Are You Being Oppressed at Your Church? Part III Free Reprint Article

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Are You Being Oppressed at Your Church? Part III

by Tonja Taylor
4/05/2023 / Church Life

There are various levels of spiritual covering--mostly in a church, and also in other ministries you may support and/or invest your time and service into.

The LORD sends us certain places for a reason. 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!

New Season, New Path!

Now, it’s a new season, and the LORD has changed my Path. Hallelujah!

Perhaps He’s changing yours. Ask Him, pray, fast if needed, worship, get in the Word and find Scriptures that apply to movement, such as Psalm 25:12-14 (AMPC):

12 Who is the man who reverently fears and worships the Lord? Him shall He teach in the way that he should choose. 13 He himself shall dwell at ease, and his offspring shall inherit the land. 14 The secret [of the sweet, satisfying companionship] of the Lord have they who fear (revere and worship) Him, and He will show them His covenant and reveal to them its [deep, inner] meaning.

Achievement Can Rob Rest

I am a “high achiever,” as some would label it, and have been since about age 10. I am very thankful for the variety and richness of my many life experiences; how the LORD has orchestrated my Path, and has and is and will use these trainings, education, experiences, and relationships, to (overall, at least) further His Kingdom!

Growing up, however, at least some of these things did not give me rest, overall, but (mainly because my dear parents, who were both raised in large families with a poverty mentality, worked hard to give my brother and I many opportunities and better education than they'd had) created performance pressure, because I was not rooted and grounded in the Love of God.We need to pray for them—and, more often than not, avoid them, at least (in my opinion, especially having grown up in a household of almost continual strife, and then a very wrong marriage of 12 years of continual strife—and lots of other junk. Even in the marriage I’ve enjoyed for many years that God really did ordain, there was lots of strife, until repentance and healing and restoration, and just flat deciding to not be in strife any more occurred! Now, it’s Heaven on earth, like it should have been all along! Hallelujah!).

As the LORD leads, we can approach them respectfully and ask them what is wrong. The LORD has even had me apologize to some people that I knew should apologize to me (or I felt they should!), but that I knew never would (and some people just have no clue that they’ve done something to hurt others, even deeply!), and that was to help me uproot bitterness and/or offense or other hurt that had gotten into my heart. When I obeyed, I was healed, kind of like the lepers who were commanded to go show themselves to the priest. They were healed as they went.

The Spirit of God Helps Us Know What To Do

The Spirit of God, Who is Truth, Who is Love, Who is Wisdom, will help us discern the difference. While we don’t live just for ourselves, the LORD actually commands us to live in peace and harmony with others, as much as possible, and get rid of strife within ourselves. This is a lifelong process, of getting victory and keeping in, in our souls (minds, wills, emotions), and our bodies will follow our souls.

Also, the LORD never leads us by fear. Fear and control are tools of the devil. The LORD is good, and loves us, and leads us by peace and desire.

If a pastor or other ministry leader does some or all of these: continues to glare and stare and speak scornfully and haughtily to a member of the flock, and is impatient, demanding and controlling and blatantly offended, self-focused, in open strife and scorn and derision of other ministers, ministries, and situations that are supposed to be from God; says things that are not done; and other such junk that is not from God, then something is wrong. Especially if excuses are made for such wrong behavior—and with no apology---something is wrong.

Most especially, if this continues for years, then, in my (experienced, unfortunately!) opinion, something is very wrong!

This is my opinion, and also comes from a few decades of experience in being in various churches—including the last one of 18.5 years.

Ugh!

Pray For Grace to Forgive, Keep Walking, and Move As He Leads

However, all of us have missed it, and we are to pray for our leaders. They are people too!

We have to choose to ask God for Grace to forgive and keep walking—and sometimes, like He truly showed me—to walk away!

It’s not easy emotionally. There was, at least for me, grief and disappointment involved, even though many good things happened, and I’ll be forever grateful for the good God did through those places.

However, it is God that deserves the glory, and I’m thankful for the leaders who chose to be instruments of God’s work in my life. There will be a reward for them.

At the same time, I’ve invested years of finances, prayers, service, and material possessions in these ministries, so it was not at all like I was just involved to get something. I gave a lot myself, to serve the LORD.

The Spirit of God is rest, love, joy, peace, freedom, victory, and more (Galatians 5:22).

While we will never understand the pressure that leaders are under, even if we are leaders ourselves, each of us is responsible to not let pressure negatively affect us.

I had decades of being hard to be around, because I did not handle pressure properly. I was trying to carry the load myself, and not trusting God enough.

Yes, if God is working, there is always more good than bad, and the Bible tells us that, when we truly follow God, we will suffer persecution—even in church!

Ask me how I know!

However, the LORD Who loves us perfectly (as no human leader can!) and knows everything in our lives, from beginning to end; Who knows what we need for every season of our lives, will sometimes move us to a new vineyard!

Ways To Help You Know If It's Time To Move

Here are a few ways the LORD can help you know if He is moving you:

You are continually vexed by the negative attitudes of the leader(s), including at least some of the things that come from the pulpit. Now, God corrects us because He loves us, and we must be open to correction. However, God commands us to not correct others harshly, but gently, in love.

