“The rod and reproof give wisdom, But a child who gets his own way brings shame to his mother.”
(Proverbs 29:15)
Prepared by Patrick J. Griffiths
In my journey with you as a community of faith, I find we all struggle with being told no. We all want our own ways. But such is not possible. The Elders seek God’s mind by means of prayer depending on Scripture and the Holy Spirit for this community of faith. God speaks to and through the plurality primarily; and community secondarily to provide our collective vision.
This vision although large enough to encompass the community, nation and world is defined enough so other competing agendas are excluded. Thus at various points within the journey some individuals and organizations are told “no”.
If the “hurt” they experience from being told “no” is a consequence of our collective agenda, then they need to confess and repent of this evil before it turns into bitterness and rebellion.
Unfortunately, there are many within the larger community of faith who through the years have never been told no or in being told no cannot process the idea of not having it their way. Their “hurt” is not valid and is in fact a sign of their spiritual and emotional immaturity. They are bitter and they are in rebellion against God and His Church. These people need to repent and confess their sin before God and His Church.
Friend, will you not join the Elders of this fellowship and ask God to work repentance in the hearts of those who have been hurt simply because they did not get their way? This very well might be the people who speak ill of this fellowship simply because through the years they were told “no” by the leadership. No one will admit such sins from the flesh for the flesh is proud. But until this comes to them, they will languish in self-pity and continue to cannibalize the body of Christ. Their repentance and confession can only come by the work of the Holy Spirit. O may God grow us so that we might be fully and wholly His. In Jesus name, Amen.
