Kettle
Little One,
When I told you on your walk to re-engage fully and pray, what do you think I meant?
Well, when You told me that, You were talking to me about my recovery community. I did re-engage, wore my shirts and prayed but then You recently released me from that ministry, at least for now, so I’m not really sure what that means for me now? Are You wanting me to involve myself with the recovery group again?
Not now.
What is the verse that just came to mind?
John 17:14-16, “I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.”
What is the next one you were thinking of?
John 15:19, “If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.”
Well, those aren’t exactly encouraging verses to be considering when you’re talking about re-engaging… honestly, I don’t know what You’re trying to accomplish with this conversation.
I’m tired and want to get back to sleep so I’d love it if You would just tell me what You want and I’ll commit to do that. Your way is always better than mine.
My children are disengaged with the world around them, judging it harshly while simultaneously living lives that look very much like the world they are standing in judgment of.
My children are rejecting people in the world rather than LOVING them with divine LOVE. They are also rejecting and judging the body rather than LOVING each other with divine LOVE.
Tell Me about the pastor you spoke with yesterday.
Someone asked if I had talked to their pastor. They said he could really use the encouragement. It was one of the pastors I had not been able to reach yet.
She gave me his personal number and we were finally able to talk. She told me he had preached doctrine he believes to be true and it caused a major rift in the congregation and people who were very active in the church left.
When I called him, we talked about the book and arranged a time for me to bring it by. I felt to address what I knew about what was going on. I asked him about it and he sounded so discouraged and hurt.
The Spirit welled up in me and You had words of encouragement for him. You talked about it being okay if people left purely because of offense due to the Word. That if he honored You in the delivery of the Word, that you would provide for the needs of the congregation even if some people left.
It’s the first time I felt prompted to share any letters with a pastor. I sent him the spiritual battle letter, don’t sit down and offense.
Kettle.
What do you mean?
I mean, I know when I say that to my family, I’m saying, “That’s like the kettle calling the pot black” or, “That’s hypocritical of you.”
Oh, I know what you’re talking about. I’ve been standing in judgment and withdrawing emotionally.
Yes. Re-engage fully and pray.
You’re not talking about the recovery community, are You?
No, I’m not. Did you know that you can be fully engaged in the world I placed you in, LOVE like Christ, AND not do as others are doing… WITHOUT saying a word about where others are missing it?
What do You mean?
Lead by example, Little One. Live the LOVE you desire to see in your world. Rather than pointing out where those around you are missing the mark, hit the bullseye with every arrow, a master marksman. When you stand in judgment, you miss the mark.
You honor the body with your words but your heart still harbors judgment. You cannot LOVE and judge simultaneously. You can LOVE and bring offense to Me simultaneously, but you cannot LOVE and judge.
How do I live out that difference because as You say it, that feels very nuanced?
Have you shared your offense with others?
Yes.
You’re causing division.
When people come to me asking if what is being said in a service is accurate Biblically and I feel convicted it is not, what should I say?
What have you been saying?
I’ve said, “I agree with you about that. Let’s pray about it.” Is that wrong?
What did you tell the woman who brought her concerns to you about people living in certain lifestyles of sin being permitted to serve at church?
I asked, “What’s worse, someone living with their boyfriend when they’re not married or living in the lifestyle you’re concerned about?” She thought and said, “they are both wrong.”
I asked, “what’s worse, going home and getting drunk every night or living the lifestyle you’re concerned about?” She said, “they are both wrong.”
I asked, “what’s worse, lying to get out of a speeding ticket or living the lifestyle you’re concerned about?” She again answered, “they’re both wrong.”
I explained that in our society we judge sin on a scale and we treat certain lifestyle sins, especially those that are more visible as worse than others. Some people are living blatant unrepentant lives of sin, but what they are doing is in secret, like viewing pornography or cheating on taxes. Because it’s not visible, they aren’t judged.
I asked her, “considering our conversation, are you willing to pick up a stone and throw it?”
I said, “If we were to remove everyone who is living in blatant, unrepentant sin from Hope teams, we would no longer have a church.”
She agreed and I think it shifted her heart about the people she was referring to.
People bring other concerns to me and I share those concerns. I don’t want to lie and pretend they aren’t issues. I don’t want to gossip or further cause division either. How do I handle those conversations?
What did your ministry partner say to you recently about one of your concerns?
She said, “You have been redeemed from having an opinion.”
Little One, if you are not willing to take a place of authority within the body and thus be spiritually held accountable for the direction of the church, you have been redeemed from having an opinion.
You have NOT been redeemed from bringing those concerns to Me. I only act where I am invited. Having carnal conversations with people in the community about your opinions of the sermons is NOT contributing to the unity within the body.
Okay, well, I know I’m supposed to talk to You about it, but what about when people come TO ME to talk about it? What about when they ask my opinion about it?
You can give a Scripture if you want and suggest they prayerfully read that Scripture and seek Me for answers. You can ask them if they have brought their concerns to Me. They don’t need to know that you share that concern for you to direct them and their questions to Me.
If they are annoyed by being directed back to Me and My word for answers, they were not looking for Truth but looking for someone willing to gossip. ALL of the answers are in My Word and I reward those who diligently seek Me. I will be found by those who diligently seek Me.
If you direct others to bring their concerns to Me and, without telling another soul - not even ministry partners or those you disciple about your concerns - you bring them only to Me… do you not think I am fully capable of making any corrections that need to be made within the body?
If your knee is bothering you, you go to the doctor, have him look at your knee. and you let HIM decide how to handle the pain to resolve it.
I AM the GREAT PHYSICIAN. I am fully capable of treating ANY and ALL ailments within the body but those ailments MUST be brought directly to Me.
When you gossip or take matters into your own hands, it’s like the dad in the movie, “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” who thinks Windex is the solution for everything. It makes him look ignorant - and gossip does the same for you.
I trust this will be the last time I need to talk to you about this?
Yes, I think so. I LOVE You.
LOVE you too, Little One.
Back to bed,
Daddy
Matthew 23:27-28