This passage spoke to me this week. Pastor, imagine if God had you stand on the front steps of your church and deliver this message as people entered your church Sunday morning…
This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD : “Stand at the gate of the LORD’s house and there proclaim this message:
” ‘Hear the word of the LORD, all you people of Judah who come through these gates to worship the LORD. This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Reform your ways and your actions, and I will let you live in this place.
Do not trust in deceptive words and say, “This is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD!” If you really change your ways and your actions and deal with each other justly, if you do not oppress the alien, the fatherless or the widow and do not shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not follow other gods to your own harm, then I will let you live in this place, in the land I gave your forefathers for ever and ever. But look, you are trusting in deceptive words that are worthless.
” ‘Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal and follow other gods you have not known, and then come and stand before me in this house, which bears my Name, and say, “We are safe”-safe to do all these detestable things? Has this house, which bears my Name, become a den of robbers to you?
But I have been watching! declares the LORD. Jeremiah 7:1-11 NIV
How would your people respond to that message?
I agree.
not*religious
You write…
“As Pastors (Shepherds) there is a responsibility to LEAD a GROUP of people who come to a building we call a church. God uses the structure of the Local Church for HIS purposes.”
I can understand your passion for your beliefs. There was a time I believed, and taught, the very same things. After leaving “The Religious System” through much pain, tears and “Spiritual Abuse” I was asking different questions and getting different answers. Had to go to the Bible for myself. Had to get it from Jesus for myself. Jesus is the best teacher. Yes? 🙂
John 6:45
It is written in the prophets, And they shall be *ALL taught of God.*
Deuteronomy 4:36
Out of heaven he made thee to *hear His voice,*
that *He might instruct thee:*
Don’t know if you ever checked the scriptures or not for what they say about pastors?
Makes an interesting study.
Here’s some questions to ask as you check the Bible for *today’s* pastor/reverend and what they do.
In the Bible…
How many “Disciples of Christ” have the “Title” and “Position” – pastor/reverend/leader?
How many “Disciples of Christ” are “called”- pastor/reverend/leader?
How many “Disciples of Christ” are “ordained”- as a pastor/reverend/leader?
How many congregations are… “led” by – a pastor/reverend/leader?
And, I can’t seem to find “Local Church” in my antiquated KJV.
And, if I remember correctly, “The Lone Ranger” was the good guy (and he wasn’t alone)
keeping all the folks safe by taking on, and defeating, all the bad guys.
Be blessed in your search for truth… Jesus
And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold:
them also I must bring, and they shall “hear My voice; “
and there shall be “ONE” fold, and “ONE” shepherd.
John 10:16
One Fold – One Shepherd – One Voice – One Leader
{{{{{{ Jesus }}}}}}
A. Amos, thanks for dialoguing.
BTW this message is applicable to EVERY BELIEVER! God is watching how we the Church are representing Him to the world. I hope everyone is challenged by these words, to do a heart check; a life check.
Wow A.Amos!
Don't hear what he's not saying! Forgive me for responding to my own pet peeve–which is one dimensional thinking. As Pastors (Shepherds) there is a responsibility to LEAD a GROUP of people who come to a building we call a church. God uses the structure of the Local Church for HIS purposes. All of which He is more than able to accomplish in every life of every believer. We Christians all know that Jesus is our shepherd and we are all the Body of Christ….The Church…That is not what Pastor Ron was referring to.
In case you haven't noticed we are living in perilous days, and they will only get worse. I'm not trying to be a doomsday believer, it's just fact! Lone ranger Christians will have a more difficult time on their own. We need the collective gathering of believers, The Church, to encourage each other, help each other, advance the Kingdom of God..AND we need Pastors, Leaders, Jesus with hands & feet, to LEAD us.
You would no sooner chop off your hand and expect it to DO ANYTHING, than you would expect a believer cut-off from the collective body of Christ to be of much use. Read Romans 12. or 1 Corinthians 12.
This post was to encourage Pastors to carefully reflect upon the Words, in case you missed the introduction.
I, for one, am thankful to see a Pastor have more fear of God, than fear of man, by CHALLENGING us with this word. The Lord IS watching how HIS people are being Pastored! That is a good thing.
Thanks for your support here!
Ron
Thank you for forgiving me in advance.
And thank you for the opportunity to post this rant.
To me it is **much more** than “semantics,” being picky, or being critical.
Something in this short post is a “pet” peeve and stirs the juices.
Most do, and say, similar “thoughts” without thinking about the words.
What’s really in our hearts?
… for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
Mat 12:34
I see it as “The Traditions of Men” that **nullify** “The Word of God.”
Mark 7:13 KJV – Making the word of God of **none effect** through your tradition…
Mark 7:13 ASV – Making **void** the word of God by your tradition…
Mark 7:13 NIV – Thus you **nullify** the word of God by your tradition…
You write… and many others today… 🙁
“stand on the front steps of **your** church”
“deliver this message as people entered **your** church Sunday morning.”
“How would **your** people respond to that message?”
In the Bible, there are NO *buildings* referred to as “church” or “your church.”
In the Bible, NO one went to, or entered a “church” or “your church.”
Jeremiah was told “Stand at the gate of the LORD’s house”
Aren’t we NOW – “the Lord’s house?” “The temple of God?”
Heb 3:6
But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we…
1Co 3:16
…ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
Yes, you hear similar things all the time. “John Pipers Church” “Ed Young's Church”
Or, who ever the local popular guy is. “Are you going to Peters church?”
Or, who started a fellowship. Went to the IRS for approval and asked if they
could be called “A Church.” And became a Gov’t approved, Gov’t inspected,
501 (c) 3, non-profit, Tax $ Exempt, Religious $ Corporation. (church of man)
I don’t remember Jesus shedding “His Blood” for a building, an institution,
a denomination, an organization, or a $ Corporation.
Should we call a Gov’t approved $ Corporation “The Church of God?”
AAAARRRGGHHH!!! 😉 No, that’s man’s idea of a church.
Also, many mere human pastors say, “MY church.” “My flock.” “MY people.”
No. Jesus shed “His Blood” for “His Church,” “His People.” “His Flock.”
Acts 20:28
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock,
over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers,
to feed **the church of God,** which he hath *purchased with his own blood.*
The ekklesia, the called out one’s, are “His People” and belong to God.
God’s sheep never belong to a mere fallible human. With or without a “Title.”
Jesus…. the head of the body, (the ekklesia, the called out one’s) “The Church.”
And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold:
them also I must bring, and they shall “hear My voice;”
and there shall be “ONE” fold, and “ONE” shepherd.
John 10:16
One Fold – One Shepherd – One Voice.
{{{{{{ Jesus }}}}}}
Thanks for sharing as always.