April 25, 2008
Partiality
For many years now our women’s ministry has two study sessions annually, one in the fall and one in the spring. We’ve often tapped good teachers from other churches to present classes for some of the sessions. The staff has just decided that anyone who leaves the church and goes to one of the new start-up churches may come back and attend the women’s classes; however those who leave will no longer be allowed to teach. It’s still OK to use teachers from other churches; you just can’t invite those who’ve fled the coop to teach again. I’ve heard rumblings of insinuation that leaving the church is an evil thing. I suppose locking the teacher door after someone leaves could be considered just a new technique to protect the flock.--Gail
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4 comments:
Gail;
-----Protect the flock!? Indeed! I think you are close, but just a bit off. It is Nicolaitanism (niko = conquer, laios = people) that is being very well exemplified by those master Nicolaitans themselves. Theirs is the church where the leaders insist upon their own ways (I Cor 13:5) by a dominance from their own self asserted authority (I Pet 5:3.) They claim to please God by their proscriptions, yet refuse to admit even the possibility of pleasing their own neighbors (Rom 15:2) whom their proscriptions offend. While pretending to proclaim the Word, these bewildering whisps have walked counter to the love of the brethren. "By this we know love, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren." (I John 3:16) How have the little preacher and his elder minions laid down their lives for the women they refuse to let teach? Of course, they have not! They indeed are afraid that the women who teach won't lay their lives down for them! For that fear is what is actually in operation at that church. Surely, it is not fear of the Lord! All who come there must lay themselves down for the little preacher and his merry band of minions. Only this attitude could be at the core of the leaders assuring each other that their church will loose down to a certain number of members before it will get growing again. That is the thinking taught at the purpose-driven church workshops that stated, "There can't be any blessed addition until there is first some blessed subtraction." Examine the essential characteristic of love. Does love drive loved ones away, where they are out of sight, out of mind, and out of the reach of care? No! It pulls loved ones close where their well being can be seen, thought about, and effected by caring effort. It is hate that pushes away. It is hate that partitions, sets up dividing principles, and proclaims the "we's" and the "you's" among the body. "We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death. Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him." (I John 3:14-15.)
Did the Lord say of the little children, "Push the little children away who don't agree with me?" No! He said, "Let the little children come to me!" So why does the little preacher and his short sighted minions have to push the little children away who do not agree with them? Is it because they are not like Jesus? Or is it because they have taken Jesus' place and don't want to let it go? Either way, it is not out of love they push away, it is out of their own hatred for anyone who will not take part in their selfish ambitions. I can hear the little men say "Oh! But! BUT! We preach JeeeEEEeeesus to the community! You call that selfish ambition?" Of course not. These guys preach the love of Jesus with their mouths, but the divisiveness of hell with their actions. Which should they think Jesus sees?
Written for their own good,
Steve Corey
So how does the fine print read? In my experience, any time a 'rule' is made, there has to be further instruction as to how to implement the rule - the fine print. I'm wondering what constitutes leaving the church?
If my name is still on the membership form, yet I spend most or all of my Sundays attending services at one or another of the new churches, have I left the church? And just how would they know where I spend my Sundays, anyway? Also, would it be acceptable if I spent my Sundays at other churches, so long as it wasn't one of the spin-offs from this one?
Another question: does this new rule apply to everyone who has ever left, or only to those who have left within a recent period of time? Is the staff now going to ask any potential teacher about any previous membership in this church before allowing them to teach?
And what if I should remove my name from membership here, yet attend every Sunday service, am involved in Bible studies and small groups, have children involved in activities here, and I frequently help out with needs and ministries. Would I or would I not be acceptable as a teacher?
After we first started attending here, it was two years or so before we put our names on a form. During that time, we were invited to take part in any-and-all activities, ministries, studies, etc. No one cared that we weren't 'officially' members. I wonder if that has changed now?
When I signed my name to a 'membership' form, it was with the understanding that my name was more for the convenience of the leadership (and maybe some legal need - I can't remember for sure) than it was to actually establish me as a 'member' of this church. If I had thought otherwise, I may not have signed it. I am a member of Christ's church. For the moment, He has me here. That should be enough.
For Him,
Arlene
Good questions Arlene.
Gail
Arlene;
-----I tell you for sure, you will not see Jesus' name on that mebership list. Nor will you see the Holy Spirit named there. If the leaders open the list and point to both saying, "See! There they are!" you know for sure both were written in by the hands of men, forged. I am sure the Holy Spirit disregards these tawdry little rules of jealous little men and teaches through the women at His pleasure. Thank God the true church is the Lord's in actuality, and the leaders' only in their own merry little dreams.
Love
Steve Corey
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