He must correct his opponents with courtesy and gentleness, in the hope that God may grant that they will repent and come to know the Truth [that they will perceive and recognize and become accurately acquainted with and acknowledge it],--2 Timothy 2:25, AMPC

You are confused about why some of the words coming from the pulpit don’t seem to match what the Word says. This is huge. No preacher or teacher is perfect (including me!), and there is continual revelation. However, some things I’ve heard from some pulpits have definitely not been God. We must know the Word to know the difference, and even then, trust the Holy Spirit to guide us.
You are scorned, even humiliated, not respected and/or not appreciated by the leadership and/or others who “run” the church. I know people get busy, and sometimes forget to smile. However, a pattern of this indicates to me that either they are not resting in God, or are letting their flesh get away with them, and just acting like the world. None of this helps the work of God go forth, to me, even if “a lot gets done.” That’s just my opinion.
When you are “corrected” by the leader(s), there is a scarcely-veiled resentment and/or scorn, and/or other harshness, and you are not allowed to speak or give your opinion; you are just supposed to listen and obey. I have not been in the military, and the church is the “army of the LORD”, but we are supposed to love each other first, and operate in love and respect for each other. Perhaps too many leaders treat others harshly and with scorn while making excuses for the flesh, and call it “leadership”?
When I’ve acted that way as a parent or teacher (and have repented, of course, to the people, as much as possible), it was always wrong. Isn’t it “more wrong” when it comes from the pulpit of a church that says it follows Christ? I don’t want to judge, but continually experiencing such with no change or repentance from leaders, etc., not only confused and discouraged me, but also many other leaders who left the church!
You try to talk to others according to the Word, but they won't receive it and act like you are the one who is wrong.

15 If your brother sins against you, go and confront him privately. If he listene to you, you have won your brother over. 16 But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’…Matthew 18:15-16, Berean Study Bible.
We can’t change others. We can pray and be good examples ourselves, but we must keep our eyes on the LORD—Who will often move us to another church, where we can truly prosper and be healed and whole, and get the will of God done for our lives—as He has me, praise Him!

If you are told often that Jesus does not do miracles, and/or that healing doesn't happen any more, or something like that, the information is not Biblically correct. John 14:6 says ⁶Jesus said to him, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me. I am very thankful that the church I was in for so long believed in and practiced miracles, thank the LORD! I received some miracles there, myself!
If you are ever told that God is mad at you, angry with you, that is not true! God dealt with the anger at sin, when Jesus paid the price on the cross by shedding His pure blood for us over 2,000 years ago!
However, if anger and scorn keeps coming from the pulpit, and/or toward you personally (which I experienced many times, to my shock and chagrin, when all I was working for years to do was learn and live right and brag on the church and pastors, and serve diligently, and pray, etc., then that is not God. If it keeps on for years, then it may be time to change churches. It certainly was for me, and I'm so delighted!!)

For most of my life, I have not been gentle. I have had to learn that. I have had to learn to repent of being harsh and prideful and scornful and judgmental and critical, and yield to the Holy Spirit, Who is Love and Peace and Joy and Grace and Gentleness, among many other wonderful things.

I have had to learn how to cast my cares on the LORD (trust in Him with all of my life) and rest in Him; stay in peace and joy, and immediately refocus on Him and His goodness, when the enemy sends darts.

A Time To Stay, and A Time To Leave

There is enduring and bearing with one another.

Then, there is also the God-led decision to take a step to freedom, and move to a new vineyard; to a new Bible-believing body!

Since I have understood this, it is amazing at the freedom, peace, joy, and divine connections I have experienced! I am so glad that the oppression and other negatives kept happening at the church where I thought I would be forever, but am so glad I am not!

There was an interim church the LORD directed me to, and that body of leaders and people welcomed me warmly. I felt very accepted and loved—which I had not for almost two decades at the other church!

Then, He moved me again! I know that I know that I know that it is Him, for He has proven His faithfulness to me through the years. He—the Author and Finisher of our faith—has given me the faith (courage, determined strength; resolute will) has proven His faithfulness, mercy, and grace to me through the years (and through many hard-on-the-soul-and-body changes), and I trust Him.

He has helped me—as I pray daily for me and those I cover!—to be sensitive to His Spirit, and thus, when I keep having a thought that also brings me deep peace, even though it may not make sense to my mind, I realize that that is the LORD speaking to me; giving me direction, as I desire daily.

As Apostle Bill Johnson says, “In the Kingdom, faith precedes understanding.”

So first, we believe with our hearts (Proverbs 3:5—6), and choose to obey, and then the understanding comes. However, we may not ever understand all the details; most likely, not. However, we can understand that the faithful God that got us this far—and has continued to cause our lives to get better and better (including with correction and cleansing, which bring healing and deliverance and wholeness!), because He loves us, will never leave us, but will be with us forever, continuously drawing us to a deeper understanding of His Love.

