Category: Faith Fix

I know that we are called to love people into the Kingdom of God, but I see many Christians that are confused on how to treat people who are entrapped in a homosexual lifestyle. I’ve seen Christian leadership use rhetoric that treats gay people like they are untouchables; however, I have seen some pastors just embrace homosexuality. Where is the proper middle ground? I have transsexual and gay family members, and they are so much more than their gender or sexuality… how do we get past hate to love them like Christ… embracing them, without embracing the sin they are, and to get them to see Jesus through us?

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (NASB)

If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.

I want you to read these scriptures again. When you are finished, do it again. In fact, read the whole chapter and let it sink in. If Jesus said that we are to abide fore-mostly by the law of love, we should really get a good understanding of what it is. Now that we’ve done that, how do we move forward in a Christian way concerning these things.

One of our greatest issues today as Christian’s is also one of the devils greatest tactics. He gets men and women of God so stirred up on hot button issues that they miss the whole point of mercy. Now, before you write me off as a heretic, listen to all I am saying. I am in no way during any part of this discussion advocating for acceptance of sinful behaviors, however we do need to look at this correctly.

God hates sin, and as it would seem every and all sort of sexual sin appear to be at the very top of this list. I would never provide anyone in a discussion about these topics with the idea God embraces such actions. However, I do think we need to look at it balanced.

When you first meet someone, do you ask them if they are married or fornicating? When you see a young high school couple at the park eating ice cream, do you approach them informing them they are in danger of going to hell if they aren’t pure? Of course you don’t! I believe the same respect should be given to everyone. Just because a transgender or homosexual couple may be more recognizable doesn’t mean we should immediately enter into condemning judgement. On the other hand, I don’t see a place for Christians to be participating in pride parades either. The point that I am making is we need to understand our place and then embrace it.

Contrary to popular belief these are not new issues and the society we live in isn’t even close to as bad as some of the worst ones that have existed. The time when Jesus walked the earth was far worse, with certain places even having public orgies. Even in our country, the free love era of the late 60’s was worse than today. The answer was and is the same. You will not force people to change simply by hating them, but by showing them the love of Christ.

In Ephesians 4:29 we find a beautiful scripture, “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.” What’s interesting about this scripture is that it comes not long after the whole “equipping of the saints” talk in verse 12. Remember the job of the ministry offices? To equip the believers for the work of the ministry, or spreading the gospel! Wow have we strayed from that! It isn’t opinion hour in the pulpit, it is get people prepared to win the lost and dying of the world.

The Church got into serious error when it lost sight of the very reasons it was founded. Church was not to create a political party or agenda. It’s purpose was not to over throw the government or start a revolution. If you remember in Acts 1 that’s exactly what the disciples thought and Jesus corrected that thinking. The purpose of the Church is to equip believers to go into the world and make disciples or students of Christ. First, by the very idea of what the true gospel is.

Gospel literally means good news. The good news is not that God wants you blessed (He does). The good news was not that God wants you healed (He does). It is not that He wants you happy and at peace (though He most certainly does). That was not the good news, that was who God had always been. The good news was and is the same as it was when it came. Through sin man was forever separated from God and it was impossible for them to come to Him. Jesus came as a substitute for us so that that union could be restored. God is good by His nature and wants to bless His children because He loves them, the Gospel is that Jesus made that possible.

Now I am not saying there are no benefits to it, not even remotely, I am saying that’s not the good news called the Gospel. Look what Paul said to the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 2:2, “For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.” What I am getting at is that though there are truths and promises in scripture, so, so many,our job is to spread the good news. The Holy Spirits job is to convict the world of sin (John 16:8). See when you approach all people from the standpoint that “all people have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” there’s not much room for individual name calling.

Again, I am not saying we hide our faith and if we are asked, sure we should be open about it. However, social media rants or Christian rally’s that only stir up other people who believe exactly the same as you do aren’t spreading the gospel. Those aren’t methods of using edifying (building up) speech. Those are exactly the same tactics corrupt politicians use to ensure their votes. 

I have not met a Christian yet who became one by being a good person or by their stance on anything righteous. The way to be a Christian is to embrace the reality that they are lost, completely unable to save themselves, and Jesus made a way for even the very worst of them to come to the Father. When one embraces that they find salvation for their souls and through discipleship can learn what God expects of them. 

