. It can be challenging to change these attitudes out of us, but having the Holy Spirit shed light on them and then viewing them in oneself is the first step.
Richard, I don't think the church needs people who go around rebuking people constantly as if it is their "ministry". But we do need to pray to be able to receive rebuke with integrity from other believers. I always ask God, is this true of me, Lord? Help me to change this if it is true? If the rebuke is misplaced, then I can just refuse to accept it and forgive the person who tried to help me. I can thank the person who brought something to my attention and the Holy Spirit affirms what they say is true to me.
When we exercise this responsibility to rebuke someone, we will probably make mistakes at times as we grow in wisdom to know how and when to speak to someone about something. We need to be willing to apologize to the person we misspoke to in an attempt to rebuke and admit that we are just learning more about this responsibility and that we did not intend to hurt anyone by it.
I have been reading through Jeremiah this week and he was asked to point out the sins of Judah over and over again along with repeatedly telling them of the coming captivity and destruction of the city and temple. I noticed how Jeremiah pleaded with God for his people and Jeremiah calling his people to repentance. The Jews thought themselves "clean" and privileged because they had the temple and its services to take care of their offenses. Many didn't think they were wicked, but God did and said so.
God had given Jeremiah a difficult assignment to prophesy to Judah with unwelcome prophesies from God. The Judaeans despised Jeremiah with all of his "negativity" and preferred the false prophets who claim to speak for God saying, Peace, Peace, nothing evil will befall you. Continue on with what your heart imagines is best. These false prophets did not address sin nor how God was offended by it, nor did they tell the people to repent and turn back to God and do rightly before Him.
The Judeans did not want anyone to judge them. That sounds so familiar to what people think today. The mantra "Stop judging me" is so prevalant that people are afraid to bring up anything "negative" even to a dear believer. This is where we come to when everyone lives :according to the imaginations of their hearts." ( Jer. 23:17)
Many believers prefer to hear a positive message from the pulpit, never a sermon that brings conviction of sin. Niceness is valued more than truthfulness, and flattery to honest talk. People are seeking to have their ego stroked and avoid hearing about bearing one another's burdens and interacting with one another with sincerity. Superficiality in relationships are the norm in many congregations with very few people open to add more friends to their tight circles within the church fellowship. And we wonder why church members wonder about the revolving door activity of people coming and going within a few years.
Oops need a part 2
God bless you.
This comment thread is locked. Please enter a new comment below to start a new comment thread.
Note: Comment threads older than 2 months are automatically locked.
Do you have a Bible comment or question?
Posting comments is currently unavailable due to high demand on the server.
Please check back in an hour or more. Thank you for your patience!
Report Comment
Which best represents the problem with the comment?