When Stuff Goes Wrong in the Church
I have been reading through a book called "Exposing the Accuser of the Brethren" by Francis Frangipane. Talk about whoa!
Here's an excerpt from today's reading that left me thinking:
"To be truly anointed to bring Christ's corrections to a church, one must be anointed with Christ's motives. The scriptures are plain: Jesus "always lives to make intercession for them (the saints)" (Heb 7:25; See also Rom 8:34). God does not call us to judge each other, but to pray for one another. If we see a need in the body of Christ, we must intercede, not merely criticize. Our pattern must be to follow Christ in building and restoring, not to echo the accuser of the brethren in finding fault.
Many years ago I belonged to a national Christian organization that had a true vision from God,yet also had several serious problems. At that time I was pastoring a small church and I felt perhaps we should leave this group because of what was wrong. Together, the congregation and I began to seek the Lord, with period of fasting, for forty days. At the end of that time I wrote a "list" of complaints and,holding them before God, I prayed (somewhat self-righteously): "Lord, look at the errors in these people. Direct us, Lord, what should we do?"
Immediately the Lord replied, "Have you seen these things?"
"Yes, Lord," I answered, "I have seen their sins."
To which He said, "So also have I, but I died for them; you go and do likewise." From that day on, I found grace from God to seek to be a source of life and prayer wherever I was serving God.
You see, we will always be serving in churches where things are wrong. Our response to what we see defines how Christlike we are actually becoming. If we see weakness in the body of Christ, our call is to supply strength. If we see sin, our response is to be an example of virtue. When we discover fear, we must impart courage; where there is worldliness, we must display holiness. Our call is to enter the place of intercession and stand there until the body of Christ is built up in that area."
