Greater Accountability
It is always bewildering to me, my observation of various church leaders and their lack of the “fear of God”. How is it that they can not be aware of the fact that they will be held to a higher standard of judgement by God? They are supposed to guide the people within their churches to live as the Bible, (which is the infallible word of God) outlines for us all.
As Christians, we are all one in the body of Christ, so why is church segregation so ramped in today’s society? Why are so many churches concerned about being the biggest and best church, when the true message is unity in the body of believers? It really puzzles me. I doubt if in heaven we will have church segregation and denominations, as it is not in the Bible.
(1st Corinthians 12:13) For we were all baptized by one spirit into one body – whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free – and we were all given the one spirit to drink.
(1st Corinthians 12:27) Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
(Ephesians 2:14) For He Himself (Jesus) is our peace, who has made the two (Jews and Gentiles) one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility.
As human beings we all seem to want to belong to something whether that is a church, gang or cult. Just belonging seems to satisfy the need most of us have. The true definition of a Christian is a follower of Christ. That entails taking the time to know who and what you are to follow. The only way you can do that is to have a one on one relationship with God through Christ His son. Reading the Bible is essential in getting to know who God is. God gave us this precious instruction book to follow and revealed what He wanted to of Himself for now in this Holy book. What a gift to us!
A pastor or priest is supposed to guide his flock when it comes to teaching about the word of God. If he is not doing the biblical description of a pastor’s duties, I suggest he step down, get another job and focus on his own personal relationship with God. It would be much safer for him when judgement time comes, righteously so.
When a person decides to become a pastor or priest he has to realize the seriousness of that decision and better be sure that God has called him into that important role. His main objective should be to guide people to on how to have a personal relationship with Almighty God and to lead his “flock” in the right godly direction. I would hate to think how God would look upon that person if he leads any astray!
(1st Peter 5:2-3) Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care serving as overseers – not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be, not greedy for money, but eager to serve, not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
(Acts 20:28) Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He bought with His own blood.
(Acts 20:30-31) Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them (31) So be on your guard!
We are all accountable for our own decisions in life and whether or not we chose to be a Christian is our own decision. After all, God did give us “ free choice”. A pastor or priest has much greater accountability because not only is he responsible for himself, but he could greatly influence others when it comes to that most important decision. Imagine a person who is supposed to represent and guide people to what almighty God wants and expects from them, leading people astray. It would probably be better had that person not of been born.
I believe a lot of religious leaders do start off with good intentions. I also believe that the more you are guiding people to a relationship with God, the more Satan (the ruler of this “world”) wants to stop you. That being said, lots of people are weak in spirit and might succumb whether consciously or unconsciously to Satan’s temptations.
An example of that is the need for edification from people. I noticed sometimes when a pastor or priest is on the pulpit it is almost as if he is on stage looking for the applause from the audience to feed his own foolish pride. How against the word of God is that! Not trying to offend people by telling them how lousy we all are and that we are all sinners who desperately are in need of a savior seems to be a main objective to many. How dangerous and deceptive is that? If people don’t realize that they stink and need to be saved then how can they truly accept Jesus and what He did for us in order to take away our sins and reconcile us back to God? Many people go to church, hear a feel good message, or none at all, help out within the church, think they are ok with God, but aren’t truly saved.
(1st John 3:6) We know that we have come to know Him if we obey His commands. The man who says, “I know Him,” but does not do what He commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obey His word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in Him. Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did.
Religious leaders need to all be preaching about the reason we humans were created, to have fellowship with God, our creator. That means He wants to have a one on one personal relationship with every one of us no matter who or what we are. If that is the reason we were created, then human existence is pointless without that. We all have a void deep inside of us that only God can fill. He made us that way. Nothing else in this world no matter how alluring it may seem will satisfy that void. God wants you to know Him through His son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I’m sure none of us want to end up cast down into hell because we never took the time to know our creator.
(Matthew 25:10-12) And the door was shut (11) Later the others also came “Sir, Sir” they said “open the door for us” (12) But He replied “I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.”
(Matthew 7:21-22) Not everyone who says to me “Lord, Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. (22) Many will say to Me on that day “Lord, Lord”, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles? Then I will tell them plainly, “I never knew you. Away from Me, you evil doers!”
Jesus had warned us about using the temple or church as a money making venture. It is God’s house of worship and not to be used for the greed of humanity. All to often now a days you see this command not obeyed and I believe the danger of this disobedience will be quite severe.
Matthew (21:13) Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all whom were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the moneychangers and benches of those selling doves. “It is written”, He said to them “My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of robbers.”
In conclusion, if anyone is going to take on the role of a pastor or priest, careful, prayerful consideration of how he represents himself along with his church should be a priority. If the principles of which the Bible speaks about are compromised or the kingdom of God is falsely represented, I would expect that much greater judgment is to follow.
(2nd Peter 2:1-3) But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bout them – bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.
(Mark 12:38-40) As He taught Jesus said “ Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted in the marketplaces, (39) and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at the banquets (40) They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayer. Such men will be punished most severely.”
(Matthew 23:2-3) The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit on Moses seat. So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.
(5) Everything they do is done for men to see.
(Matthew 23:13) Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.
(Matthew 23:15) Woe to you teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice the son of hell as you are.
(Matthew 23:16) Woe to you blind guides!
(Matthew 23:23-24) Woe to you teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices – mint, dill, and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law – justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. (24) You blind guides.
(Matthew 23:25-26) Woe to you teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self – indulgence. Blind Pharisees! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.
By Cheryl Sayegh
05/17/08
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