I must admit that I get tired having to deal with people who loves to "steal" and "poison". During my waking hour this morning, it seems as if the Spirit was talking to me about all the people in the D.C. community. Often, I just want to escape from them who seek to "compete" against us that they have the "truth" and we are people who have apostated from it.
Jesus often use the "sheep" and "wolf" metaphor in his daily teaching to His Disciples. It seems that Jesus faced the religious leaders such as the Pharisees, Essenes, Sadducees, and Zealots everyday! They challenged Him, pricked Him, accused Him, and stabbed His back by telling other people He's not the Messiah the Jews have been looking for. But that didn't stop the Jews because they saw something different about Jesus: He cared for people, He listened to people, He healed people and He gave people hope!
"I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore, be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues." Matthew 10:16 (niv)
I don't know about you but that's what we're experiencing today! We're being accused that "baptism isn't for the forgiveness of sins." and many other phrases people use against us. How can I agree to that? I can't! Most of these negative phrases, which I call, "Words Of Stone" comes from the hands (ASL) of other religious people in our area. They throw stones at us for teaching this. I can see that the "majority" of the deaf churches in our area believe that a person can accept Jesus in his/her heart and be saved and that "baptism" is just to show that they're committing their life to serve God. Though, I don't see such quote in the Bible, I cannot agree with that. If they believe in that, then that's their belief. If we believe in what we believe, then that's what we believe in what the Bible says.
There are places in the D.C. area that worships God in the way you believe. If you find that such a place supports your belief, that's great! It's a place where unity grows a strong church. And only God is the Judge of all living and all who come before Him in worship.
"I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." John 10:1-5 (niv)
This happens alot!! There are people who comes into the Lord's church with a goal: to destroy the work of God in His church. Jesus knew the Pharisees and other religious teachers where wolves in sheep clothing. He warned His Disciples to stay away from their teachings and their accusations: "Be careful," Jesus said to them. "Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees." Matthew 16:6 (niv)
"..the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it.." John 10:12 (niv) There will be people (wolves) attacking the Lord's children by trying to steal them away from the group or they have a powerful poison to destroy the faith they may have with God!
Such a wolf can be your spouse, your friend, your co-worker, your boss or even another servant that serves at another church. "Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some." 2 Timothy 2:17-18 (niv) Such poisonous teaching can stumble those with weak faith, even strong ones.
Check out this powerful Scripture to help us understand things that's happening in the world today: "'Teacher,' said John, 'we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.' 'Do not stop him,' Jesus said. 'No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, for whoever is not against us is for us. I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.'" Mark 9:38-41 (niv)
We ought to be sent out into the world with the fountain of grace & love, preaching down sin, preaching up Christ which are great things. If you're spending much of your time telling people about another the errors of another church, you're neglecting the whole will of God which is to go, seek and save what is lost. If you have committed your life to Jesus in His Body, the church, your aim is to be a mature person of God ready to go and bring those without Christ to Christ! Jesus said, "He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters." Matthew 12:30 (niv)
"The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me (Jesus)." Romans 15:3 (niv) (parenthesis mine) Churches have been fighting against other churches: over women's role in the church, salvation issues, declaring that they're the best church, arguing over which translation must be used, and many others. It is typical for the deaf community to use the "Crab Theory" pulling down their opposing church from being successful. Instead, we're supposed to be fighting against Satan and the dark forces in this world! It's a spiritual battle against the dark forces.
Of course, you and I will agree and disagree on alot of things. "So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God." Romans 14:22 (niv) I believe McLean Bible Church is a wonderful church who loves God. Also, there's First Baptist Church of Alexandria, Frederick Church of the Brethren in Frederick, MD, Haymarket Baptist Church in Haymarket, Va and many other churches in our area who are serving God bringing the deaf souls to Jesus. Quit wasting your time threatening sheep, with a rope or a poison, in other churches or you're hindering the work God is doing in the world! We have a foe and his name is Satan. Let's destroy him and his work!
"Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved." 1 Corinthians 10:31-33 (kjv)
"Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ." 1 Corinthians 11:1 (kjv)
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