*This started off as a 140 character tweet and grew and grew. I jump around a little. I confess. Forgive me, I repent. I am purposely mentioning a name, not to stir up. I know this man is anointed, but we have to fix some stuff. Souls hang in the balance and we have been losing in everyday life as a whole. Be blessed in your reading.*
Relationships have become so disposable. Divorce is more than 50% in the world and in the Church, and God says He hates divorce.Friendships aren't fought for anymore. In fact, often if you fight for friendship, people accuse you of fear of rejection. I love the story Pastor Joel told of Gavin McCloud and his wife, today. Now, there is a time to let go, but there is also time to fight. God could be doing something in you. Perhaps you are too docile and stopped listening to God. You made up in your mind you were going to always let go and forgive no matter what. Or perhaps, you always fight. You made up in your mind, you will always fight and get what you call justice. In either case, since its already been decided, God and the Holy Spirit is irrelevant and worthless. No need for guidance. God can allo be doing something for the era or entire generation. Sometimes, God needs a body of people or a specific community to get a message. Look at how God used Jonah for Ninevah. But Jonah wanted them to not repent and be destoyed, another story. And yet, there were other cities that didnt get a man guided by God with a message. We must hear God whether or not to let go or stand your ground. But both are always options with God. He is a healer and a unifier. So we know whatever He calls for it will yield true reconciliation, not patch work, individually and inter-dependantly. But true love and wholeness isnt being accomplished because I don't think its preached enough. The "Move Forward", "Oh well, It's their loss" message has over powered. If God never leaves or forsakes? If He is faithful when others are not? Why not we who are made in His image, especially those made sons through Jesus Christ? But iit seems lately, we are first to abandon ship, in order to fulfil our own personal destiny. There has to be true loyalty, and faithfulness and somebody has to be first. Paul touches on this by constantly writing of the oneness and unity in the Spirit. He even speaks of his desire and heart to unify with those outside of Christ. Im debtor to the Jew and Greek, wise and unwise, he says. And read his love letter to his jewish brethren in Romans 9 through 11. He continues to preach the truth of Jesus, but forever longs for reconcilition w/ all and wisely finds that strait and narrow way. After Jesus, he is my hero. Paul even lays out rules for marriage, even when you are left or rejected (very few teach or adhere to it).
So whats at issue. It's how to fight, and when. This means hearing from God. But its hard to hear all sides when only one side is being presented. We have been preaching forgiveness, but perhaps we should add the other half; repentance and saying "I am sorry". How long will the offender go unchecked. If he refuses, there are remedies. Manifold wisdom of God, every layer, and the entire spectrum is needed now. Whether we fight or not, it should be due to obedience to God and the motive must be pure. Do whatever God says, do all in #Love, for Love, and never out of bitterness or revenge, that there may be wholeness & total healing. No more band aids. But understand, true recociliation comes when there is both forgiveness and repentantace available. #Consider what I say. I'd love 2speak 1 on 1 with any concerning these things. There is a time to just forgive, move forward and let it go. And, there's a time for accountability. Not condemnation, but accountability in the hope it leads to godly sorrow and repentance. It takes both. Paul says, "I delivered him up to Satan". You cant hold one much more accountable. But, in 2 Corinthians, he seems to almost apologize, because though he knew he had to do it for the sake of all of the Corinthians and the soul of that particular person, it was out of love and mercy and care. It wasn't just being harsh or a lack of understanding by Paul (Mr. Grace himself) of the finished work of Christ. How do you know when to hold one, even a Christian responsible? It's not by how big or little we think the sin is, or how many times. But it's by the #HolySpirit. He knows when someone, or a place needs to confess/repent. As I have said before, read Revelations chapters 1through 3. Jesus was very specific in what particular sins each Church had to deal with and what works they did that were wrong or what works needed to be done. Also,so you know perfection and living a sinless life with no need for repentance is possible, Jesus also commends part of one Church and another whole church (the church of Philadelphia). These two, needed no repentance and only good was spoken of them and reward. They needed no repentance at all. Jesus knows. He tells the other churches, out of love and concern, how to correct, and what will happen if not. There is no dispute.
Yes, the blood of Jesus has cleansed us from all our sins. Walk in love, and you will stay cleansed. But if not, repent. No excuses. Do not ignore it. Preachers must address all sides, even case by case. Some of these generalizations has caused more harm. We must address the offended and the offender, now. Its been so lop sided for so long, because it's easier to deal with the bruised than the bruiser. The #strait/narrow way perfectly sees both sides, and rightly divides what is needed for a situation. Look at our world. Look at the Church. The gates of Hell will not prevail, because of the ones bold enough to remind us and hold us to truth. Yes. Go and sin no more was made possible by the blood of Jesus and grace, but what do you do if you do sin again? That is the question. Consider. If a person considered 2 be holy repents when he misses it, wont many who dont think they are holy repent? And if those considered holy wont repent, most will not. To whom much is given, much is required. Imagine pushing a lady down a staircase, and then just stepping over her, saying Jesus died once, I am forgiven. Now imagine doing it again and again and never confessing or saying I am sorry. I submit to you, when you confess it, you are less likely to do it again. Something happens.
Dr Stanley's message was right this morning. You know when even as a Christian there is sin you have to address. You also know when theres nothing to address, even when others think there is. I tell you, the key is the #HolySpirit, not letter by letter instruction. Your race is tailor made. You know what you need to do and when and to whom. Consider, and do it. Leave nothing undone.
I do not have the big pulpit and following, but I am who God says I am. You pray. You study. You judge.
If I misunderstood the message of Dr. Dollar both this week and last, I am sorry. But its not coming out right. You are making Christians look like unaccountable jerks, that are now never wrong and never will be again because of the blood, when its clear to all, even other Christians, that you are wrong (not particularly Dr. Dollar but christians that clearly have sinned in general). When you aren't in sin, but others accuse, thats a different story. Jesus was perfect, and yet greatly accused, even by John the Baptist of wrong doing. I know the scriptures Dr. Creflo Dollar is coming from, and I excel in dividing the Word, but again, it's coming out wrong. Consider, sir. The world is watching. But let each examine himself.
Yulanda K. Jones
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