When Church Hurts: Accountability
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“By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:35
Step 3: Don’t be afraid of accountability
It seems we have come to allow gossip, slander and anger to simply be overlooked and rationalized in our churches. We excuse the fractures among believers by telling ourselves that God is purging our church. We stand up and glibly say, “God is in Control” while heads roll and tears fall and tender spirits get bruised and crushed. We forget that God gives us a choice in how we deal with matters and that the enemy is alive and well, attempting to influence those choices. We forget that for God to be in control of the moment, the conversation or the situation, we need to say “yes” to Him in allowing His Spirit to work in us and through us. Psalm 15 depicts the marks of an authentic Christian. It says, “He casts no slur on his fellowman…. but honors those who fear the Lord”.
Video: Be Filled with the Holy Spirit: Like chocolate milk in a glass
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In any given troubling situation we need to honestly ask ourselves, “Am I making choices that allow God to be in control here or am I taking control?”
Proverbs 3: 5 & 6 tells us to “trust in the Lord with your whole heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight”. If your own understanding is resulting in opinions and actions that bring division, be accountable for what is going on in your own heart. God speaks harshly about the one who promotes division (Titus 3:10). If you are prompted to speak to one who is causing division, remember the trademark and go in love and in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Don’t be afraid to call or be called to accountability. We can run to God, our help. God is sovereign and He is the great redeemer. No matter how bad a situation is, if He is invited in, at any point, He will come in and redeem the situation, work things out for our good and His glory (Romans 8:28). He can put a de-railed train back on the tracks.
“If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked (selfish) ways, then I will heal their land.” (their church, their heart)( 2 Chronicles 7:14).
It’s a sure promise!
Questions: Are you making choices that allow God to be in control of your situation or are you taking control? How do you interpret 2 Chronicles 7:14 for your life today?
Part 1: Know Your Enemy
Part 2: Keep Short Accounts
Part 4: Pride
Part 5: Plant Stakes
20 Responses to “When Church Hurts: Accountability”
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you’re welcome sharonb. hope you found what you were looking for
thanks kanj
sharonb, I was curious as well so i did some searching. go to:
askquestions.org
there is an article that’s entitled with the question that you ask
this has nothing to do with todays devotional,but I have a question does anyone know how and when the sabth was changed from sat. to sun. this has been bothering me.
My understanding is we are not fighting against flesh and blood and the sooner the body of Christ the church understand this- We will stay planted were we are-Pray for one another and show the love of Christ – I not seee anywhere in he bible where Jesus left because of conflict. Matter of fact He left examples such as Joseph-Please! the Lord is soon to come and those who are looking at the “Church” will think that is how conflict-differences are handle-Look to Jesus He is our source power and strength. Above all else guard your HEART., AND WHATEVER YOU DO -DO ALL TO THE GLORY OF GOD.
We ARE GOD’s CHURCH and we are all imperfect human beings that GOD has given the gift of salvation to. I do, however, believe that the scripture is given to us to apply in our lives on a daily basis. The BIBLE clearly instructs us to make an attempt to make a wrong, right…and if we follow his instructions, and the wrong is not made right…it is out of our hands…because GOD clearly commands us to love others and forgive as he forgave us by giving his life on Calvary. Jesus, such a beautiful picture of love and forgivness. GOD in these situations, WILL give PEACE in your heart that you have done all YOU can do in the situation. The rest is in God’s hands. May GOD RICHLY BLESS EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU for what you’re going through and have been through.
thank you
I am fed up with some members of our church. Especially in this country with some supposely Christian talk show hosts who spew nothing but hatred for our government and politicians who don’t match their viewpoints. These talk show hosts and even a whole TV network are creating a very negative atmosphere all in the name of the LORD. When I happen to listen to some of these talk shows on the radio while driving, I think to myself, why don’t they offer up prayers and positive thoughts instead of such negativety. It really is a turn off, epecially when you have one TV evangelist blaming God for the misery of an entire nation.
well as always God is yet speaking, I to say your will not mine but I find myself constantly trying to be in control I am remind of the Serenity pray God grant me the serenity to except the things I can not change the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference! I think thats the whole key is having the wisdom of God and how to apply it to are lifes and when simply to be still
We ARE His church. This means His church is composed of hurting, frail, human beings who are imperfect and yet He has called us to band together as we ‘work out our salvation w/fear and trembling.’
Yes, there are times when nothing can be done to fix an issue and He will instruct us to walk away; but there are times when He will require us to stay and walk thru it.
This devotional is interesting in that lately we’ve been discussing the very issue of ‘why do leaders in the church not deal w/issues?’
