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You Don't Have to Agree

by Tonja Taylor
2/27/2023 / Christian Living

A little leaven (a slight inclination to error, or a few false teachers) leavens the whole lump [it perverts the whole conception of faith or misleads the whole church].--Galatians 5:9, AMPC

If you hear something from the pulpit or from a teacher online or elsewhere, you don't have to agree.

You are a free agent, and you can choose not to agree. However, you do have the right and responsibility to go to the inerrant, unchanging, eternal Word of God, the Holy Bible, and search the Scriptures for yourself.

They answered him, Are you too from Galilee? Search [the Scriptures yourself], and you will see that no prophet comes (will rise to prominence) from Galilee.--John 7:52, AMPC

None of us, including pastors and teachers of the Word, are perfect messengers for the LORD, although we who really know Christ Jesus as Savior and LORD desire to be.

So, when they say something that's different from what we know, we don't have to agree--but we do need to check it out in the Word of God, and agree with Him!

I've experienced disappointments and frustrations in pastors and other leaders many times, and recently was led of the LORD to leave a congregation where I just could not agree with many of the attitudes and some of the words coming from the pulpit.

No pastor is perfect, and there are a couple of things with which I don’t agree with the new pastor, but at the same time, no one but God can change my mind about what I know God has done for me, and how He’s done it.

You have to remember that!

In the end, each of us is responsible to God for how we believe and how we act.

Neither the pastor, nor our spouses, nor anyone else are going to be standing with us when we face God—except the LORD Jesus Christ, Who is our Covering; our Salvation, by His blood shed on the cross to save us from our sins, over 2,000 years ago!

He is the only true Savior; the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6)!

I do not at all mean we know everything we need to! No, we never will, as long as we are on this earth. That is the main reason we need Bible-based church and other teachings true to the Word; it's spiritual school!

I've experienced disappointments and frustrations in pastors and other leaders many times: from the way a minister's attitude was (including sensuous ways of dressing for women leaders; what are they trying to convey, and aren't we supposed to be pointing people to Jesus and not distracting others from Him?!); negative words and body language; despising certain moves of God (i.e., revivals, such as is going on now in various parts of the country, praise the LORD!)...

...and continually berating (there is a difference, to me, between Biblical correction and just plain fleshly complaining and criticicizing, and most people who are awake can easily pick up on it!); making biased and even sensuous, tacky "jokes" in an attempt to be humorous; and even speaking against the power of the Word and God's mercy that I know that I know that I know that I know have worked for me, for I am living proof!

So, you have probably had to work through such disappointments and frustrations as well!

Personally, I expect my leaders to be better than me, or I wonder why I'm following them. If they are not covering me, sharpening me, out for my best interests and not their own, then why am I there?

If they preach one thing and act and speak another from the pulpit, what could they be doing behind it?

However, it is not my job, nor yours, to judge our leaders. It is human and natural, but we have to be aware of it. At the same time, if a leader--even one you've followed for years, praying for them, sowing financially and of your time and resources into them and their ministries, like I had for a couple decades--keeps being dishonorable toward you, no matter how much you do and how faithful you are...

...and keeps being negative and griping from the pulpit and just wasting time and effort and energy and not focused on the blood of Jesus and what that blood did for us, and how much we need the unfailing Word of God; and displays soulish flesh in other ways; and/or says things against what you know yourself has increased your love and devotion to the only true God, the LORD Jesus Christ, God's Son, the Savior of the world--then you don't have to agree!

You do need to get in the Word and ask the Holy Spirit, Who knows all things, to reveal the Truth to you, and either to affirm what you already believe, or change your belief.

You also need to be thankful for all the good, and pray for your leaders.

16 Be happy [in your faith] and rejoice and be glad-hearted continually (always); 17 Be unceasing in prayer [praying perseveringly]; 18 Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will].--I Thessalonians 5:16-18, AMPC

They are people, just like us, and they can fall into error. However, I expect them to certainly do I Thess. 5:16-18, if they expect me to! To me, a leader I'm following should be an example to me.

Many leaders are deceived and have no idea they are. There are also leaders who deceive others on purpose, and things will not go well with them.

Our flesh (souls; mind, will, emotions) wants our leaders to be perfect, so we can blame them if something goes wrong.

Any true leader from God will not only tell you they are not perfect, but will also tell you to check them out in the Word.

So, we have a responsibility to see what God is saying to us individually, and to make sure the leaders' words and actions are lining up with the Word.

That is even more why, every moment of every night and day, the all-knowing Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus in our hearts; the Spirit of Truth Who guides us into all truth!

To me, this involves walking in love. There are different forms of Love, but I Corinthians 13:4-8 is an excellent guideline for us:

4 Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily. 5 It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].

6 It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail. 7 Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].

8 Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end]. As for prophecy (the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), it will be fulfilled and pass away; as for tongues, they will be destroyed and cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away [it will lose its value and be superseded by truth].--I Corinthians 13:4-8, AMPC

Let us remember to yield to the LORD first thing in the morning, and ask Him to fill us afresh with Himself, and to help us be more aware of His sweet, gentle, all-knowing Presence; His wonderful Spirit of Grace, which empowers us to get ourselves out of the way, and let Him express Himself through us!

Let us remember to ask the LORD to help us only agree with Him!

Hallelujah!

Tonja and her husband live to exalt God. They lift Him up in books (P.O.W.E.R. Girl!; LEGACY; Visions of the King; Your Holy Health; more); presentations; service in church, community, and the world; and via the "River Rain Creative" (309 videos) and "POWERLight Learning" You Tube channels.

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS

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