I never thought that I would write this piece. Whenever I would think about it, I would just shake it off. It’s not that important, right?
But then I began to wonder if other brethren had been mistreated and were hurting because of this. It’s then that I realized that even if a handful of brothers and sisters in Christ were being mistreated by other Christians – then this IS important.
A Real Conundrum
We expect to be mistreated from those in the world. Actually, if we are not mistreated by those in the world, then perhaps we should take a hard look at our walk with the Lord and our testimony.
But when others who we truly believe are brothers and sisters in Christ verbally batter us to try to make us feel inferior or just not very important in the body of Christ- this is a big problem.
I believe that this shows two problems:
- The offending person is filled with pride
- This person seriously needs to read 1 Corinthian 13 (over and over)
We are commanded by our Lord Jesus to forgive:
“Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”
Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.” (Matthew 18:21-29).
We clearly see from the Scripture above that forgiveness is of utmost importance to our Lord Jesus. After all, think about everything that He forgave us when He was on the Cross!
Also, Peter was speaking of his brothers in Christ. I’m pretty sure that just like us, there were arguments, and at times, bad feelings between the Apostles. But our Lord made it clear that we were not to find ourselves in a state of bitterness. That meant to go to the person who did the offending and try to make things right again.
Yes – even if we have searched ourselves and know that we did not do anything to cause the other to lash out, we are to humble ourselves and seek peace with the brother or sister. This is not easy, brethren.
“For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many.
If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be?
But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it” (1 Corinthians 12:12-26).
“And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13). (emphasis added)
Brethren, we can be very well known, and be doing incredible things for the Lord; but the Word clearly says that if we have not love – we are nothing.
Shalom b’Yeshua
MARANATHA!
Reblogged this on El Noticiero de Alvarez Galloso.
Amen. Agappe love is the key.:)
A lot of this bullying comes from false Christians especially if you are a pre-tribber. I have a lot of this and it is disturbing. When I reposted info on Bethel Church being a cult….wow what pushback I got. Daily I have to forgive. We all need to pray for the true remnant as I believe we are all going through this. Blessings to you Geri.
:))
Reblogged this on BibleProphecyWatch.
Reblogged this on Truth2Freedom's Blog.
We must remember that the church is made up of broken people. Sometimes as believers it is those closest to us that hurt us. It’s happened in my life. I’ll bet its happened in everyone’s life at some point to some degree.
The advice I have is to forgive them. We must sweep up our side of the street. Also read 1John chapter 3 in its entirety.
We are commanded to love other believers.
1 John 3:21-24 (NASB)
21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God;
22 and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.
23 This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us.
24 The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.
Deuteronomy 6:5 (NASB)
5 “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
Leviticus 19:18 (NASB)
18 ‘You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD.
Matthew 22:36-40 (NASB)
36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”
37 And He said to him, ” ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’
38 “This is the great and foremost commandment.
39 “The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’
40 “On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”
Galatians 5:14 (NASB)
14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.”
שלום בישוע
I have forgiven the person who inspired me to write this piece – for Christ’s sake. There is a back story which I cannot write. Please pray for this person because this person has hurt many in the body of Christ.
I am so crushed that I cannot seem to get the energy to write articles. I know that this is the evil one coming against me, but perhaps God does want me to take a break – however long- from writing.
I feel your pain as I have friends supposedly Christians who hurt me many times. I will pray that this person will be exposed by the Holy Spirit and convicted. Prayer is the key. God bless you Geri for your vulnerability and honesty. You are a blessing to me and others.
Then you swept up your side of the street. That is what God ask of us.
As for the other person they will either humble themselves before God and repent, or be humbled by God. It’s much more preferable to go to God than to be taken to his woodshed.
Uh No. Certainly not.
Sister, you are a warrior on the line. Time to rally and get back in the fight.
Take HIS word for it….
Hebrews 10:35-36 (NASB)
35 Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.
36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.
Joshua 1:9 (NASB)
9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
Psalm 118:5-7 (NASB)
5 From my distress I called upon the LORD; The LORD answered me and set me in a large place.
6 The LORD is for me; I will not fear; What can man do to me?
7 The LORD is for me among those who help me; Therefore I will look with satisfaction on those who hate me.
AND….
Romans 8:28 (NASB)
28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
Look at Paul. He was:
Stoned and left for dead.
Beaten with rods three times.
Whipped with 39 lashes five times.
Attacked by an angry mob.
Multiple death threats.
Shipwrecked three times.
Set adrift 24 hours
Under arrest for 2 years without a trial
Attacked and criticized by other Christians
Oh yeah, and bitten by a viper.
2 Timothy 2:3-4 (NASB)
3 Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
4 No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.
2 Timothy 3:12 (NASB)
12 Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
2 Timothy 4:7-8 (NASB)
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;
8 in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.
Right then…. Get back in the Game!
Oh and….. It’s Purim starting tonight. Have the courage of Esther sister!
People go to church to get all the good feelings of religion without the commitment Christ and his disciples had to one another — it’s no wonder it’s become Babylon, like a harlot giving all the good feelings of sex without the commitment of marriage and children
“Unless a man forsakes everything he can not be my disciple.”