February 4 “Praying for One Another” Philippians 2:14
** Please Pray for Marty Huddleston. Having Heart Catheterization this morning! Please Pray for Healing! **
Good morning from Pastor Glen Brock, Baptist Tabernacle Church, Wendell, North Carolina… “Do all things without complaining and disputing…” (Philippians 2:14)
One of the tasks of a Pastor is to hear the grumblings and complaining from fellow church members that, in their mind, know best for everyone and are extremely “put-out” when things don’t go their way! Listening patiently and gently offering guidance and encouragement often is met with anger and resentment and retaliatory actions. Just recently, I was confronted by a well-meaning fellow believer, and they were outraged that I was not intervening in a situation between two other believers (Recognize that the issues were of a personal nature and did not affect the church in any way). “Why aren’t you doing something to stop this? It’s your job to take care of these things! That’s what we pay you to do!” When I responded, Oh Boy, the voice became louder and the anger boiled over to express their true feelings. “You need to do your job! You need to tell them to stop and to straighten up and you need to do it now! How can you allow this to happen?” My next response was met with silence and extreme disapproval… (They walked away in disgust and grumbled under their breath, “What I Expected.”) “In reality, this situation is none of my business, and by extension, none of yours. I am extremely committed to taking care of the flock and running interference for our church family, but when the actions of individuals are not affecting the flock and their actions and motivations are not causing any harm or danger to our church family, then, I am always available to assist, counsel, and encourage them, but when I am not asked, then I will mind my own business!” As I have ruminated on this experience, and have thought about my position, and if I should be more proactive in this private matter, I still believe that praying for the Holy Spirit to witness and minister to this couple, is the best course of events. Please know that I am “Armored Up” and ready to engage anyone or anything that is causing harm to our Fellowship or causing disruption to the harmony of our witness for Jesus, but when it is a private matter, I am not going to “Butt in” and create more issues! This situation bring to mind a beautiful instructive scripture passage, found in Matthew 7:3-4: “And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and behold, a beam is in thine own eye?” We must be actively working on our own relationship with our Savior, and we must concentrate on Surrender, Commitment, Obedience and our own Relationship with the Father, through the Son, empowered by the Holy Spirit! Please know that I love our BTC Family, and I will place myself in “Harms Way” in order to insure that the Fellowship is protected and that the Family is Secure, but I will not interfere in the private lives of individuals, that do not invite me in, based on rumors, “hearsay,” or any other rumblings that could be defined as “gossip!” When these individuals recognize the need for help, they are fully aware that I am ready, willing and available to assist them to solve their issues. I believe that Romans 12:12 offers assistance and advice in this situation: “rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer…” I am committed to being the best “Me” that I can be, by following His Word, Sharing His Good News, and Staying Connected by Prayer, Bible Study, Fellowship with Fellow Believers, and by “keeping the Log from being in my eye!” When you recognize the struggles of others, please commit them to intercessory Prayer, asking God to intervene, and to “Heal” their wounds. Stay Strong, Stay Focused … THE BEST IS YET TO BE!