Lady of Light
When we go back and take a look at the Church at Corinth, we can see how the apostle, Paul addressed various problems that were occurring. Just as the world is today, Corinth was a very large, busy--and immoral city. That environment surely contributed to problems in the church.
One of the things Paul did was to urge them not to let their preference for various ministers obscure their primary loyalty to God. I know that I listen to three preachers on television, Charles Stanley, Joel Osteen, and Creflo Dollar. Each has a particular set of spiritual gifts which minister to me, however, it is the way in which they highlight the truths of God's word, and how the Spirit allows me to hear and learn and grow that is really at the essence of these experiences. It is easy, as human beings to prefer the personality of preacher to another or to focus too much on the person, rather than the message.
In 1 Corinthians 3: 3-9, Paul addresses this situation:
"For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos: are ye not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered: but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with Go: ye are God's husbandry, he are God's building."
While it is true, that we need to support the leadership in our church, our focus needs to be on God, and our loyalty to him. It is only through our loyalty to God that we can truly offer the right kind of support to our Pastors, Ministers and leaders.
Take a cue from Paul, and stick close to God and His word above people.Everything will "fall into place" if you do this.
God bless you and have a great day!
Lady of Light
A little bit of everything, through the eyes of a believer
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About Me
- Lady Of Light
- Born: New England (why I am a Patriots fan!) Raised: New Jersey. I am a Born-again Christian Spent one year in Manhattan studying in bilingual school and playing my guitar and singing in coffeehouses in the Village during the mid-60s after graduation from high school. Attended Union College and Seton Hall University as a Psychology major and did some walk-in counseling and supervised and trained people at a 24 hour Crisis Line and later became a volunteer for the National Organization, Contac We Care which is a Christian hotline ministry. Happily married
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