The Church Series (A Saturday Morning Confection)Pt. 42 (WARNING) Rated FG-7

Thanks Kelvin Dougherty, it does amaze me sometime how offensive people become when you question character, especially of leaders. People are so quick to say we are not to judge, when I can ask a question that is biblically based, yet I am quickly judged. However I love judgment from people, I have learned to use them as pre-tests preparing me for the post-test. If we can’t or will not grow into maturity of the whole word of God and be able to question, challenge, hold accountable and talk about our responsibilities as children of God serving as His ambassadors without being offended, whose children are we really? The word of God helps us judge our motives, look at our faults and His grace gives us the opportunity to change.

I have served as a servant of God for eighteen years in the church. Over those years I been involved in many ministries, served as team leader, teacher, assist pastor and lead pastor. As I begin to watch and study over the years I begin to see things that I was being taught that did not line up with the word of God, yet because of my reverence for the men and the church I served, I never questioned my teaching or our actions. In the later years as I watched the fire, zeal and glory fade from God to my pastor, church and my willingness to beat down anyone who came up against them. However, there was a small piece of coal deep down on the inside of me that refused to fade out for God, and that small piece of coal kept me up night after night reading and studying God’s word in search of that I knew was missing –in spite of the perceived success within the local body.

That small piece of coal deep down within the fibers of my heart begin to get hotter and hotter until it begin to rekindle the fire and fear I had for God within my heart. At that moment the Holy Spirit begin to question my thoughts, teachings, actions and motives—the very questions I do and will boldly ask my follow brother and sisters who labor in our Father’s vineyard.

Not only have the questions I ask been asked of me, even so I was found guilty by my own truthful answers—I had sinned against God and His people. The very things I had been taught, told to do and watched carried out in church—in the name of Jesus. Now because of the ability not to be offended by God’s word questioning me, I was now on my knees before my righteous God repenting. Instead of receiving my just reward, God’s grace covered me—sit me down and sent me out of the institutionalized church. For seven months God ministered, restored and reassigned me. As the church brewed up speculation and factorizations—God was doing a revalidation.

Not only did I repent to God, I have openly and privately apologized to everyone I or (we as the church) I knew had been hurt directly or indirectly by my actions or the directives given to me that “I” boldly carried out.

If we can’t search out God’s word to change us, willing to ask of ourselves and each other the tough questions pertaining to godly principles according to God’s word, willing to admit our shortcomings, willing to say Father I have sinned against and before You—where’s the hope for change?

Humility and openness is the key to God’s word changing our carnal state and the state of our communities.