We are called to act in love. I have learned by pastoring that people need to be shown the love of God continually, regardless of their sin. It is His love that brings them to true repentance… I think that that may even be written somewhere. 😉

Be Blessed,

Pastor Jeff 

Is Hebrews 12:12-13 literal or figurative “Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, vs13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather healed.”

As with any passage of scripture, we must read it in context to understand what it’s actually saying. Taking this particular scripture as a stand alone verse completely distorts the meaning of it. A first clue that the scripture has more to it is the first word here, “therefore.” Let’s figure out what that therefore applies to. Let’s go back to Hebrews 12:6-9 FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES, AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES.”

It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live?” The Lord is a good father who loves us and love’s goal is to make one better, to course correct to keep the one you love safe. If a father can’t correct you than you’d have to question whether or not you belong to him, likewise, if the Lord didn’t correct us, as a Father does His children, it would show we didn’t truly belong to Him. Now, we’re starting to see context. 

The thought continues in Hebrews 12:10-11, “For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.” God only disciplines us to make us better and though it doesn’t always feel good in the moment, as like when we were children, maturity recognizes and appreciates the fruit of that discipline as time goes on. Recently, the Lord was really correcting my husband on some of his ways of thinking and doing things and the Lord spoke this to his heart, “I’m only trying to make you better.” God is a good father who only wants to make us better!  

So now we get to the verses you asked about,  in context, which say, Hebrews 12:12-13, “Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.” Who is this direction for? It’s for each individual Christian. We could say it like this, “child of God, you’re not perfect, there’s correction needed in this and in that area, so strengthen those areas that you’re weak in and that you’ve been feeble in, and make your straight path according to the correction of the Lord, so things that are out of order will be put back in order and you’ll be more effective.” I love how The Message Bible paraphrases this and takes it a bit further, Hebrews 12:12-13, “So don’t sit around on your hands! No more dragging your feet! Clear the path for long-distance runners so no one will trip and fall, so no one will step in a hole and sprain an ankle. Help each other out. And run for it!” Get yourself in order and help get others in order too! Look at the Amplified Bible, Hebrews 12:13, “And cut through and make firm and plain and smooth, straight paths for your feet [yes, make them safe and upright and happy paths that go in the right direction]…” 

It is the job of every Christian to follow God’s direction and accept His correction. Many things we deal with in life will be the result of either following this truth to fruition or refusing to do so. We have all heard the saying, “God is in control.” But the reality is, we are meant to follow God and demonstrate self-control. 

Be Blessed,

Pastor Renée 

I know we are suppose to be strong and trust in the Lord. Could you elaborate on Psalm 2:11 “Serve the Lord with fear, and Rejoice with trembling.”

Psalms 2:11 (NASB)

Worship the LORD with reverence and rejoice with trembling.

If you will notice, I put down this scripture in a different version from the one you’re reading. I did that on purpose to show variations in translations and I will explain that.

This question is one that many have. If God is loving, if God wants me to have faith, then why all these “fear Him” scriptures? This is a wonderful question and also is an example of why many people get confused without proper teaching. Teaching? I thought that the scripture says that we will be taught of the Lord (Hebrews 8:11) that we don’t need any man to teach us (1 John 2:27). Well, that’s not exactly what those scriptures mean (that’s another Faith Fix should one care to ask 😉).

Sometimes the wording in scripture can be confusing. The reason for this is called translation. Recently my wife and I started learning Spanish. One of the things we learned quickly is that because of different cultures and usages of language, things don’t always translate perfectly. What we then need is someone who understands both languages to make connections. As far as bibles are concerned, there are many types. Some are direct word for word translations and some are transliterations. A transliteration will translate the idea of the intent, not just the exact word used. They do so in order to make sense of the text. The heart behind this is that because things don’t always translate well, we sometimes need better understanding. The Bible primarily was originally written in Hebrew and in Greek. Just like in the United States we primarily speak English, but there are different dialects or usages of the language depending on where you are at. In these two languages there is the general meanings but also the meaning of the way they were spoken in that time that they were written. In fact, some words in those languages have no equivalent in the English language at all. All of this comes into play as we learn God’s Word. Do we need teachers? We sure do.

