Are You Being Oppressed At Your Church? -- Part II Free Reprint Article

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Are You Being Oppressed At Your Church? -- Part II

by Tonja Taylor
4/05/2023 / Church Life

8 Therefore, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live [and] walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit.--Romans 8:1, AMPC

The Spirit of God Does Not Bring Condemnation, But Conviction to Change

How can I say this politely?

If you continue to feel condemned (which is really what ‘damned’ means, even though you’ve continued to submit to the LORD and repent when He shows you to change and/or stop something (and even to start obeying Him more fully); and/or grieved (saddened) at the behavior of the leader(s), and even others in the congregation; if you are confused about some of the things you hear from the pulpit, and/or actions and words of others that aren’t godly, even inside the church; if you are frustrated and people are unthankful and seem to exclude you from things, etc., etc., first, check your heart and ask the LORD if you are being hypersensitive; taking things wrong because of wrong thinking/experiences/roots in your own life. Allow the LORD to correct you.

If these things keep happening though, especially from leadership, then you may want to ask the LORD if He is moving you to a place where, as many say, “you will be celebrated and not just tolerated.”

God is not the condemner. It is the enemy (who is himself eternally condemned!) who tried to make people feel condemned—and he often uses religion to do it!

True Christianity is an accountable, loving relationship with the living God, Who becomes our adoring, faithful, gracious, gentle, patient, generous, sweet, thoughtful, all-knowing adoptive Heavenly Father--the moment we truly repent of our sins and ask the LORD Jesus, His One and only Son, Who died on the cross for us over 2,000 years ago that we might be born again and experience His Presence forever.

Our Heavenly Father is Loving, Patient, Forgiving, Gracious, and Kind

For [the Spirit which] you have now received [is] not a spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption [the Spirit producing sonship] in [the bliss of] which we cry, Abba (Father)! Father!—Romans 8:15, AMPC

He is a faithful Daddy God, Who takes us by the hand, and teaches us His ways. He is gentle and lowly in heart; faithful forever; and always good! Hallelujah!

Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls.—Matthew 11:29, AMPC

His Presence is Heaven (Deut. 11) —on earth, and for eternity in the other realm, where we will go when our body dies (As long as we are truly born again! If one dies and does not know Christ, the spirit will spend eternity in hell---the realm of the living dead, who will be tormented in every way, forever. God created hell for the enemy and his fallen angels (which we now call demons). He never intended for any person to go there. However, if any person chooses to reject Christ, that is automatically where they will go forever, once their body dies.).

None of us should keep seeking attention for ourselves. We’re actually supposed to focus on the LORD and allow Him to make us more like Him. However, there is a difference in being changed by the LORD and just putting up with junk, even from church leadership!

We Can Only Do Our Part

We are supposed to live in peace and love and respect and honor with others, especially in the Body of Christ!

18 If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.—Romans 12:18, AMPC

However, we can only do our part. We are to pray for others, and, by the help of the LORD (which comes from attention to His Word (including repentance as the LORD reveals things to us), prayer, worship, and fellowshipping and serving to expand the Kingdom with other like-minded, Bible-abiding Believers!) live to the glory of God before them.

Strife is Never From God--Especially in Church!

If others (even, and especially church leaders) seem to be in offense and resentment (James 4:1--forms of strife---much of which I used to have for years, until I started learning how, by the Grace and Help of God, to recognize and work with God to root out this junk! I personally expect and need my leadership to have conquered these basics!) at us, no matter what we do, then that is not our fault!

Strife, to me, stems from selfishness, which is the opposite of love. God is Love (I John 4:8), and the Prince of Peace. Hallelujah!

When the LORD is truly in control, there is great peace and joy, and no strife, but great unity! Hallelujah!

I’ve been discombobulated (a fancy word for “confused,” which I learned years ago) by the attitudes of church leadership—and finally realized that the negative attitudes of some of the staff toward me were coming from the negative opinion of the leaders—who were actually holding against me some of my past (I asked the LORD for discernment and understanding of the root of this junk!), when I could see those same tendencies in them, except for the training and prayer covering they’d had, which I did not!

God Loves All of Us and Helps Us Become More Like Jesus

LORD, forgive us all for judging others—and openly being biased! It’s human nature, but we can only overcome by the power of God, but aren’t leaders, especially all the more, the higher they rise (and these leaders were continuing to rise, but at what expense?

And Peter opened his mouth and said: Most certainly and thoroughly I now perceive and understand that God shows no partiality and is no respecter of persons,--Acts 10:34, AMPC

God loves everybody, although He is holy, and will never allow any of us to stay the same, no matter how close to Him we already are! He is very loving and patient, but corrects us as needed, to help us understand better how to display Christ to this needy world; to be more like Jesus, Who lives in us.

