True Measure of Spirituality : Have We Taken Jesus Seriously
62True Measure of Spirituality: Are We Really Taking Jesus Seriously
“Therefore if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you , leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother ; then come and offer your gift.”
Matthew 5:23
What is the true measure of spirituality of a christian leader ?
Is it based on the number of his ministries in the church ? The number of his accomplishments in the church ministries ? Or the number of his followers ?
I believe one of the strongest basis of true spirituality of a chritsian leader is how seriously he take the passage above. It is very disappointing to realize that many professing Christians even church leaders take the passage above in laxity.
Many Christian leaders have hurted their members and they are not even willing to humble themselves to seek forgiveness from the members whose feelings they have hurted. How can they continue in the activities of their ministry with the unresolved conflict with their members. This is a clear violation of Christ command in Matthew 5:23. This just imply that they are not taking the commands of Jesus word for word as they are revealed in the Holy Biible. They are not really taking Jesus so seriously.
I have known an active church leader in a certain church in Manila who have hurted tremendously the feelings of a certain lady and caused her a heartbreak. This young man and the lady he hurted were once very close friends .Throughout the course of their friendship, the man shew the lady gestures that would make the lady fall in love with him. The lady fell in love with him deeply. But the young church leader courted other girl instead. This caused a deep hurt in the lady’s heart. The young man married the girl he courted and never asked for an apology from the woman he hurted. The young man is active in the church discipleship ministry, and I wonder whether he has a true deep spirituality or just a head knowledge Christian which never take Jesus words so seriously.
My friend from Singapore was deeply hurted by their Pastor because this Pastor scolded him when it discovered that he solicited money for the mission trip. The mission trip’s air fare and hotel accommodation were sponsored by their church. But my friend was in deep financial crisis, he solicited money for personal expenses such as toiletries and pocket money for the trip. This church Pastor is not aware that he hurted my friend’s feelings by scolding him and accusing him of dishonesty. My friend is so much hurted that he does not want anymore to attend their church.
Many churches lack power because its leaders never take Jesus commands in the New Testament word for word. The true measure of our spirituality is based on how far have we obeyed Christ commands in the New Testament, how far have we taken Jesus words seriously.
Have we hurted someone ? During this particular Christmas season , before the year end, let us be reconciled to all people we have caused pain, let us seek their forgiveness or our sacrifices will not be honored by Jesus Himself or our ministries will turn out to be in vain..
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Many of us spend too much time in the flesh and their little bopeep pride says they're weak if they go to the one offended and apologize or in some way attempt to resolve whatever issue it was. Many times, we rebuke others based on superficial 'knowledge' of our own and even cheap gossip which contains some percentage of truth to make the whole package believable. We see that trying to reconcile these differences as weaknesses and that in and of itself is a deceitful trick of the devil to induce division and separation within that particular church.
So, we have those whom are church-hurt? Welcome to the club. From congregants to the pulpit, there will always be one who is wrapped up in their little agendas and playing God. All they do is scatter the flock (Jer. 23)
Hi Ulrikegrace it is great to hear from you again. Thank you for dropping by and appreciating this hub. Your visit and comments are much appreciated. As christians I believe we must take the instructions of Jesus in the New Testament seriously word for word no matter how inconvenient it maybe for us. For me this is the true measure of spirituality. Ministry without obedience is a vanity. We must be always reminded that obedience is better than sacrifice. Blessings to you and regards.
Hi UnchainedGrace it is great to hear from you again. Thanks for dropping by and commenting. Your visit and additional inputs is much appreciated. The problem with church leadership is lack of humility among its leaders. And I may say lack of "fear of the Lord" and reverence for God's Word. Many churches today are being led by people with no true deep spirituality and with only head knowledge christianity. Let us pray for the revival of our churches today. Remain blessed and regards.
That's life sugar not everyone that sayeth Lord lord shall enter in. People hide behind churches with their hyprocritcal lives and false doctrines they live nothing and mislead innocent souls, who are seeking for truth. They are the ones who make people afraid of church and God. There will be a time where all proud hearts will be humble.Offences have this world in a miss and one offence started the ball rolling
Ate Cristina: There is an axiom that says:
"True love is never having to say you are sorry."
The meaning behind this saying is 2 fold.
1. If you love someone, you would never knowingly, and deliberately, do or say something that would or could hurt or offend them, always putting them before yourself.
2. If you did by accident do such a thing, they should be willing and able to realize that it was not intentional and say nothing.
KUYA Dave.
Hi ladyjojo it is great to hear from you. Thank you for dropping by and commenting. Your visit and comments are much appreciated. Yes Jesus says "not all who calls me Lord Lord will enter the kingdom of Heavem." There is so much hypocrisy in the churches today and churches are being led today by people with no true, deep experiential encounter with God. Blessings to you and regards.
Hi Dave Mathhews thanks for dropping by. It is always great to see you at my hubs. Your visit is much appreciated. A true christian must always seek to ask an apology from the person he hurted. Blessings and regards.
Cristina,
Sad but I'm afraid very true. Pride rather than humility seems to rule in our churches, especially among leaders.
Ghandi once said something to the effect of, Your Jesus, Him I like. Your Christians, are not much like Him. This is the way many outside the church view us. Jesus prayed that we would be one even as He and the Father are one. Are we? We should be. I would like to see the entire church behave as He would have us. I cannot control that but there is one thing I can control. It's my own behavior. One heart at a time starting with my own.
God bless you cristina.
Hi lifegate thanks for dropping by. Your visit and comment is much appreciated. We have really need to pray for the spiritual revival of our churches especially it's leadership to cause impact to the world. Blessings and regards.
Hi fred allen it is great to read your comment here for this hub. Thank you for taking time to read. Your visit and additional inputs are much appreciated. For the year 2011, indeed we need to labor hard in prayers for the revival of our churches and its leadership so that it may impact the world. Christianity today is much different now than it was during the first few centuries after the resurrection of Christ. Where is now the christianity that turn the world upside down? Chuches today lacks power and have not much impact to the world because of taking Jesus instructions lightly.If only every christian will take Jesus instructions word for word, what a great impact christianity will have to the world. But today many churches are becoming stumbling block to the world.If we will only be faithful to Jesus at all times,what a great blessing the church can give to the world. Blessings to you and your family. Best regards.
Jesus said, "anyone who wants to be great among you must be your servant, and anyone who wants to be first among you must be your slave, just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve." Mt. 20.26-28
Jesus said, "This is my commandment: love one another, as I have loved you." Jn. 14.22
Lastly ;
As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 1 Pt. 4:10-11
In God's word spoken through Emmanuel, who is Christ, we must shed our worldly selves and help one another. In this way we stand united against the true enemy which is Satan.
If we feel hurt so much to the point of not being able to look past the plank in our own eye, we should seek to counsel with them and voice our concern, but definately in a loving manner and never in the heat of passion or haste.
This is my advice to those who have found issue with those in position of authority of a church, who serve at the pleasure of our Father and ALL praise is the LORDs, not mans.
This advice is for myself first, as I am struggling with a similar issue. Please pray for me and I will do the same for you.
God bless you Cristina.
HI noturningback it is great to hear from you. Thank you for dropping by. Your visit and additional inputs are much appreciated. Thank you for praying. Yes I will pray for you. Blessings and regards.
UlrikeGrace Level 2 Commenter 17 months ago
cristina327
I am sorry your friends have had to suffer pain at the hands of the very ones we are to trust. I appreciate how you brought this to the doorstep of everyone...we all have to be aware when we hurt someone and make what amends is available to us. Bless you for sharing
Ulrike Grace