One key thing to remember when we are looking at scripture is not always to take just a single text and think we can understand everything about it. We need context which could include everything from history of what’s going on, to the understanding of who and why something was written. For example, I have been studying the book of Hebrews and have found much deeper meaning in the text as I delve into its history and purpose. With things pertaining to God’s character, we have to take ALL of what we learn about Him in order to understand single scriptures about Him. Does all this sound confusing? I assure you, it’s really not, but it does take time to learn just like with anything else.

So let’s look at our scripture. Both versions above are slightly different and both are accurate. Serving God is worshipping Him and worshipping Him is serving Him. I want you to take note of the next part though and pay attention. In the first version it says to do so with fear and in the one version I gave it says with reverence. Your version I am guessing is the NKJV which is the King James version made modern. The KJV was translated in 1611 in England where though it was English, it was a different dialect. Words change over time and so do their understandings. An example of this is that the KJV references unicorns several times. Now we know that unicorns don’t exist and some critics of the Bible have tried to point to this to disprove our faith. Hears the issue. If you get an very old dictionary, like from the 1800s, and look up the word unicorn you will see that it is what they used to call a rhinoceros. Now we know they exist! Phew! Fear, likewise, doesn’t exactly equate with what we understand it as today.

Godly fear is reverence. Reverence is a healthy fear of something or we could say even respect. I have a motorcycle of which I have a healthy fear. Now if I was just afraid of it I wouldn’t ride it. I am not afraid of it but when I ride it I do so with great respect. I don’t ride carelessly, I pay extra attention and take heed to follow the rules of the road even more closely. Why? Because I respect it and I fully understand what can happen if I don’t. It’s also like a little kid who respects their parent. They love and enjoy them but they have a fear of stepping out of line, knowing there will be consequences.

To rejoice with trembling is to be fully joyful but keeping in remembrance from where you’ve come and what God has done for you. Deuteronomy 8:11-17 gives us an example of this. For some reason with humans it is easy for us, once God has saved us and blessed us and we start living a good life, to forget that He saved you and blessed you. Humans have a tendency to get puffed up in their thinking when things are good and forget that God did so much for them. They will get “rich” but forget God wants them to be a blessing to others and to serve Him with it. This is the purpose of rejoicing with trembling. Fully enjoy what good God has done, just don’t forget Him in that process.

God’s heart is to bring His people into greater and better things. So often when He does, as soon as they are out of trouble, they turn away from Him. I have seen this so much. People come to God broken, hoping for help. He does amazing things in their lives, and they turn their backs on Him. You will see this too. People come to church hurting or suffering, only to forget about it once things get better. It’s a shame that people so often have no respect for God! They forget Him as soon as it’s convenient to do so.

The heart of this scripture you ask about is to keep a heart for God. It isn’t to live afraid of Him which sadly so many do. It’s to give Him proper honor and respect, using what He does for you to bring glory to Him. We are the hands and feet of Jesus. We shouldn’t allow that fact to take us from Him or injure His cause. Love the Lord with all your heart with the kind of reverence that He deserves! That is true Godly fear.

Be Blessed,

Pastor Jeff 

Could you discuss mental health? I’ve known many people to have struggled with things like depression , anxiety, suicidal thoughts, ADHD, etc., and many Pentecostal Christian books that touch on mental health are from the standpoint of it all originating/derived from the spirit of fear or something spiritual in nature. To treat it- you must deal with the literal spirit. Have you seen much success in helping people like this? Do you ever recommend “worldly” treatments ie. mood stabilizers or trauma therapy? How can we help our Christian brothers and sisters who are struggling?

Romans 12:2 (NASB)

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Let me first say that if you or someone you know is dealing with the above issues, they need to seek help immediately and refuse to stop until they get it. Mental health is nothing to ignore, it must be dealt with.

I am extremely acquainted with troubles that are commonly considered mental in nature. I suffered from extreme depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts for many years, saw many counselors and psychiatrists, and was even hospitalized as well as being heavily medicated for these things. I say that to point out that when I speak about this stuff, I speak from first hand experience. I can also say that I have been completely delivered from it, and I will get more into that later.