Thorny question w/hundred’s of reasons and excuses; but it all probably comes down to our being frail, broken human beings who are not perfect even though we ARE called by HIS Name. So I believe we should be personaly on our knees asking HIM to intercede in church issues that others would have their eyes opened if need be; that He would do whatever it takes to have us see our ‘communal’ responsibility to help our personal Christian body of believer’s to be as healthy as is humanly possible, covered by His blood, mercy and grace….and I’m so sorry that has not been the case in these examples you gals have shared [we’ve also had to ‘move on’ a couple of times in our 30 year walk when leaders have not wanted to deal w/issues that were negatively affecting the health of the body. So sad. I believe God weeps over us at these times and I weep also
I needed to hear this today! I asked God last night for help… as I do every day, but a trusted friend and co-worker for many years bought a business out from under me a little over a year ago. I am still so hurt by her actions mainly because people keep asking me about it. And when I tell them what happened, they can’t believe she did that to me. I left the business and am struggling to compete with her now. I have not received a paycheck in six months which is causing strain. I am getting very impatient and it shows in my daily life–I’m noticing it and trying to restrain myself with my family. I’m taking it out on outsiders. But when I read today’s devotional, it must be God’s path. I did ask and wonder why my path always seems so hard. I’d really like to know. I’m on my third marriage–my first husband was a cheater and my second was an abuser. My adult son has problems that were not caught in grade school-ADD-and is now having problems… can’t keep a job, etc. I am to the point now that I wonder day to day if I’m going to make it. My husband is not supportive emotionally. My mother took her own life when I was 9. Her life wasn’t nearly as complicated as mine. I often wonder if that’s my path, too.
Dear Sisters and Brothers, I send you all LOVE from the HEART today! I know you don’t *know* me, but we ALL need dose of God’s LOVE! May we, here, and Christians ALL over the world be people known by their LOVE!
I too, have encountered VERY trying things relating to people in Church and some of it HURTS. I am learning that I WILL be misunderstood at times. It shouldn’t be so in the body of Christ, but it has happened. I want more, and more, to learn to lean on the Lord, to let go of conflicts and to be before Him day and night. He will ALWAYS fill our cups as we look to Him and He WILL wipe every tear from our eyes as well.
Candice, bless your heart today! May Jesus lift you up and set your eyes on the HEAVENS! He WILL do this and MORE! He is SO good and He is OUR GOD!!
Have a blessed day everyone! :)
I have read some of these comments and I found myself in very similar circumstances as that to Leslie. I was caught in the middle of two people telling me about how a choir member was acting. I went to the Pastor and M.O.M. as the Bible has instructed us to do. I also went to the individual and asked her forgiveness because I was harboring hard feelings towards them, as the Bible instructs to do. To make a long story short, the Pastor either forgot or did not tell the truth about myself counseling w/him and the Minister of Music…so I was made to look like I was not telling the truth when this happened a second time. The Pastor still allowed this individual to sing in the choir knowing the situation. I prayed til I couldn’t do anything else about it…so like Leslie…I let it go and moved on. I pray that God will guide me where he needs me. Please pray that God will continue to provide discernment and wisdom..Thank You
Pls pray for me. I’m facing so much spiritual attack on my family. I feel like my parents have been fighting more (and they are nearing retirement!) & my sister has suddenly been very hostile towards me. Pls lift up a prayer for me, for protection & the grace to do what I must do for the Lord, in my life. Pray for wisdom & peace. Thank you. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
I will admit, I raised an eyebrow when I read the title of today’s devotion “When Church Hurts”. I sarcastically thought to myself, “When does it not?” I have questioned God so many times regarding the un-loveliness of his church and why it would appear I am frequently finding myself in the cross hairs of so many livid opinions concerning proper church ministries. It is true that we stand up and glibly say, “God is in Control” while heads roll and tears fall and tender spirits get bruised and crushed. Twice in recent years I have found myself in head rolling situations and twice, even with oh so powerfully damaging “evidence”, my Heavenly Father in no uncertian terms instructed me to simply walk away. No rebuttal. No vindication. No nothing! At times like that it is so easy to pout and cry and tell God that “It’s not fair!” But this I know, once I was finished with my temper tantrum God was always there to soothe the hurt, dry the tears, and encourage me to get up and follow him to the place where he can best utilize my gifts and talents. Having the weeds dug up around your roots and the extra branches cut off from your overloaded heart during the pruning process can really hurt. But, in time, it so worth it! It is hard to walk away from a heated situation and let God have his will. This is a lesson I fear I will never master. God is faithful and true to his word. He really does make all things work for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purposes. Hallelujah!
Isn’t it 2 Chronicles 7:14?
I try to “Let Go and Let God” but sometimes I forget and have to remind myself of this fact!
I try to “Let Go and Let God” but sometimes I forget and have to remind myself of this fact!
LOSING A DEAR FRIEND HAS PROMPTED ME TO LOOK AT MT LIFE. I HAVE BEEN HURT BY THE CHURCH, AND I AM READY TO BE OBEDIENT TO GOD BY CHANGING THE WAY I VIEW CHURCH AND PEOPLE. THANK YOU FOR THESE DEVOTIONALS.
This is how I am applying 2 Chronicles 7:1 in my life today:
If Linda, who is God’s child, will humble herself and pray and seek God’s face, and turn from food’s stronghold in her life today, then God will heal these desires and heal her body. It’s a sure promise!