Do You Fear?

I find that fear is a constant battle for me.  I tend to worry about so many things that I shouldn’t.  I fully acknowledge that this is a major weakness.  It is one that can only be overcome by the working of the Lord in my life.  I need to continually seek him for healing from fear.  I came across a quote today that slapped me upside the head!  It is something I already knew but when you come face to face with the bare bones of the issue it often makes your head spin.

Our fears are grounded in either a failure to believe in God’s strength or a failure to believe His gospel. — RC Sproul Jr

Lord,

I praise you Lord, Creator of all, You are God!  Mold me into your image, may I be surrendered, softened, and easy to mold.  Cleanse me, heal me, create in me a clean heart, one that is absent of fear and clings to you.  I know that worry can not add a single day so let me not waste the ones you have given.  Draw me closer to you that I may never fail to believe and rely upon you.  Remove my self-reliant tendencies.  May you be glorified in my life!

Amen

Where is the Respect?

I have been aware of a growing trend for many years.  It saddens me to see this happening.  It is the devaluing of those in ministerial positions.  I will concede that there are many who are clergy who have abused their positions and many who have disqualified themselves because of unrepentant sins, or direct biblical disqualifications.  Those who are called to a position of pastor and elder are held to a higher standard but they are not perfect.  They are called to maintain the high standard, to be quickly and fully repentant when they stumble and sin, and to not use grace as an opportunity to sin.  That being said, those who are lay members in the church should also respect the position that individual holds and the authority that comes with it.  I have seen recently a strong tendency to bash pastors and remove any amount of authority they should carry.

I hear things like,

“I don’t need a pastor, the Holy Spirit is my teacher.”

The clergy system is the root of the church’s problems.

The title of pastor or elder is overrated, we are all called to the ministry.

These statements I find to be very frustrating. Yes, the Holy Spirit is our teacher to guide us in accordance with the scriptures. That point is correct but that does not mean that we do not need earthly teachers. If that were the case then the Lord would not have gifted and called others as teachers, elders, and pastors. I often hear this used when having a discussion with someone who simply disagrees. It is an easy way to say, “I don’t have to listen to you or take what you are saying/teaching to heart.”

The clergy system we have today may have many faults. However, to assume that they are totally set up as a way for power hungry, controlling, high and mighty proud people to loom over you is an assumption one should not make! Such an assumption carries an air of arrogance.  Much of the system is set up for accountability reasons. It is good to have accountability. I am often curious as to why people often assume the worse of the clergy. Why can we not trust that the Lord knows best who to call and that they might just be godly men after the Lord’s own heart?!

All believers are called to minister to one another. However, that does not mean that all believers are called to be pastor or elder. Titles are not what is important but once again that does not mean that we should loose them altogether. Those titles describe a position; a position that carries some authority. That authority is not a man given authority. It is an authority given by the one who called the individual, the Lord. The person called does good to remember where the authority comes from and are humbled by it.

The under-shepherd is a caretaker for the sheep in the fold of the Lord but is still under the Good shepherd. Many believed and followed Christ but they were not all the apostles. In a way, it is like in a marriage. The husband and wife are equal but the wife is not the head of the home. The head of the home is still under the authority of Christ. The head of the home is in a position of authority. Is that authority sometimes abused? Yes but it does not remove the need for the position.

In our culture today, there is a trend to disrespect the position of pastors, elders, and others in the leadership of the church and those who hold those positions. In my mind, this is once again a sign of the culture of independence polluting the body of Christ. It is a way to assert one’s independence. It is a clear sign of a lack of submission to the Lord by rejecting those he has placed in positions of authority within his bride. It is a lack of humility to assume that those in these positions are in it for themselves and that you know better. It is sinful for one in authority abuse their authority but it is also a sin for one to constantly be bucking against that authority.

True Role of the Christian Woman

Here is another question posed to me from my in real life friend and my response.