There are many different reasons that a person can deal with various mental disorders. That being so, to think there is one particular way to fix the issue would be in error. As with anything that affects us, only when one understands the nature of the problem can they be equipped to fix it. For example, I have seen people struggle with some kind of attack that they pray for help with and don’t seem to get any help. But then they have their problem answered in a service they failed to attend or in their refusal to do what the Word says. In these cases, prayer would not be the answer but following instruction would be. It’s like having a GPS giving you directions, you refuse to follow them, then complain to Garmin that their product doesn’t work. The complaint will never solve the issue.

When it comes to mental issues, there has to be a careful look at the why behind them. For that, I can only answer these questions generically. Many different things can cause many different things and therefore the truth needs to be sought out. One can rarely do this on their own which is why I suggest seeking help.

In dealing with my own issues, the problem was mostly spiritual in nature. No amount of counseling or medicine changed the problems, they were always there. Depression and anxiety would settle on me like a blanket and rationalizing could not remove it. Medication did not remove it. What I found was the importance of the scripture I started this with in Romans. My mind needed to be renewed. I needed to think like God wanted me to think. As I sat for years under a pastor teaching me the Word, and allowed it to sink in and change me, I became equipped to deal with each issue. I have found there was no better help than the Word for me, and it has kept me free.

Now when I say kept me free I do not mean that I am never tried with depression anymore. Recently my wife and I were discussing these things. Because I have a certain type of personality, I will always be susceptible to depression. For the strengths that are in any given personality, the devil will attempt to manipulate it into a weakness. With my personality type, depression and anxiety can be the weakness. I have to stay renewed in my thinking or I will slip into depression. If I do slip, then I renew my mind and I come back out of it. In these cases, I don’t need counsel (other than Godly counsel of the Word) and I don’t need medicine. Therefore you see, I can rightfully claim I am free. 

There are however, other types of mental illnesses that go deeper in nature. For example, I worked with a young man once who was diagnosed with schizophrenia. Believe me, you have to be careful how you work with someone like this. You cannot just start talking to them about the inward witness and the voice of God because they often have chemical imbalances that make them hear voices that are not God. Could this be demonic or spiritual? Of course it can but it could also be something wrong with their internal wiring. In these cases it would be no different than another disease. Things like cancer can’t just be warm wished or thought away, they need supernatural healing. In such cases, the best thing may be to start on medication and then be monitored very closely. Again though, I stress each situation is different and great care has to be taken for treatment.

Something’s that people think are mental problems or weaknesses are actually great blessings. I know of a wonderful Bible scholar for example that has been diagnosed with Asperger‘s syndrome. Although it makes him very socially awkward (and that was self admitted), it also makes Him be able to see things in the Word others couldn’t immediately see. As a result, he has brought a lot of balance to things in scripture that others just couldn’t previously see. This man in particular has a wonderful wife who has worked with him to make him more effective when he speaks to people, balancing out this so-called disease. He mainly does lectures on apologetics and is a great asset to the Body of Christ despite his perceived “disability”. Here he has learned to work with this amazing gift, though normally things of this nature often go misunderstood. I am not implying that all people diagnosed with Asperger’s have it as a gift, but here is at least one case where it is.

These are several different scenarios all with different outcomes and directions. If we tried to lump them all in one category, with one answer, we would certainly miss some important things. Most of our society is built with one generalized teaching method and our churches are much the same. The truth is, God loves variety and He loves human quirkiness. He loves doing things through methods that boggle our minds and if we are quick to jump on any one idea, this is where we can miss it. I am convinced this is why we have so many Christian denominations. Not because one knows more than the other but because each has a part of the truth.

I have given a very brief overview as this question could not possibly be answered in one sitting. As with anything in the Bible, the more open we are to God’s truth and not man’s, the more able we will be to learn from Him. Surely fear can be a cause, but the cause can also be as simple as not following basic instructions, or at times, not seeking professional help. I have come to realize that anxiety isn’t always bad. I believe it is a warning sign to us that if we heed it, we can quickly get back on track. However, anxiety manipulated becomes irrational fear, and this is not God’s will.

God’s Word is as practical as it is supernatural. Many people who embrace the supernatural reject the natural, forgetting God is the One who made both. He loves the natural, He created it. He has never instructed us to forget about it, but rather to reject the wrongful manipulation of it. God designed our emotions to experience life, never to guide it. The devil loves to manipulate emotions and lead people astray. If we know this we can use them effectively and not be coerced into wrong thinking. The closer we stick to the Word, the more we we will be able to determine what is Godly and what is not. Not because man thinks it, but because God has declared it!

