Follow Who?

When I had the understanding of salvation under my belt, I needed to know what was expected of me in the form of change. I couldn't possibly remain in the same state that I was in not after knowing what has been done for me (Matthew 6:33 KJV). Now what was I suppose to do for Him (Hebrews 11:6 KJV)? Consider that it took some doing for me to accept that I needed salvation. When I was first asked, I said without hesitation, "no". I didn't like what this new found "Christianity" principle were doing to people especially when I thought he/she was cool before they even knew who Jesus was (Luke 18:18-28 AMP). After they started to profess Christianity, their whole demeanor seemed like the love children of the 60's and frankly it was freaking me out. No, No, No, I said to the greasy looking minister in the light blue polyester leisure suit - No! Course, I was 12 at the time.

Since then, along with the way I look, my overall view on life, experience, skills, an education in the public school system, a college education, and attending church services regularly, I am a changed person. What I use to think as a child is completely different as to what I think now. How I see people is differently. Who I trust and listen to is not without much scrutiny, which is something that is taught by adults or learned through trial and error (Proverbs 2:5 KJV). Change has come about in many different ways and I am still in the process of being more like Him rather than speaking from emotion, reacting to every action that is sought against me, and listening more intently then ever before (Ephesians2:1-22 AMP) . These changes have made me a more calm, happier person, and I like it.

Wouldn't this also be true in the Spirit? What I mean to write is, what we learned as children in Sunday school or if attending church service later in life, we learned somethings that held fast to our life style. Yes, Jesus loves us and we love others - this is without question. Is there a limit? Do we put up boundaries to this love that has been richly given to us. And if not, when do we say when? Won't people take advantage if we don't. Is there a tough love in Christ? If there is, show it to me in the Word of God. The answer, even if found in the scripture, would then constitute more change for us to do (Luke 10:26-28 KJV).

This post took me a little while to put up because I had to stop being so angry of the years that have passed with me admiring men and women of God that have taught me only to find that they hadn't really believed what  they were teaching. What would you call it if the very person teaching the principles of God in order to stay in fellowship is wrapped up in all sorts of scandal (1 Timothy3:1-13 KJV)? If it isn't scandal then its a phrase that happened to slip out while ministering the Word. Babies in Christ may not have caught those little tid-bits in their spiritual food because they are babies and their trust is in who they see. But when you come into the knowledge of the truth and start putting aside the milk of the Word and start chomping down in the meat of some things, faith at work is what is seen more and more. Scrutiny in those tid-bits becomes a ministry in of itself and is a responsibility for you to watch out for them and pray for that minister. I don't know if the scandal is a direct result in the constant disobedience of the minister or the harvest of a congregation not praying. What I do know it has an affect on the spiritual growth of the church because it had an affect on me (James 3:3-18 AMP).

Let me paint a hypothetical picture for you. A pastor of a rather large church states that it is a man's responsibility to protect his family. He stated the weapons of warfare to the congregation and then says what was the weapon of choice in biblical times was the sword (2 Corinthians 3-5 AMP). These days we use a gun. He went on stating things of this nature until it became common knowledge that if you approach this pastor it would be best that you come correct rather then in any state of confrontation. I found this disturbing on so many levels but I waited to see if he was going to have an epiphany and change some things for the sake of those who never carried a gun and was set on doing everything the pastor does to get what the pastor has. You know there are people who think this way - don't you? That didn't happen, well not when I was attending those services. What did happen was in my previous place of employment, one of the teenage girls that I looked after as a youth specialist, was devastated at the death of well known rapper, Tupak Shakur. She cried and the rest of the girls residing there with her chimed in with their grief. It was reported that their beloved idol was murdered and the police didn't have any leads at the time. While they speculated as to what happened, I wasn't in any sort of emotional state at what I heard and was slightly irritated that the staff was allowing the regular routine to be disturbed over the foolishness of this one singer that spoke of violence and justified his behavior in that lifestyle set to music. It was as if they were indulging these girls to behave in the same manner as a tribute to this man, so I spoke without thought to their grief but maintain the routine of the day, "you live by the sword, you die by the sword." It all of a sudden became quiet. Not staff or the children said anything. Just when the silence became almost deafening, the very girl that started the grief process bellowed out in such defiance, "how can you say that?! You don't understand! You don't know what he has been through!" She went on and on with some other things. I just stopped listening to her and the other girls did as well going on with their day. Once they did, so did staff. That one girl continued to grieve and listen to the radio as they played Tupak's music over and over as memorandum. Then the disc-jockey spoke low and somber in recognition of this music icon. Just before playing another song, he stated the very same scripture that I did  (Matthew 26:52 AMP). That girl jumped up out of her bed and came looking for me. She was smiling and apologetic. I asked what brought about the change and she mentioned what the disc jokey said. Now, she was able to function and the grief was complete for her as well.

Change came about for the teenage girl. Would that also be true for a minister who has committed himself to serving the Lord by way of passing a message to lead a group of people to live a better life that would be pleasing unto God? Would that be true if the same group of people decide to live by the sword - in this case, by the gun? Jesus walked through throngs of people that looked to harm him because he made them think about Him being the Messiah. How dare He, they all thought and so they looked to kill Him. But because of the calling that is on His life to be Lord and Savior, He knew it was not His time yet (John 7:1-6 KJV). It would be in God's time. So because of that trust, that faith, that assurance in Him, there was no need for Jesus to walk with any weapons to defend Himself against what He said or had done. He was to go about His Father's business knowing that it was Him who was going to control the matter for His good. Why wouldn't ministers have this kind of faith and if they don't, how then are they suppose to teach a congregation of people to behave in such a manner that not even the ministers are willing to do?

