HOLY WRATH! RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION!! James 3:9-12 “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.” One of the most difficult positions in the church of the Living God is that of a pastor. Believe me, I am not talking of our sweet-talking, fanfare-ish, mega-rich pastors. I am talking of a lowly shepherd of a church – big or small. It is not easy shepherding a congregation of people with different attitudes and temperaments. Believe me; I don’t envy them or their wives at all. I am privileged to see firsthand what many pastors go through with members; and you wonder sometimes why they still remain in that church, and not just pack it up an leave. But then there are pastors who use the pulpit to retaliate for what members have done. A few years ago, a pastor mounted the pulpit to preach. And for the hour and a half he was on that pulpit he used it to place curses on the two members he felt violated the rules of the church by going outside the church to marry. "In whatever you do you will not prosper. For violating the rules of the church and sidestepping the committee to go marry you will not prosper. These marriages you have contracted will not prosper.” After the service people had to go to these people to ask if they will still remain in the church after what the pastor has just done. Well, of course the four people, and more, left the church for the show of shame. It’s not every member that wants their destiny defined for them by some “men/women” of God. I think the shepherd’s duty is to guide, and chide whenever necessary; but never to curse. The Apostle James said, “Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.” The day in question was a day many visitors came to the church. One of them approached one of the ushers after service and said, “What could those members have done that your pastor stood on the pulpit and cursed the people?. I don’t think I will ever come back to this church again.” I know pastors are human too. But, doesn’t the Bible say “to whom much is given much is required”? Cursing your members on the pulpit is not what I call a good testimony. “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,” Matthew 12:36 Even Moses missed the Promised Land because he allowed the Children of Israel to push him into anger; because, “Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.” James 1:20 A man or woman of God ought to have the mind of a child. He/she ought to have control over his spirit and emotions. For that’s what Jesus requires of all of us. WWJD?????????????
Posted on: Tue, 02 Jul 2013 15:01:26 +0000
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