Two questions: What did you agree to? And why? When I was associated with a local congregation, as I looked at other congregations around us I always thought we could do better. The youth was interested in doing something new, while the older folks were most interested in preserving traditions. Each group was dedicating their time and energy toward its own ideology. Regardless of the situation, the pastor was mostly interested in one thing: funds for the next big building project. In the midst of all this confusion, the gospel was being sown in Sunday School. However, very little attention was ever given to it overall, since everyone was always worrying about at least one thing. I remember heading Sunday School for about three years, and had to let it when I realized what we taught in Sunday School was preached against during sermon time. I am sure I wasnt the only one who noticed this, but the pastor was always seeking to have an opponent in the church, and leading Sunday School was turning me into his opponent. I had tried my very best both in his presence and absence to support and represent him for I had believed at the time that he had a pastoral agenda for the benefit of the church and was always ready to support it no matter what. There was an agenda. For the church building, that is. Why? People leave, the building stays. Well what about the gospel? People were always so preoccupied with religious activities, including me, the gospel was something in the past. When I left Sunday School, I had thought that anyone would jump at an opportunity to take over. From what people realized that I sufferred, no one was interested in taking over. Many of the teachers retired as I exit the post, not willing to be targets of future pulpit criticism. I had agreed to stay and apply whatever skills I have to help making the church look like a church. Next, I offerred to administer the church. That probably lasteda year or two. I had the title, the burden to hear all the complaint, but very little power to do anything about it. Why? The pastor had still considered himself the active administrator and had no welcome for changes unless it had to do with bringing in money. Eventually, the Lord empowered me to confront the pastor, give him my letter of complaints on behalf of the church and discuss with him the need to implement some core changes within 30 days, else I resign. At the end of the 30 days, during a members meeting I announced my resignation with the purpose of releasing myself from carrying the Church Administrator title, and the reserve to continue assisiting the church in whatever capacity I can without the need to carry a title. I was always ducking, avoiding any opportunity for confrontation at any cost. For I just never imagined myself being an opponent to him, a very unhealthy position for any member of the congregation. I agreed to bear it all, until I could not bear one thing: to agree with him that someone who does not bring their ten percent is not a Christian. That was it for me. I was then ready to give up everything that I had worked for during the many years I was trying to be a model member. But then in the moment of worship, as the words of the songs were now having new meaning to me, my spirit was liberated. Jesus filled me up with the Holy Spirit. Be careful of what you agree with. If its not the truth, it will keep you in bondages of sin and in the process, multiply your burdens. The truth sets you free, my friends. Jesus sets me free by his grace. I visited the congregation recently. Nothing has changed. The people are more zombified than ever. The youth still upholds themselves as being their own social club. No one cared what the sermon said, while everybody awaited the end of it to applaud the eloquence of the pastor. That day, the sermon focused on three things: salvation by self, justification by self, sanctification by self. Nothing by faith. New chairs, new carpeting, new dresses. The gospel was nowhere to be found. The Lord builds his church. Not with money, not with dead bricks, but with living stones. Praised be his name, Amen.
Posted on: Sat, 24 Jan 2015 20:55:41 +0000
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