The More We Know…
As the mission statement on my web site bears out and as I have said elsewhere, my passion is to lead Christians to a greater walk with God by imparting a greater knowledge of his word. “The word of God, more perfectly…” But why?
The more we know God’s word, the more we know him and the more he is glorified in us. Tragically, the Church is full of ignorant Christians. By ignorant, I do not mean ignorant in worldly knowledge. I don’t even mean ignorant about God’s word, but ignorant of God’s word. Ignorance of God's word is ignorance of him, and God wants us to know him intimately.
God created us to glorify him. That’s our purpose. But God is not and cannot be glorified in the ignorant Christian. The more we come to know God, the more glorified he is in us.
1 Comments:
Your Feed My Sheep – Abuse of Authority in the Church was a blessing to find today. Having recently left a church, two weeks ago, and having tried to leave a year ago but was talked out of it believing the leaders when they said I was wrong, since it didn’t come from my Dear Husband, it couldn’t be God leading and that God would never lead anyone away from their biblical teaching church. I now know I was not only right a year ago, I also see how God has once again protected me. And I thank God that this time my dear husband believed me and not the leaders.
The church we left is a small, in small town, biblical, non-denominational church. Until I found your article and a few others today, I wasn’t entirely sure why I felt the need to leave this good biblical church, all I knew for sure I know what it’s like to be lorded over by man (having been raised Mormon) and I just couldn’t stay under those conditions …I didn’t feel like the leaders left room for God to move me
For example telling me I should strongly consider not taking any bible study other than the one they offered, urging me to trust that leadership knows what study I need, what study God wants to do, and any more talk about it would be considered bucking heads with leadership. I’m on my second year doing BSF and I love it too much and God has used this verse by verse study to bless me and my family so much I just couldn’t see the harm in doing it. I see now how they took the role of leadership to a controlling level that was not biblical and I feel free, thanks to Jesus. I’m now in 4 different bible studies without guilt and attending 4 churches serves a week without guilt, trusting the Lord will guide us where to go. In the mean time I love the ways God is using all 8 sources and weaving them together in such tangible, relational ways. WOW He is good!
Which brings me to why I’m writing…My question to you, if you can answer is this: My only problem now is what do I do with what I know, with regards to those that I love dearly that are still going to the church even though they struggle with the same guilt, pressure, scrutiny, under the (and I mean this with all my heart) “well meaning” (as you stated is the case sometimes) but controlling leaders? I know I’m only a two year old new believer and that is the only biblicle church I’ve ever known, but God has grown me so much, I truly believe He is making me aware that there is a problem yet I don’t know what to do, if anything, other than pray! In the mean time my heart aches for those that I know, at least 6 dear loving Jesus fallowing, God fearing, submitting to leaders (cuz God fearing) Christians who are under such guilt, even at times stressed over whether they can take communion or not! They have shared this burden and confided in me over their sorrows in feeling judged all the time. It’s not right, but I don’t know if I can, if I should, and more importantly even WHAT to do if anything. I did try to do something when such a burden was shared once. I went to the leaders and told them about this hurting sister, and they told me that for us to even be talking about it was gossip and it needs to stop and since I’m not part of the solution, they the leaders are with God, I need to just walk away and not talk about this ever again- what this sister was hurting over, wanting, needing, was totally within reason! It just breaks my heart.
I will pray for sure. In the mean time, I did agree with the leaders upon leaving to “lay low” and not contact my friends that are still in the body so as not to cause any disruption. This was easy to agree to before I realized the reality that this is going and it’s wrong!
Well if you have any advice I would appreciate it.
Blessings
Faith
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