Let your character or moral disposition be free from love of money [including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions] and be satisfied with your present [circumstances and with what you have]; for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake you nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]---Hebrews 13:5, AMPC

He is our Good Shepherd Who leads us always in right Paths! His Plan for us are good and only good.

¹⁴I am the Good Shepherd; and I know and recognize My own, and My own know and recognize Me—¹⁵Even as [truly as] the Father knows Me and I also know the Father—and I am giving My [very own] life and laying it down on behalf of the sheep.—John 10:14-15, AMPC

His Plans for us are good, and only good--which He meant from the Beginning, in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 1)!

¹¹For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.—Jeremiah 29:11, AMPC

We All Think a Bit Differently

Let me be clear that almost everyone has challenges that could be labeled “oppression” and that can be no fault of the church. What I’m talking about is actually being oppressed while at church.

Looking back, I’m rather appalled at how much I was oppressed at the church I was at for so long, even while I also received healing and deliverance, revelation, and gifts of love financially and materially. There was very much good, and I’m forever thankful! Those leaders and others who sowed into my life have a reward from the LORD for that.

Once the LORD led me out of there, I started enjoying freedoms in my soul and life that I had not realized I was missing. In one way, it was like the freedoms I started enjoying once I finally decided to leave the very abusive man I’d wrongly married for 12 years, over 25 years ago. This change was hard in many ways—on my and my 10-month-old child, but there were so many (for me and her!) new freedoms and healing, new dreams, new life!

It has been the same for me leaving the oppression behind in church, and going to the new place the LORD has shown me!

I have finally—after at least two decades of searching!---found my “Tribe”; the Body of Christ, the particular congregation, for this new phase of life, where loving correction and adherence to the Word from repentance to revival is lived and preached; where there are others that are helping me understand, develop, and exercise my gifts and calling from God, to be about His business and expand His Kingdom; where I can love and be loved, while being myself—with no shame, no apology, no sense of inferiority.

Hallelujah!

Truly, my new church is so much a picture of Heaven! It continues to grow, and for good reasons!

Don't Rush Any Decision to Leave, But Move When You Know That You Know!

Leaving a church is not a light decision. If you believe the LORD is really moving you, then ask Him where to visit, and go to that place. Ask Him to help you be sensitive to His Spiriit when you are there. If you feel great peace and joy, that may be it. It may just be that you are enjoying the love and unity that is in that place--which is where the LORD dwells (in praise of Him, which inludes love and unity!). However, that may not be where you are supposed to be planted.

Ask the LORD--and He is faithful to help us with this!--to help you "know that you know" that a new place is right. Sometimes, we try to move too soon (I know about that, too!), even though it may be a right place. When we are tuned into the LORD's heart, we can know something years ahead of time, but there is a certain timing for everything, for maximum benefit to us and those with whom we are connected.

That's one reason why it is important to stay in close fellowship with the LORD and His Word, and in prayer and worship and fellowship with other Bible-believing people, and also to cultivate unity and peace in one's marriage and home; so you can think and hear from God clearly.

The enemy loves to try to cause division, and deceive people. I thought for years that the old church where I was for so long was where I’d finally understand and fulfill my destiny—but I was wrong.

However, I know now that, through the faith and patience the LORD has given me (and it all, all the good, comes from Him!), I have finally, truly found the place where I can and will, as He has exhorted me, “take my place.”

If you keep being unsettled and distracted, you probably need to find another church.

By these, I mean you want to hear the Word and receive the teaching, and you want to truly worship, but you keep being slammed with negative thoughts, etc., so you don’t get much out of the service, and you instead feel worn out, etc. However, that may be stuff in your personal life you need to deal with yourself, just you and God. We should be able to share our deep personal needs with those in our church body, but from hard experience, I learned not to share with that old church, for various reasons. Sometimes you may just need to call a minister at a Christian radio station or another ministry, where they don’t know you, but you know they truly care and pray. That is not to say that there were not people who truly prayed for me and meant it, with no judgement. There were a very few, but I rarely shared with the leaders there.))

So is you are in the service(s) And not receiving, and kind of wasting your time, or keep getting negative attitudes from the leadership, even when you’ve been serving there for years, and just want to truly help the ministry and be a blessing (ask me how I know!), then it may be time to find another church.

God is very loving, accepting (although He never leaves us like we are. He loves us however we are, and starts teaching us the life-changing Word, to continually make us more like Jesus!) . He loves us so much that He gave Jesus to die for us and rise again, to help us live with Him forever when we receive Him as our Savior and LORD.

The bottom line is, Hallelujah, King Jesus will soon return, and we want to be at liberty and at ease, on fire and in unity with the Body of Christ, especially the congregation and church body where we are supposed to be; to help as many unsaved people as possible realize they need and choose to receive the Savior! Hallelujah!

So, ask the LORD—even if you love your church and are totally plugged in, for He has moved people where everything was good too, to take them to where they’ll be more effective!—if you are in the right place, or if you should be open to change.

He is faithful to make known to us the path of life.

You can trust Him. He died and rose again for you, and gives you every breath!

His Plan for you is so very good! So thank and praise and rest and rejoice in Him today!

You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy, at Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.—Psalm 16:11, 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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