Be Blessed,

Pastor Jeff

I was wondering, why do so many people only want to come to the Lord when things are good? Why not come to him all the time? We are thankful when blessings come our way but when trials come we seem to look the other way.

To put this plainly, the answer is, wait for it…..humans are spoiled. Should I just stop while I’m ahead? Sadly, humans have the tendency to complain and gripe and pout when they don’t get their way. We do this with other people and we do this with God. Proverbs 18:19 says, “A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city.” Offense is a fortified wall keeping the truth from getting in. That word offense is interesting. One of the meanings in the original language is, to break away from just authority, or to rebel or revolt. Imagine a child who disregards the directions of their parent or teacher and receives just consequence for it. What typically happens? That child gets mad at the authority who doled out the consequences, even though it was their own doing. Many of this can be summed up in something called immaturity. 

The Bible promises trial. Trial comes for humanity, not just for chirstians. In fact, just this week I could list too many tragic things that have happened to count, and those to people who aren’t serving the Lord. Christians often expect that because they accepted salvation now it’s not fair for life to be anything but cushy.  Did you accept Jesus and then expect that He owed you more than He already paid? When people turn from God when they don’t get their own way, we must ask whether or not they’ve ever really come to God in the first place. James 1:2 tells us to, “consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials.” This means 1. you WILL have trials, brethren, brothers and sisters, christians, and 2. you are commanded to consider it ALL JOY. Trials shouldn’t phase a Christian who trusts God. 

Many people, even christians, look at God as some sort of Santa Claus figure or genie in a bottle. The only time little kids even think about being naughty or nice is around christmas time, right around the time they begin to write their letters to Santa and their christmas wish lists. Oftentimes, people want something from God and that’s why they come to Him. They keep going to the genie and getting their wishes until the time when the genie doesn’t give them what they want or until they’ve gotten their fix. We’ve had many people come to us over the years for help and they were happy when it was easy to see the blessings of God but when the trials came even despite serving God, they figured they had a faulty genie and went after something else instead. If we are spiritually mature, we will make trials work for us, not against us. Keep reading in James 1:3, “knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.” Endurance could also be called constancy or stability. When we are tested, we have a chance to shine! It’s all up to us. James 1:4 goes on to say, “And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” LACKING NOTHING! People turn away before the end of the movie. They get bored in the middle somewhere and miss the victory at the end of the war or the greatest love story they could have ever known. 

So how do we counter this in our lives? We expect trial. We plan for it. We do our best to fortify our minds and hearts with the Word of God, before the trials ever come! 1 Peter 5:8, “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour.” You must be sober minded and vigilant, keep on alert. 

Be Blessed,

Pastor Renée 

I was hoping you could discuss Matthew 7:19-23. I’ve heard this preached to believers in a way that almost makes them question their salvation. As I read this passage, I believe it’s really discussing false prophets who have deceit in their hearts, not necessarily for believers. I do believe in examining our hearts and motives before the Lord, but not with constant anxiety of “not measuring up”. Grace, mercy and the Father’s love can certainly be just as vital for motivating us to live with excellence.

Matthew 7:17-23 (NASB)

So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’

Let me start by saying, if someone is questioning whether or not they are saved from the standpoint of they have received Jesus yet are afraid that they might do something to lose it, they probably never will. Measuring up is something none of us will ever do, that’s why God gave us Jesus and thank Him for it! We must each be confident in what He has done, never what we have or will do. Let’s get into these scriptures. 

Again, as we read scripture, we must always consider context. To do this I want to draw attention to two scriptures here. Go back to verse 15 and then read verse 19.

Let’s tackle first Matthew 7:15,  “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. It’s very important to remember that often times Jesus would use one truth to teach other truths, this was the purpose of parables. Now here certainly the Lord was discussing and warning people about false prophets. This is something I think people in our circles don’t heed closely enough. Now, every human, every minister will miss it from time to time. This does not make them a false prophet or teacher, it makes them human and because of this people need to have mercy on them. Ministers cannot know all things at all times so there will be times when we simply just miss it. However, we should also be humble enough to realize that and maintain a healthy fear of it. 