The extramarital affairs of the ministers, the illegitimate children that came from them, the double lives, embezzling funds from the church, the accusations of drug usage, sex offenders of children, and all of the other dirty secrets that have been hidden over the years but have not come to the light as of yet, still coming to the pulpit and telling the faithful people what they should and shouldn't do with the utmost conviction. It isn't until the secret behavior is reported for public knowledge, then there comes the remorse and that we are expected to forgive and allow for bygones to be bygones. Would that it could be all that simple. We all have to go through change to be more and more like Him. Forgiving a minister or clergy that was misplaced on a pedestal and not having the expectation of said clergy to ever make a mistake is a wound that takes longer to heal then it would if actually stabbed (Matthew 19:26 KJV). God sees him/her trying to make a horrific matter into distant memory but along with those efforts, he/she also has to recover from not placing anyone that high ever again - unless it is God (Deuteronomy 5:7 KJV). No one deserves to be in that position but Him.

Change comes quick with some things and much longer with others. It takes only a mere 18 years to change a child into an adult- on the outside. It might take longer for the change to happen for the child to function as an adult when keeping in mind any other factors like outside influence, faith in God as opposed to parents having their own issues, liking one's self, loving others, and so forth and so on. People being what we are and who we are, this is even more of a reason to be patient as others have been with you. The Word is there for those impasses when patience is being tested and not for just using pretty words when it seems necessary. If you truly live by this kind of sword, your life will be full of prospects and opportunity. It is, after all, what pleases Him (Psalm 35:27 AMP).

Divorce (part 2)

People enter into marriage for a myriad of reasons. Some favorable to God while others...well, we can see with the many divorces that have come about in the last 20-30 years. Paul writes if you cannot contain yourself then marry for it is not a sin but you will have trouble (1 Corinthians 7:36 AMP). That verse all by itself should have given us all reason to stand up and take notice. Trouble? No one purposely tries to get into trouble. Why, why would Paul deem such a thing on men and women of God for generations to come? He also writes when you were single you concerned yourself about the things of God but married you concern yourself about worldly matters (1 Corinthians 7:32-34 AMP). How irritating is that? All of this time while trying to do what's right, the only time you were right is by being single? Now that you marry, you can't focus on the things of God anymore? Really. Is that what Paul meant?

For sometime, I disregarded the verse because Paul had never been married and was speculating. However, as I studied the Word, it kept popping back up. If one marries for the purposes of satisfying his loins, his mind wasn't on the things above but the things south of the border (below). If temperance or the flesh was never really controlled then it will again start to infiltrate other matters in one's life (1 Corinthians 7:37 AMP). If lust was the reason for the matrimony then lust will come again in other things like a business venture, purchasing a house, playing a card game, or even buying a pair of shoes. For instance, you see someone you know doing well. Normally, you would feel fine and congratulate him/her but instead there are these strange feeling that arise. Thoughts come over your mind:

You know they don't have the experience you have. They don't have the education you have. They don't have the connections you have so how could they afford a luxury car, and expensive vacation home or even take a vacation for that matter? Who do they think they are?

Where did those thoughts come from? Don't you see, this is the trouble that Paul was referring. These are the worldly matters he taught in the scriptures. And why? Because there was no discipline before getting married. You answered to lust. Lust simply is not being satisfied (Philippians 4:11 AMP).


No one really likes discipline but it has its place in child rearing both in the natural and in the spirit. A child without instruction or correction grows to be a fool. He is self confident and arrogant. The bible says he is a grief to his mother and in as much a disgrace to his father (Proverbs 10:1 AMP). God chastises those whom He loves and we should not despise it. For in the long scheme of things (usually after the pain) , the correction will be to our benefit.

Divorce occurs after the passion has been fulfilled. We then see what we should have seen if taken the time to date properly. Error is clear but instead of being mature to see a Marriage Counselor, the quick fix is divorce. In getting this quick fix, understand that there will be consequences. I don't know why people don't see that there is a consequence in getting a divorce.... unless discipline was never tended to. Nevertheless, without understanding, these things will be repeated:

1. Dating (courting) occurs for the two people to see what they have in common. Dating is for the purposes of marriage and not to see if the goods are suitable for the other. Divorce is realizing that the person you married was supposed to be for someone else.

2. In getting a divorce, at least one person has been hurt. Most of the time, there is no love in this process and therefore, the one initiating the legal documents doesn't realize or couldn't care less the hurt and pain that has been inflicted upon the other and the children. Know the Word tells us to touch not thine anointed and do His prophets no harm. It also says that it is better that a millstone be put around the neck of the one that offends the little ones.

3. Children aren't as resilient as the previous generations thought they would be. Children can grow up angry and resentful when they have been left with one parent that has to do it all. The Word tells us that a man that does not support his children is worse then an infidel.

Just like man made medication, divorce has side effects that can last longer than the relationship. These are 3 reasons why someone's life is in turmoil and he/she doesn't understand why. Make that confession and clean up. Don't repeat these same offenses again.