Thursday, August 18, 2005
on Hope
A lot of people can talk the talk, but can they also walk the walk?
I will not go back for youth service until and unless the issue is resolved. In fact I won't even go for Sunday service, because how can I trust them to teach the Word if they cannot even discern such easy to understand, obvious theology? If they cannot see the truth in this, what of other matters?
I was quite surprised and disappointed when he sent me an sms saying that this is a small matter and it should not stumble me. How can something unbiblical be something small?
If it doesn't resolve soon, I will leave the church and seek another one. I will not attend a church that hinges its entire youth congregation on something as unbiblical as a female pastor.
There were other things that bothered me, things like the prevalent and widespread (mis)use of tongues. And then there's the shepherding system.
That's sort of like the blind leading the blind, isn't it? First, not all of them have sound doctrines. In fact I will go as far to say that most of them don't. I used to accept teachings during shepherding at point-blank, until I found out for myself just how doctrinly unsound some of them are. Second, it still seemed very forced to me. It's like them saying, "You and you, be best friends." and expecting it to be done. I'm still uneasy about this. Third, when I'm really down and out I don't really need someone next to me repeating mindless cliches of "Christian advice", a.k.a. "God has a plan for everyone", "God loves you", "Everything happens for a reason, we just don't know what", "God is a good God", "We must praise God even in times of hardship" and so on a so forth. Get my point? I don't NEED these "advice". They are just empty words. Just leave me alone to cry my heart out in worshipful lament. I will weep because Jesus wept. I will despair because David despaired. I will blame because Job blamed. Then I will worship because God IS good. See, you cannot skip steps and jump straight to worship because that doesn't happen. So leave me be, stop bugging me with pseudo encouragements. If you truly are my friend, then weep with me.
I also find it facinating that a lot of people like to talk about things like "I'm so useless", "I don't deserve it", "I'm so bad but God is so good to me", "I'm worthless", etc. I mean, humility is good, but true humility does not boast of humility. And anyway,
"If God is satisfied with the work, the work may be satisfied with itself." - C.S. Lewis
So there!
Some may think I am making a big deal out of the matter of Shirley being pastor.
It is a big deal.
It reflects your salvation. I put forth that, if you have thoroughly went through the relevant scriptures, and still insist that it is okay for women to be pastors, then you are not in accordance with the will of God and are not saved.
I'm serious.
I know what some of you are going say. You're going to say that salvation is "by faith through grace" and nothing else. So I am saved, because I have faith. Wrong.
Faith without works is dead.
Obeying the word of God is part of your duty and work as well.
If you do not have work, how can you claim to have faith? This is Semitic Totality.
So if you don't have faith, how then are you saved?
Please re-think.
May God grant you the gift of discernment.
{/10:17 AM}
me
