Issues. There are lots of them. But it seems to me that, within the body of Christ in the USA there are some issues which really should be left in the closet. Yet we as believers seem to find the silliest things to focus on when so many are dying and going to hell. In this brief vignette, I will catalog a few of the things which I think hinder us in doing what we're called to do. If it seems like I'm blowing off a little steam, well, I am.
There is another article on this site which deals with this issue in a bit more depth. Basically, I believe that the King James version is the better of the versions available. Having said that, I think it is ignorant and counter-productive for those espousing the KJV only position to slander those who favor the newer versions. They are called heretics, new-agers, blasphemers, you name it. What right to we have to call anyone those things just because they like newer Bible versions. Get a life and spend some time praying for lost souls. If your pastor doesn't use the version you like, don't call him names, go to a church that uses that version.
Some like it loud, some like it soft. Some like great big choirs, some like a guy with a guitar. Hey, guess what, if you don't like the kind of music in the church you go to, go find one that has music you like. If the music is a bit up tempo (or a lot up tempo) with electric guitars and musicians that have long hair, don't call them demonic. If the music is more of a "home-boy" style don't say it's"jungle voodoo music." If the music is of the more homespun variety, if you know what I mean, don't say it's hokey. Just find a place where you like the music and don't criticize someone else's style of worship.
Some of our smaller churches don't have the advantage of being able to have professional musical talent, so they resort to whoever had some kind of music lessons years ago or someone who has enough guts to stand up in front of people and open their mouth. Sometimes, the singers and musicians are not the best. Well, if you think you can do better, go ahead and try, but don't judge people on their musical ability. Instead, why don't you pray for them and try to sense the ANOINTING? You don't have to be a virtuoso to be anointed.
I have yet to find any musical direction in the scriptures (at least that would make sense to us.) Some churches have great pipe organs, some have orchestras, some have small ensembles. Some have it loud, some soft, some stately, some contemporary. The style of music is not important, it is the heart of the worshipper. "The time is coming when they will worship Him in spirit and truth" Jesus said. The music doesn't make the worship, the worship makes the music. Find a church that has the kind of music you like, and pray for the worship leader and the pastor and support them.
Now, I'm not a dancer. If you ever see me dance, you KNOW it's the Spirit, because I don't dance. But if someone wants to dance, that's their business (as long as it's not suggestive or distracting.) David danced so hard he exposed himself. I wonder what kind of beat the music had to make him dance like that. Well, I'll tell ya, it wasn't a waltz. I'm not suggesting, of course, that we expose ourselves in our congregations, but if you feel like dancing, dance. If your church doesn't like dancing, don't criticize the church or the pastor, but pray for them and go find one that will let you dance. And if you feel that's inappropriate, go somewhere where they don't dance. Find people that think like you.
Here's a hot potato. Are the gifts spoken of in 1 Cor 12-14 for today? Some say yes (as I do) some say no, some don't know. Well, I cherish these gifts, and I pray that they will be manifested in our congregation. I speak in tongues, and pray that my whole congregation will. Does that mean I think you have to speak in tongues to be saved? Of course not, because the Bible doesn't teach that. If you come to my church, expect to see the gifts in operation. If God has gifted you, and you make yourself known to me and come around long enough, you will be welcome to exercise whatever gift God has given you. I believe Paul gave us those chapters in 1 Cor to let us know how we were supposed to use these gifts.
But there are some churches, some very fine ones, who don't believe the gifts are for today. I disagree, but who am I to judge them. Here's a little spiritual revelation for you that does not require a doctorate in divinity to understand: IF YOU BELIEVE IN THE GIFTS, GO TO A CHURCH THAT USES THEM, IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE IN THE GIFTS, DON'T GO TO A PENTECOSTAL OR CHARISMATIC TYPE CHURCH. If you don't believe in the gifts, don't call those who do "crazy." If you believe in the gifts don't look upon those who don't as spiritually inferior to you. Don't call one another names, especially in front of unbelievers, but pray one for another.
I am well aware that there are many abuses in charismatic/Pentecostal type churches. These abuses need to be addressed and dealt with within the body of Christ. BUT DON'T SIT AROUND THE LUNCH TABLE AT WORK AND CALL SOMEONE A HERETIC JUST BECAUSE HE PRAYS FOR PEOPLE AND THEY GO "UNDER" IN THE SPIRIT, OR BECAUSE HE SPEAKS IN TONGUES. If you don't believe in that don't go to that church. There are just as many abuses in non-charismatic churches, including legalism and spiritual deadness. Hey, maybe you should try laughing once in a while. Your face won't break.
Which leads me to my next category:
We do run the gamut in this nation. There are some churches that will condemn you if you have a beard, or if you wear a short sleeve shirt. And, gasp, if a woman should wear a pair of slacks, what a scandal. On the other side of the coin, there are churches who believe that everything is OK as long as it doesn't hurt anyone else. Those are the ones who never preach about sin and think it's ok to ordain homosexuals.. Both extremes are dangerous and deadly, and will cause people to flee from the Gospel and not cling to it.
