The most despicable thing done to you by a Christian

I was told by a preacher that because I am divorced I cant preach, even though my divorce falls under Matthew 19:9, The preacher said that his churches doctrine wouldn't allow me to preach. I wish this where an isolated issue but I run into this alot. I am praying and moving forward. Forgivness is a journey of questions and prayer.

 

I am allowed to preach, I am just not allowed to pastor the IFB church I attend because of my divorce.

The most dispicable thing?

How about a pastor kicking you out of his house when the only reason he has is his son wanted the bedroom you were using. No arguments between the pastor at all. Rent was paid up for the year and had more than a month left in the year. 2 days before the endo of the month the pastor tells ya you need to find a new place to live by the end of the month because the room is needed.

Happened to me. Oh well. Life goes on. Had I not been put out, I probably would have never met my wonderful wife. All things work together for good to them that love the Lord!

Or possibly the more despicable is my brother committing a strongarm robbery that sent me to prison. Well, in prison I got saved, so again all things work together for good to them that love the Lord!

 

Loads of "stuff." Some of it pretty rotten stuff.

Forgiveness is not too hard for me, most of the time. I remember what Christ has forgiven me and the offences against me seem trivial.

Then I choose to forget the things that are behind and press on toward the mark ...

 

Forgetting is actually a lot easier if one turns to Christ to bear burdens. Casting all your cares on Him for He careth for you.

 

Obviously, if we can report things that happened, we remember them. The important thing is that we not allow these things to drive us.

Brother Lowery. We had a baptist minister, some years ago, who commited adultery with his secretary. This dear soul had an invalid wife he cared for many years. She was bedridden for 12 years, barely able to move a muscle, couldn't speak and a number of other problems. He cared for her all those years and still served as pastor of that church.

When he went with the secretary and confessed his actions to his church, the church board asked for advice from our ministerial. We asked him to step aside for a season, meditate on spiritual things and let history unfold. He remained a member of that church and after a year's absence, was admitted back into the pulpit and to the pastorate, by that church and by our Baptist Fellowship.

If we can't understand humanity what good is the Bible or Christian teaching? We need to apply more than salvation. We need to apply compassion, even as our blessed Lord understood us, forgave us, and welcomed us into His fold.

Preach the word, Brother, the whole word.

Cheers,

Jim

 

Clearly we can't forget. These things are a part of our memory. We can choose to forget the offence, even if we can't forget the event.

I was at an amazing service yesterdy. The first Independent Baptist Church in this country is celebrating its 25th anniversary. They invited all who have had a part in the ministry, as well as other pastors to a special lunch and service.

Men were there who had offended and hurt each other deeply in the past. There were rifts and tears that were many years old. There was no monopoly, on guilt, virtually everyone present had played some part in causing the rifts and divisions. Yet God used that time for men to forget the offences and fellowship together. Many, many tears were shed and men shook hands and hugged who had only spoken politely for many years. Some of this was public, others were meeting in corners, corriders, and car parks. All over the place the Holy Spirit was breaking men's hearts.

Are the the memories of the events still there? Of course, but Lord willing that was the beginning of men choosing to forget the offence and glorify God.

 

I admit - I still work on that.

There is one case, not related to yesterday, where I have had to choose to trust, despite what my flesh says. This has only happened in the last few weeks. I have put myself in a situation where am trsuting a man who was once a close friend, but betrayed me and virtually wiped out our work here. I still have some fear, but feel like the Lord is testing me in that very point, to see if I have truly forgiven. It is getting easier as time goes by.

Then I think, "Wht does Jesus trust me after I have let Him down time after time?"

 

This is the crux though. We chose. We chose based on what God would have us do -- on what His Word tells us. This is the toughest lesson to teach and to learn in this day of "if it feels good" (or doesn't).

I am proud to have brothers like you Roger!

Bitsy

 

Thanks Bitsy, that is an encouragement.

 

I am curious if you equate "trusting again" to forgiveness? and why?

secondly, I am curious as to "Jesus trusting us after we let him down" and where that concept comes from?

thanx

 

I "let Jesus down" by failing Him time after time, yet He still trusts me to do His work and enables me for service.

The trusting again after forgiveness came after a question regarding it. That was my repsonse because I thought the question was a valid point.

 

All i will say is the last 2 weeks, actions being done by a group of people (mostly from one family) who are dead set on running me off from this church.
Considering that i'm not the first pastor they have done this too though...i guess i'm in pretty good company.

 

ok, I understand that's how you feel, but can we look at it more subjectively? Like does scripture ever say that we "let Jesus down" and that "He trusts us to do His work" - I am not sure what you are driving at, to be honest.

If I remember correctly, someone did you wrong. Did that person ever repent of it? Was there a change in that person that led you to believe you should trust them again? I guess I am not sure how forgiveness is linked to trusting - it would be helpful if you would elaborate. thanx.

 

I understand the crux of the question now and appreciate your concenrs.

I will have to give the matter further consideration. The question as I see it, and as you are asking is, "Can there be forgiveness without repentance?" and I think that is a worthwhile question.

 

Most dispicable thing?????? Well when there was a lady that took one of my inability's that I told her in private and blasted me with it in front of my fellow fire fighters. Its hard enough being the only female fire fighter (and officer on the board in our dept), but when someone in the buisness end wasn't getting her way because of my objection to spend money we didn't have, she struck back at me useing what I told her in confidence. And yes it does do a number on trust when someone who you went to church with (I visited her Baptist church) does something like this.

Yep I have learned a valuable lesson about the tongue. Pray and ask the Lord to set guard over my tongue like it says in Psalms. Besides the devil don't need no more ammunition to use aginst me.

 

I think we might be inching forward But forgiveness does not hinge on the other person's repentance, but on your own - just wanted to clear that up probably a moot point