Read what Bishop has to say this week
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Don’t use God’
“Ooowee!”
Where do I start? How do I start? Why do I even share this experience of the young man that stood before the court and just OUTRIGHT lied? He not only lied on me, the Man of God, but he lied on the earthly temple, the building that houses the people of God as well?
See, the church is the people of God. The building, made of bricks and/or wood, is the place where the people of God worship Him. So, in reality, he lied on the people of God who are truly faithful in their giving of their service to God. AMEN!
Listen, every time one treats the unfaithful like they are faithful, it not only is a disserve to those who are faithful but it’s a disserve to God. It also sends mix messages if the servant of God treats the unfaithful like they are faithful.
“Ooowee!” Read that over if you didn’t catch it. Even as a pastor and presiding bishop, I’ve received more headaches from the ordained, whose ordained under my authority but yet are not faithful by being a positive witness for the faithful in regards to their ordination vows and example of faithfulness and service to the church.
Yes, it’s my fault when I allow this process to even start yet I allow an individual to grow as we all learn to SERVE. I know more individuals without titles of service who are better servers in many churches than those with titles to SERVE. Also it’s a known fact that one does not need a title to SERVE the LORD! Yet, if these individuals are not faithful and a good witness by attending the Spiritual Programs during the week and Sunday Services as well including giving of their tithes and offerings, what a bad example of a spiritual leader with a title (preachers as well). I don’t do like most pastors and sit these individuals down cause they know better with their background of education and degrees and their mighty titles already. See, to know better and do better are two different things. See, God don’t call the qualified. He qualifies the called. Amen! You know what I do first when dealing with the unfaithful?
I first pray and ask God to order my steps and I’ve learned the best way to get someone’s attention is to stop giving yours. I’ve learned that, in any situation, it’s important to just “Be Still.” I’ve learned to let God speak to them first, praying they don’t lean on their own understanding and get it right. But if they don’t seem to hear God, it is then I have to deal with the situation at hand so that the faithful – watching the unfaithful – will not get confused and wonder why their pastor continues the unfaithfulness of those in spiritual leadership to continue this recklessness.
Ooowee! If they – after some point – don’t hear what God is saying to them, in regards to their Ordination Vows, it’s then that I have to hold them accountable like this judge you will learn held this young man accountable that stood before the court and lied.
Likewise, the young man wanted to use the church before the court as if he was faithful to receive favor by impressing the court. Feel me?
See some of us USE God as a foundation while others USE GOD as a CRUTCH. Some individuals use the BIBLE, the WORD of God like cake for special occasions but, in reality, the BIBLE is meant to be bread for daily use.
“Ooowee!” Let me get up right quick and shout GLORY!
Now, if any of you – my readers – need to catch up with the start of this Bishop Speaks series entitled, “Don’t use God,” go to www.callandpost.com, pull up Bishop Speaks, and look for the week 2/6/2013.
Ok, the young man got caught in a bold face lie in a packed courtroom. This judge called me on my personal cell phone from her bench because she was so impressed with this young man telling her how he’s been giving back to the community and the church by volunteering his time at the church as well as cleaning, singing in the choir, and never missing Sunday church services. The young man was found GUILTY for the crime he committed yet was eligible for probation in lieu of going to prison because it was his first offense.
This judge, who knows me personally and the many outreach programs for ex-felons at the church like so many of the other judges, was impressed with this individual and knew my church was a court community register agency where he could work off his community service. I guess the judge figured, since he was already at the church and because of his faithfulness, he could continue and receive favor back by working off his fines. He didn’t have a job to pay them off. The judge called me to get my permission instead of direct the probation officer to do so, if he was to be placed on probation. What the young man did not know was that the judge was going to call me?
“Ooowee!” Let me stop here and make a power point as I try and close out the conclusion of what went down with the young man before the court.
As a child, I grew up watching the greatest Detective Sherlock Holmes on TV. Sherlock Holmes states, “Humans lie mainly for three reasons.” They lie to GAIN SOMETHING, PROTECT SOMETHING and to HIDE SOMETHING. As we all look back at the times we’ve told a lie, (and don’t act like you never lied), ask yourself of the above?
The WORD of GOD states in the Bible, Proverbs 6:16, “There are seven things that the Lord hates and cannot tolerate, one being a lying tongue.” Read it for yourselves. Even in the Bible, great men and women of God lied because they didn’t trust God and leaned on their own understanding, receiving the results of their choices which – in all cases – were not good.
“Ooowee!” my word court is up but I promise you next week I shall bring this “Don’t Use God” Bishop Speaks column to a conclusion. But between now and then, if you do USE GOD which we should, USE HIM AS A FOUNDATION AND NOT A WHAT… A CRUTCH! And likewise, be worthy for favor and not want a favor knowing you’re not worthy. Amen!
You can pull up the bishop on Facebook under Bishop Prince J. Moultry or e-mail him at bishopspeaks@aol.com. Check out the church website at wwwintouchforchrist.com. Join the bishop and the In Touch church family each Sunday at the 11a.m. Praise Service and the mid-week Wednesday Bible class at 6PM at 969 E. 140th St. Cleveland, Ohio 44110. You can call the church at (216) 761-7100.