All ministers must be willing to repent and grow, publicly as well as privately. So many times though, we are not given that grace by the people, making it more difficult to navigate those waters. That however does not absolve a minister from being wrong. A minister who fails to recognize error can become very dangerous. Some however, will know their error and press on anyways, deceiving themselves as well as others, seeking their own agenda. I believe that in part this is exactly what Christ is referring to. If a preacher says something that is wrong, don’t listen to it. If they continually preach things that are not founded in scripture, stop listening to them altogether!

Remember though, when Jesus taught He often dealt with many truths at one time. Herein we look at verse 19. Matthew 7:19 says, “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” Notice the words every tree, He always takes the standard higher doesn’t He? Our salvation is for us to do something with (Ephesians 2:10). John 15:16, Jesus declares the appointed are to bear fruit. Hebrews 2:3 asks, “How will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?” These truths are universal and also part of the Christian walk. Of course, there are many scriptures that back this concept up but I think the point is made. Both ministers and the people, the shepherds and the sheep should be bearing good fruit.

Now with that said, let’s address the issue you are talking about and let me say I do agree, but I also see both sides. Both ministers and those ministered to have responsibilities. Ministry is an interesting thing. There is nothing in life that I have found which has more pressure and scrutiny than being a minister of the Gospel. God called us to this work but didn’t make us perfect and yet people expect perfection. This is not a modern day problem. The people railed against Moses, and Joseph, and David, and all the prophets killing even some of them. Jesus, the Lord Himself was constantly met with opposition and abuse, all because people didn’t like what He was saying even though it was their salvation. 

My wife and I have personally experienced that the people you help the most, sometimes turn and bite you without a thought just because they are going through it. People ignore us when we text or call, then snub us when we show up to church, or leave us entirely because things aren’t working out the way they thought they should, yet expect us to be there for them unconditionally. They hide from you, keeping secrets and then glare at you because you didn’t “care” enough about their problems. Now I say these things only to give perspective. When it’s time to preach, often times after the above has just happened, you are expected and required to do so with mercy and love. Then the devil, sitting in every church service, is working on the mind of any believer who will listen to get offended at any possible mistake the preacher might make. In case you think I’m being over dramatic, read through scripture and see how this exact thing happened over and over and over again.

Conversely sometimes preachers come to the pulpit as “God’s man or woman of the hour!” They want accolades, they want money, they want people to look up to and revere them because to some, preachers have become celebrities. They want to preach some new revelation because it’s exciting and of course has to be right because they know that it is! They don’t want to correct bad doctrine because of the fact they may lose some respect if they do. There are some ministers that exploit people to gain and go higher. These are an abomination and will bear the greatest judgement!

Now of course, both of these scenarios are the extremes and if we are honest we all probably fall somewhere in the middle. I can tell you, I have had to correct my own doctrine from time to time as a pastor but I’ve also sat in a congregation tearing apart what someone else was preaching in my mind and I did it unjustly. Oh to be human and desiring to be righteous! 

God forbid I ever preach a sermon that puts people in bondage or hurts their walk with God, but sadly I know I have. The Lord has corrected me on it and it is sorrow that I carry with me continually. I can say I have preached many people out of my church but I can also say that I have done so both in the right and in the wrong. Sometimes people need to hear the truth even though it hurts and sometimes they need it given so softly that it carry’s them through the current trial.

Love is the foundation that all things must be ministered from but it is also the place it must be received. In this we all must find balance. I would encourage anyone who feels bondage while being listening to preaching, to continually seek out the one preaching. I know personally, I have a desire to always help someone understand what I am saying and the place I’m saying it from. I have had times where people have asked me about something I said and I realized I could have said it better. In this I endeavor to do so, and so I always tell my people, if you feel bondage, ask. Let me help you understand better.

I would say that if your constantly feeling bondage you need to seek out why. Ask the Lord, He will help. Then consider, am I where I am supposed to be. If you are, then pray for the ministers who God placed in your life. Knowing and being where you’re supposed to be, then bearing good fruit there is the place where God’s blessing will be found, even despite the ability of the one who preached or the one who is preached to.

Be Blessed,

Pastor Jeff