We have relied too long on human standards based on cultural norms and not on the Word of God. Is there a "dress code" in the Word? Well, it talks about dressing modestly. That means that women aren't supposed to wear skirts that barely cover their behinds. Men aren't supposed to wear pants so tight that nothing is left to the imagination and open shirts with all their chest hair hanging out.. We're not supposed to dress in a sensual way, but decently and modestly. That does NOT mean we are supposed to make ourselves look as ugly as possible. It means we're supposed to look nice and clean and decent. Does this take a rocket scientist to figure out?
If you are a woman who feels convicted about wearing slacks, then by all means don't wear them. And find a church that supports your convictions. But don't condemn someone who feels free to do so. Paul said that if it seems like a sin to you, it's a sin. But that doesn't mean it's a sin to another. And if you feel free to do such things, don't rub it in the face of those who disagree. Paul said "Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up." Don't do anything to make a brother or sister stumble.
There are scriptures which deal with the length of men's hair, and the wearing of jewelry. These have been placed in a cultural context by some, taken quite literally by others. Do you really think someone is going to go to hell if his hair is too long, or if she desires to wear earrings. Don't we have anything better to do with our time?
Let me start off by making one thing perfectly clear. I believe that Jesus is returning to this earth, and I kind of have the notion that it will be relatively soon. I believe that he will come first to rapture up the body of Christ to meet him in the air, then will set his feet upon the Mount of Olives seven years later to establish his millennial kingdom. I believe that, during that seven year period, mankind will establish a one world government in defiance to God (they're trying to do so already) and will suffer the consequences of the judgment of God. In short, I am a pre-tribulational, pre-millennial dispensationalist. One wag put it like this:
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Scofield notes and Moody Press....
Well, not really. My hope is built on Jesus Christ and the promises that are given in the Word of God concerning his second coming. I believe that the scriptures are to be interpreted literally wherever the context allows.
Having said that, let me say that there are other views of eschatology that, while I might not agree with them, can be held by honest-to-goodness born again believers. Find out how your church thinks and teaches about the coming of Christ and, if you don't think you can agree, go somewhere else. Don't criticize or condemn the pastor for standing for what he believes.
Be wary of the sensational. It grieves me to read and hear of some of the most outrageous and sensationalistic claims from "prophecy experts" which do more harm to those of us who truly believe in the second coming of Christ than good.
I can remember when I was a teenager back in the wonderful 60's. I wasn't one of the normal ones, noooo. I didn't listen to the Motown sound or go to the Friday night dances. I sat around my room and listened to some of the weirdest stuff going, at least for then. I can remember being enraptured by Frank Zappa and the Mothers long before they became "hip". Those early albums (yes, record albums), like "We're Only In It For The Money" and "Lumpy Gravy" and the rest were so ahead of their time. Ole Frank really was a musical and lyrical wizard, albeit a bit twisted.
Anyhow, I can remember reading on one of those covers how the federal government was preparing concentration camps for the "ugly" people, the freaks, the non-conformists, those who would dare to step out of line and openly criticize the government. I can remember reading articles in the "hip" magazines, with quotes from people who know and pictures and everything. Well, it's thirty years later, and I don't recall any hippies being hauled off en masse to any interment camps to be "reprogrammed." Alas, just a few days ago a brother in Christ told me of how he heard that in Georgia they are preparing prison camps for the "conservatives" who will not go along with the liberal policies of our president. How that, when the year 2000 rolls along, there will be marital law declared because of all of the y2k disasters, and all the Christians will be rounded up and locked away. See, conservative president, hippies in prison, liberal president, Christians in prison. Get it?
Isn't life crazy enough without all that hype? We really do need to be about our Father's business. Jesus said "Go into all the world and make disciples..." and that he would be with us always. Have we forgotten our commission? We have gotten so wrapped up in all of this nonsense that I am afraid we have missed the boat. Is it so important that we be right, even if it means slandering or defaming a brother or sister in Christ? Is our church really the only real one? Are there actually other believers that don't do things quite the way we think they should?
Like it or not, if you are saved by the blood of Jesus, you are my brother or sister. Our outward appearance, our inward standards, the kind of music we listen to, the flavor of Christianity we enjoy really are all brought to level ground at the cross of Calvary. The blood of Jesus cleanses from all sins, and that's what I'm trusting in to get me to heaven. I have my standards. They may be stricter than yours, or maybe more lenient. But they don't save me, nor do yours. Jesus prayed that we would all be one. Can we show the world a united Body of Christ, not united by our outward practices, but united by the Holy Spirit, who will lead us into all truth?
Thanks for putting up with all my ranting.
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