Accountability - Confusion in interpreting the message...
I am sorry kiddo, that's not what is being said here. Not at all... Ephesians 4:1-6 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
We are called out from the ways of the world to follow The Way of Christ. That brings accountability period. That's NOT legalism. Legalism is when I, as your Dad, Husband or Friend has a list of arbitrary Do's & Don'ts that I hold over your Head as a litmus test for Salvation... I know Legalism, because I lived it the first 30+ years of my life. What this is saying is God has expectations of us - accountability.
In Matthew 7, Jesus warns of the wolves in sheep's clothing, a picture of people calling themselves Christians, that participate in the activities of a Christian life. However; when pressed in Spiritual matters, they display the core of their Heart and their true Master. You see Dear Child, God's Holy Spirit lives in the Heart of those He calls. While these dear people are not perfect, their dependency for life in its most basic form to the most complex is rooted in Jesus Christ. At any given moment they believe deep in the core of their Heart in Jesus Christ, and His ability to deliver them from any evil or any problem by His Power & Will in His Timing... That is Faith, Trust & Belief in Christ, not depending on our own abilities. Believing in the Supernatural - and believing that the Supernatural can in fact manifest Himself in the world today... God IS !!!
Matthew 7:15-20 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
Accountability - is an innocent and practical way for the brethren to watch for the wolves, a as well as lovingly help a Brother or Sister in the Faith, when they are struggling. Carrying each other's burdens, praying, walking along side and using the Scripture as the measure. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. If a person definitely rejects a lovingly & innocently posed question regarding their walk (offenses), then you must follow Christ's instruction and take another Brother / Sister with you to talk with this person. If they still reject your concern, take your Deacon with you, if still the offense continues Un-repented, take the Deacon and Pastor with you. If still they stand in defiance, offering no conversation, or discussion of the matter in their defense, nor offer no apology, or repentance of the issue, take them and the issue before the congregation. If this does not bare Good Spiritual Fruit - then the Church - by Christ's own instruction, is to set apart the Un-repentant Heart from the Church / Congregation, if they truly are of Christ, they will be given over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh and salvation of the soul.
A Dear Pastor Friend of mine, used to always tell me "People do - What People want to do"... At first blush, it seems to be a pretty simple and basic statement. As I aged, and experienced the harshness of the world and life in it, I realized this Dear Pastor was teaching me a core Spiritual Lesson. The contents of a person's Heart are on display in the things they do & say every moment of their life. Christ's Love is Deep, Unconditional, Drenched in Mercy, Full of Forgiveness, Abounding in Grace, and Always - Always willing to Restore the Fellowship. This too, is the Heart of the True Loving, Devoted, Submitted and Yielded Follower of Christ. These attributes are then on display in their actions, their words, their Charity & their Worship and they are both a conduit and a reflector of Christ's Amazing Love & Light. They are not perfect for they walk in the flesh, but they are not of the flavor of Modern American Christianity where Grace is used as an excuse to do what we want all in the name of Liberty. Christ died to give us Ritualistic / Ceremonial freedom or Liberty from the Law, not Liberty from the Heart of the Law. That Heart of The Law is God's Holy, Righteous, Just and Revered Character, which Christ Lovingly and Humbly submitted Himself to.
So my Dear Child, what I was truly saying was this... A Child of God, the betrothed of Christ will reflect the Heart of Christ (for further detail read Matthew 5 and Galatians 5).
I am sorry kiddo, that's not what is being said here. Not at all... Ephesians 4:1-6 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
We are called out from the ways of the world to follow The Way of Christ. That brings accountability period. That's NOT legalism. Legalism is when I, as your Dad, Husband or Friend has a list of arbitrary Do's & Don'ts that I hold over your Head as a litmus test for Salvation... I know Legalism, because I lived it the first 30+ years of my life. What this is saying is God has expectations of us - accountability.
In Matthew 7, Jesus warns of the wolves in sheep's clothing, a picture of people calling themselves Christians, that participate in the activities of a Christian life. However; when pressed in Spiritual matters, they display the core of their Heart and their true Master. You see Dear Child, God's Holy Spirit lives in the Heart of those He calls. While these dear people are not perfect, their dependency for life in its most basic form to the most complex is rooted in Jesus Christ. At any given moment they believe deep in the core of their Heart in Jesus Christ, and His ability to deliver them from any evil or any problem by His Power & Will in His Timing... That is Faith, Trust & Belief in Christ, not depending on our own abilities. Believing in the Supernatural - and believing that the Supernatural can in fact manifest Himself in the world today... God IS !!!
Matthew 7:15-20 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
Accountability - is an innocent and practical way for the brethren to watch for the wolves, a as well as lovingly help a Brother or Sister in the Faith, when they are struggling. Carrying each other's burdens, praying, walking along side and using the Scripture as the measure. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. If a person definitely rejects a lovingly & innocently posed question regarding their walk (offenses), then you must follow Christ's instruction and take another Brother / Sister with you to talk with this person. If they still reject your concern, take your Deacon with you, if still the offense continues Un-repented, take the Deacon and Pastor with you. If still they stand in defiance, offering no conversation, or discussion of the matter in their defense, nor offer no apology, or repentance of the issue, take them and the issue before the congregation. If this does not bare Good Spiritual Fruit - then the Church - by Christ's own instruction, is to set apart the Un-repentant Heart from the Church / Congregation, if they truly are of Christ, they will be given over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh and salvation of the soul.
A Dear Pastor Friend of mine, used to always tell me "People do - What People want to do"... At first blush, it seems to be a pretty simple and basic statement. As I aged, and experienced the harshness of the world and life in it, I realized this Dear Pastor was teaching me a core Spiritual Lesson. The contents of a person's Heart are on display in the things they do & say every moment of their life. Christ's Love is Deep, Unconditional, Drenched in Mercy, Full of Forgiveness, Abounding in Grace, and Always - Always willing to Restore the Fellowship. This too, is the Heart of the True Loving, Devoted, Submitted and Yielded Follower of Christ. These attributes are then on display in their actions, their words, their Charity & their Worship and they are both a conduit and a reflector of Christ's Amazing Love & Light. They are not perfect for they walk in the flesh, but they are not of the flavor of Modern American Christianity where Grace is used as an excuse to do what we want all in the name of Liberty. Christ died to give us Ritualistic / Ceremonial freedom or Liberty from the Law, not Liberty from the Heart of the Law. That Heart of The Law is God's Holy, Righteous, Just and Revered Character, which Christ Lovingly and Humbly submitted Himself to.
So my Dear Child, what I was truly saying was this... A Child of God, the betrothed of Christ will reflect the Heart of Christ (for further detail read Matthew 5 and Galatians 5).
A Follower of Christ, will have a Heart willing to discuss your thoughts and opinions of their life - when you offer it with love, as Paul instructed, "speak the Truth in Love". They won't be quick to be offended, they will show Loving Kindness, Gentleness, Compassion, Understanding, Mercy, Eternal Forgiveness, Un-Ending Grace, and Continual Restoration, for those are the attributes of the core of their Heart, for that and much more is the core of the Heart of their Blessed Jesus. The Holy Spirit Truly - Truly takes up residence in the Hearts of genuine / authentic Christians. That Spirit is Real... That Spirit is of God, do the math Dear Child, God is Holy, Righteous & Just. If that Light lives inside of you, you WILL BE DIFFERENT than the rest of the world. So too, will the Christian friend you are trying to discuss this offensive issue with, they will be different as in the True Christ. Approach in deep prayer, bathed in Love, and open arms of Christian Fellowship, God will prepare the Heart of your friend for the discussion. God Bless, I will pray for you...
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