“that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,”Philippians 2:15
Can one say he is wise and shrewd, being good stewards with God's money, and at the same time mistreat others? There is this organization that has been involved in a building project, I know some in the business world they are interacting with. One has even come to me to speak with me about this, he found their actions very questionable. They say they are being good stewards but it doesn't seem to be about saving money, they are not considerate of those in their church that could do a quality job for much less. There is one thing in common I hear about this organization, they think highly of themselves. How can you build a physical building while at the same time not be a Light? It saddens me that they are not blameless without blemish in the world, not being a light, and one can't say anything, they are approve reproach.
“Do nothing from self-interest or vainglory, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”Philippians 2:3-4
This word for self-interest means work done merely for hire, or self-seeking, of acting for one's own gain. Self-interest leaders look "only to his own interests," not that of others. Vainglory would be that not for the glory of God, like the Pharisee who sought the glory of men, who did things for people to see. Thinking highly of yourself, exalting yourself over others based upon authority, money, position... this is the way of the world, such is not godly characteristics. Can one be wise and shrewd and at the same time esteem others better than himself? Yes, esteem others higher is godly wisdom.
I think telling signs of false teachings is that men lord over others, it is all about authority, and it is only considerate of its own interests, thus it is all about the mission and the people are expendable. God desires obedience above sacrifice, so this idea that we are all suppose to sacrifice the greater things of God like justice, faith, mercy, and love for serving, though we say it is for Him such is not truth. You can't break the golden rule nor the new commandment and excuse it away saying we are all sacrificing for Jesus, no, no, hog wash.
“be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,”
Many blame the problems of our society on lawlessness, but I say it is a church that doesn't shine as lights in the world nor have they entered the kingdom of God like Innocent and blameless children. It is too busy toiling, saying it is spreading the gospel, but bypassing sanctification, acting and looking like the world. Maybe it needs to quit “serving” for a while and start reading the Bible. If truth can't be proclaimed and sought within the church without one being accused of coming against authority, and if the weapons of leaders are fear, shame, and guilt, then we have lost the battle. The mindset of the American Church speaks of an almost brainwashing; can't speak against the leaders, shame if you speak out against wrong, shame if you seek truth, shame you don't have servants heart, shame, shame...
Oh I did you wrong, lets just let that one slide, take it for the team, we all make mistakes, have servants heart, but woe to you if you make a mistake. Sacrifice, give and tithe but if you need help, sorry, we are not considerate of your things, your expendable. You are problem and we have no problems. This is not the way of Christ. If we do not teach people to stand for truth in the Church they will not stand for truth in the world, period. And what young person would want to grow up in such a Church? Jesus said wisdom is justified in her children, and the statistics prove such in the American church, most leave when they become adults. Why? They do not see it of value, it is not a light. Jesus said the Kingdom of God belongs to children and here we see more of what that means, “be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish...”
“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”Philippians 2:5-8
It is unfortunate, but it is reality, something Jesus warned us about, and many of the writers of the new testament, there will be false teachers in the church. But he gives us insight into how we will know, you will know them by their fruit. A good tree produces truth. A bad tree produces lies. A good tree produces fruit that esteems others higher than themselves, that is considerate of others. A bad tree says it is not about you, you are here to serve the organization. A good tree says it is about you, I am here to serve you, it is about your salvation, and your sanctification, it says lets “work out your own salvation...”Philippians 2:12 A hireling leads for personal gain, lording over the sheep, demanding obedience, and when the devil comes to seek and destroy, the sheep are expendable. You will know them by their fruit. A good Shepherd leads the sheep into green pastures and besides still waters, he would lay down his life for the sheep, he shines as a light in a crooked and perverse world.
Spirit Of The Living God
Can one say he is wise and shrewd, being good stewards with God's money, and at the same time mistreat others? There is this organization that has been involved in a building project, I know some in the business world they are interacting with. One has even come to me to speak with me about this, he found their actions very questionable. They say they are being good stewards but it doesn't seem to be about saving money, they are not considerate of those in their church that could do a quality job for much less. There is one thing in common I hear about this organization, they think highly of themselves. How can you build a physical building while at the same time not be a Light? It saddens me that they are not blameless without blemish in the world, not being a light, and one can't say anything, they are approve reproach.
“Do nothing from self-interest or vainglory, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”Philippians 2:3-4
This word for self-interest means work done merely for hire, or self-seeking, of acting for one's own gain. Self-interest leaders look "only to his own interests," not that of others. Vainglory would be that not for the glory of God, like the Pharisee who sought the glory of men, who did things for people to see. Thinking highly of yourself, exalting yourself over others based upon authority, money, position... this is the way of the world, such is not godly characteristics. Can one be wise and shrewd and at the same time esteem others better than himself? Yes, esteem others higher is godly wisdom.
I think telling signs of false teachings is that men lord over others, it is all about authority, and it is only considerate of its own interests, thus it is all about the mission and the people are expendable. God desires obedience above sacrifice, so this idea that we are all suppose to sacrifice the greater things of God like justice, faith, mercy, and love for serving, though we say it is for Him such is not truth. You can't break the golden rule nor the new commandment and excuse it away saying we are all sacrificing for Jesus, no, no, hog wash.
“be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,”
Many blame the problems of our society on lawlessness, but I say it is a church that doesn't shine as lights in the world nor have they entered the kingdom of God like Innocent and blameless children. It is too busy toiling, saying it is spreading the gospel, but bypassing sanctification, acting and looking like the world. Maybe it needs to quit “serving” for a while and start reading the Bible. If truth can't be proclaimed and sought within the church without one being accused of coming against authority, and if the weapons of leaders are fear, shame, and guilt, then we have lost the battle. The mindset of the American Church speaks of an almost brainwashing; can't speak against the leaders, shame if you speak out against wrong, shame if you seek truth, shame you don't have servants heart, shame, shame...
Oh I did you wrong, lets just let that one slide, take it for the team, we all make mistakes, have servants heart, but woe to you if you make a mistake. Sacrifice, give and tithe but if you need help, sorry, we are not considerate of your things, your expendable. You are problem and we have no problems. This is not the way of Christ. If we do not teach people to stand for truth in the Church they will not stand for truth in the world, period. And what young person would want to grow up in such a Church? Jesus said wisdom is justified in her children, and the statistics prove such in the American church, most leave when they become adults. Why? They do not see it of value, it is not a light. Jesus said the Kingdom of God belongs to children and here we see more of what that means, “be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish...”
“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”Philippians 2:5-8
It is unfortunate, but it is reality, something Jesus warned us about, and many of the writers of the new testament, there will be false teachers in the church. But he gives us insight into how we will know, you will know them by their fruit. A good tree produces truth. A bad tree produces lies. A good tree produces fruit that esteems others higher than themselves, that is considerate of others. A bad tree says it is not about you, you are here to serve the organization. A good tree says it is about you, I am here to serve you, it is about your salvation, and your sanctification, it says lets “work out your own salvation...”Philippians 2:12 A hireling leads for personal gain, lording over the sheep, demanding obedience, and when the devil comes to seek and destroy, the sheep are expendable. You will know them by their fruit. A good Shepherd leads the sheep into green pastures and besides still waters, he would lay down his life for the sheep, he shines as a light in a crooked and perverse world.
Spirit Of The Living God