He must increase, but I must decrease. [He must grow more prominent; I must grow less so.]--John 3:30, AMPC

Anyway, praise God, I’m not the judge; I’m just very glad to be out of there, and into true freedom, satisfaction, and joy and fruitfulness, to the glory of God! I wish them no ill, but I pray that all the other strong Believers that left that place are also fulfilling the Ephesians 2:10 Plan God has for them!)?

(At the same time, these are phenomenal people in many ways, and I have much admiration for their sheer guts and sacrifice, to make a place for God to move, and how they cover many, and are very giving people in many ways. They will probably be rulers of a few galaxies in the New Millennium!)

God Commands Us to Rest—Including In Our Souls!

Meanwhile, it’s been a struggle most of my 50-plus years to truly understand the LOVE of God, and I’m glad to finally be learning much more about it, and having rest in my spirit and soul!

No leader is perfect, including me! I don’t know what I’d do in others’ shoes, and I might do worse! However, I do not have such positions, and the LORD would not take me there till I’m ready, with my husband, if ever we are.

That fact, however, does not excuse wrong behavior coming from any leader, from any pulpit or other place of authority and influence.

We need to pray for our leaders (including teachers in public schools, who are a type of shepherd or minister!) to find rest and satisfaction in their work; or, as Dr. Creflo Dollar stated in one sermon, where he talked about ministers hating their jobs, "just quit!"

Burnout can happen to anyone, but spiritual leaders especially need to learn to have the right balance in life.

The LORD talks much about rest in His Word. He commands it. He’s had to exhort me many times through the years to “just rest.”

By the way, strife is the opposite of rest, whether it’s in a relationship with someone (spouse; child; church leader; teacher; relative; etc.), or even within yourself. (Ask me how I know!)

In my opinion, when the church leaders have much internal strife, it comes out of their mouths and pollutes and dilutes the Word; not that they mean for that to happen. We are supposed to confess our faults one to another, and pray for one another to be healed.

However, if I am looking to someone for leadership, I personally need and expect them to be stronger than me. Otherwise, why am I following them?

The Spirit of Truth Will Lead You to the Right Spiritual Covering

Your spiritual covering is very important, especially in these Last Days, right before King Jesus returns. There is much and growing deception. However, the Spirit of Truth--the true Spiriit of God, the Holy One--will always lead us into all truth, when we truly seek and follow Him.

13 But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in the future]. 14 He will honor and glorify Me, because He will take of (receive, draw upon) what is Mine and will reveal (declare, disclose, transmit) it to you.--John 16:13-14, AMPC

There are various levels of covering, and the LORD sends us certain places for a reason. When He first led me away from 'my father's house," to go to a land I "knew not", He sent me to a church two counties way, where I didn't think I knew anyone. I actually knew at least four people there! I thought I'd be there a long time, but then, in a few months, "the Cloud"--the Holy Spirit prompted me to go to another church that I know know (and have settled deep within, for many reasons!) is my home church. Hallelujah!

Although my husband (who is in true agreement with me going to another church than him, which is something I "never" thought would happen, but we both know is right!) had suggested months ago about the church I now know is my home, it wasn't time for me to go there, for some reason.

Some things we will never underdstand, but that is where faith comes in: We trust the LORD, our awesome, forever-faithful Daddy God, to guide us and make everything work out right. He always does. Hallelujah! Great is His faithfulness! Blessed be the LORD, for He is good, and His mercy endures forever!

Blessed be the Lord, Who bears our burdens and carries us day by day, even the God Who is our salvation! Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!--Psalm 68:19, AMPC

I know He sent me to that place I was at for so long. It was very hard in so many ways on my soul (mind, will, emotions), but many good things happened there. For the good things that God did through the obedience and sacrifice of the leaders, I’m forever grateful!

Ask the LORD if He is moving you. Don't rush any move. It may be a test to see if you can overcome, forgive, etc. However, there comes a point when--if negative patterns keep being repeated when you go to church, and you've done all you know to do to make things right with God and others, pray, forgive, cleanse your heart, etc., and you keep desiring to go to another church--that it may be the LORD inspiring you to do so!

He knows all things, and He loves you perfectly. Trust me, even if you miss it (which I certainly have, but God's Grace and Mercy are abundant toward me, and toward all who truly know and love Him, praise Him!), He will do what He always does--work it for good!

He is truly (and the only) awesome!

In part III, we will look at more specific ways you can see if the LORD is moving you. The one thing you never want to do is stay out of church, not even to watch services at home online all the time. You and I need to be connected to live, loving, hugging, Bible-believing people, and the LORD God commands it--not for Him, but for our own good!

Not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together [as believers], as is the habit of some people, but admonishing (warning, urging, and encouraging) one another, and all the more faithfully as you see the day approaching.--Hebrews 10:25, AMPC

Through books, courses, presentations, service, prayer, worship, and more, Tonja and her husband live to exalt God. Her series for girls, P.O.W.E.R. GIRL ADVENTURES, is now out (books I-V), along with LEGACY; YOUR HOLY HEALTH: VISIONS OF THE KING, and more. See the "River Rain Creative" YT channel.

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

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