Perry Noble posted an excellent article on his
blog about why people criticize. I want to share my thoughts about this topic, but I want to focus on how there could be a true revolution in the church if Christians would get their act together. I grew up Independent Baptist and they are the worst and judging, criticizing, anything that is not what they think is right.
As I have been studying different books in the New Testament over the past couple of months, time and time again I have the thought the “the church” needs to hear what I am reading. In my mind the church is missing something huge and it is effecting the mission of Christ badly!
As I went to post this I was reminded that I too, need to cool down a little when it comes to dealing with these type of Christians. Ephesians 4:2 tells me I need to be patient with my fellow believers, leaving room for their faults, because of my love for them. It is easy to become just as vicious a judge of those who judge; we become judgmental of the judgmental.
I am not sure all of the denominations that battle one another. I know there are several out there that work great together, however growing up in the Independent Baptist Church I was exposed to a lot of hate, criticism, and judgment of the Southern Baptist Churches. It was so bad, that I had never attended a Southern Baptist Church and I thought they were evil or something. That is what happens when churches take the Liberty to brainwash children with man’s opinion versus teaching them the principles from God’s Word. I went with my friend to one of their RA days to a Furman Football Game and thought I might be making God mad, no exaggeration, I was seriously taught that the Southern Baptist were bad and wrong. So whether there are other denominations that influence people in this way, I am not sure, but I know with many of the Independents they don’t just stop with the Southern Baptist, it leaks over into the Methodist, the Presbyterians, and on and on and on…it’s poison!
Ephesians 4:2 – Let’s see who is more out of line with God’s Word – We are told to be “Humble” “Gentle” “Patient” with each other in “Love” – How does criticism, judgment, and poisonous hate fit in there?
Ephesians 4:3 – We are being told to make every effort to be UNITED in the Spirit. If we are truly believers, we share the same Spirit…therefore it is the Holy Spirit that we have in common that we must rely on to bring us together. The fact is…we cannot be united with everyone. There are some pastors, who, people will never trust nor even associate with due to the hurt they have caused and their non-repentant attitude. I guess this goes back to the Pride issue Perry spoke about. It also tells us to be bound by PEACE, once again judging, poisonous hate, and criticism does not spur on peace.
Ephesians 4:4 – This is a kicker for me! We are ONE Body, there is ONE Spirit. When we bash each other and when the body of Christ cannot work together, we see the results and it is a world that is headed for death, and they are not attracted by the Light we say that we posses…they want nothing to do with it! What if my digestive system decided to stop working with the rest of my body? I would be full of crap…that’s what a lot of churches and Christians have become…Full of Crap! We cannot be one body and fight against each other. We will see a Revolution in Christianity if we would work together in love and unity!
Ephesians 4:5, 6 – I still get a kick out of the use of ONE! Here we have divided ourselves, and the Bible is telling us how we are ONE, and we are a part of a unified system that God has put together, but yet we divide ourselves. I am not talking about being divided as in different churches, because God uses different styles and different methods to reach different people, but that is what a lot of the criticizers fail to realize and fail to admit, but when we have to start attacking each other, dragging people’s name’s through the mud, and spewing hate over a difference in opinion and conviction, we are doing Jesus a disservice!
I like what Paul says in 1 Corinthians – He starts out admonishing the people and calling them Holy, but then he gives some tough instructions.
1 Corinthians 1:10 – “STOP ARGUING AMONGST YOURSELVES” That’s pretty clear!!!
We are also told to live in “Real Harmony” to be of “One Mind” and “United in thought and purpose” – This didn’t say united in style and method, type of music, or version of Bible, but in thought and purpose!
What is the purpose of the church? In my opinion it is boiled down to the Great Commission and the Great Commandment, as Christians we are called to do these things and to allow our lives to reflect Christ.
1 Corinthians 1:13 – Christ is the head of the church. He said that He would build His church. He didn’t say man will build my church or man will build his idea of the church or man will be my dictator for what I want as a church. So if we know that as Believers we share the same Spirit that lives in us and through us, why is it that we don’t allow that Spirit to control us? If the Spirit is leading you to start or pastor a church that runs 50 people a week, singing from hymns that no one in this generation knows, reading from scripture that sounds like a Shakespeare play, using no creativity, people as cold as death, with nothing to offer people who aren’t professional Christians then do what the Spirit is telling you to do, but don’t criticize what the Spirit is telling and leading another Believer to do, because that is not being Unified and it is not being of ONE body. The verse questions whether or not Christ is divided? If you say “No,” then why is His church?
Whew I feel better! I truly feel that Christianity can see a great Revolution across the world if we would all learn to work together, not on the things that are merely opinion or personal conviction, but on sharing the Good News with the lost, helping them to Grow to where they can get back out and help others to know this awesome Lord, Jesus Christ.
Nick
