Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Churches, Working Together or Dividing

In the church that I was a member for over a decade there was put forth and taught a mindset that I have never seen or heard of in any other church that I attended or visited. Members of this church were never to visit other churches unless they were out of town or attending something special with a family member at another church. If a member of my former church visited other churches because they wanted to and it was found out then they were looked upon as traitors. We were taught to look down on other churches because they were not as enlightened as our church and were not as excellent. The pastor professed to know all the truth and, according to him, was always right. Many times he pompously declared from the pulpit that he could wait till we all get to heaven so that Jesus could inform us all that he (the pastor) was right.

This church never joined itself with any other church in our area or city to help anyone or reach out to the community. At one time we had a luncheon with a speaker who was a self made multi-millionaire. The purpose of this guest speaker coming in was to help raise the vision of the people in the church so that they would all become more prosperous and hopefully rich. When a pastor of a neighboring church was invited to the luncheon by a church member the pastor of my former church wanted to know why this neighboring pastor had been invited because we were trying to build our church, not theirs. The pastor never had one good or encouraging thing to say about any other church in our city, on the contrary he constantly criticized other churches and pastors from the pulpit.

Recently, I was totally surprised at something that happened in the church that I have been attending lately. The regular drummer had to be out of town on Sunday morning. The drummer who usually fills in for him had to work. Sunday morning, as I sat in my seat, I recognized someone in the sanctuary that I know personally and I know is a regular attender of a church other than this church. As it became time for the service to begin this individual sat down behind the drums. He proceeded to play with the band and did an excellent job. When the music was over, he quietly made his way to the back of the church toward the door. The pastor stood up and recognized him for being such a blessing by filling in and playing the drums for us, thanked him for his willingness to help and wished him on his way as he went to attend the service at the church where he chooses to worship.

Who would have ever thought that this could happen! Members of the body of Christ, from two different churches in the same area, working together and helping each other with no jealousy, criticism or envy. What a blessing it was! Christians from different churches working together to further the cause of Christ and not their own importance or agenda.

The spirit of separation and division is not of God. He desires His children to work together and help each other. Not separate themselves from other Christians because they don't go to the same church.

A pastor who seeks to divide his congregation from the rest of the body of Christ is operating out of a spirit of fear, pride and selfishness. Fear is the opposite of faith. Without faith it is impossible to please God. God hates pride. A true christian is not selfish.

If you are in a church where the pastor promotes division from the members of the body of Christ who do not attend your church and not unity he is in direct contradiction of the Bible. Find a church where the pastor operates out of a heart of love and not selfishness. Find a true pastor after God's own heart, and quit listening to one who pulls you away from the heart of your Heavenly Father.

6 comments:

john john said...

I guess you have not been visiting other Word of Faith churches, cause 90% of them are just alike. I have heard hundreds of your former pastors tapes and Cds. He is a very typical wof pastor. Thank you for your blog, everytime I read it is confirmation in my heart.

Lita Wright said...

Junker Jorge,
I have made it a point to steer very clear of "Word of Faith" churches. Any organization such as the "Word of Faith" who associates itself with such selfish and self seeking controllers who call themselves pastors and ignore and excuse blatant, rampant sin among ministers holds no attraction for me. However I do attend a non denominational church.

Lita Wright said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

I really like this post. I remember a visiting "minister" called people who visit other churches "church tramps." How ridiculous is that?! He is just trying to manipulate people.

Anonymous said...

Thank You so much for this post, it always helps me. I cannot believe we sat through and endured years of this bunch of bonk but thankful our eyes are wide open now and we are no longer deceived and FREE!!!! All WOF churches are into this, my family steers clear of this kind of teaching now.

Anonymous said...

I thank you for your post, I can't beleave that I sat there for 18 years and was snowed by one of the greatest spiritual con men of all time. I also worked for this con man for 9 years and lost my family and many friends because of this, and after each of your post i realize more and more of what i have lost,but thanks be untpo God He is able to restore all that and more 100 fold. I thank God for people like you and Beacon Family Church! To help people like me!