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Breath

October 6, 2011 by Fritz

And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. — Genesis 1:2

Throughout the Bible, in both Old and New Testaments, in both Hebrew and Greek languages, the word translated “Spirit” is the same used for Breath and Wind. Why?

Part of the answer, I believe, is that wind, breath, spirit is unseen and uncontrolled. It can be felt on our skin, it can be heard blowing through the trees and tall grass, we even try to track it with radar, but it goes where ever it goes without or control, approval, or direction.

God’s spirit is like that and so are his followers.

The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit — John 3:8

He moves and we benefit. We pray for it, wait for it, work with it or against it, but we don’t control it, and we don’t control those following him.

— fritz@langgang.com

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Hey, Who’s In Charge Here?!

October 5, 2011 by Fritz

Earlier I wrote … to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves being in charge, denigrates my counsel … he not only refuses hospitality … but tries to stop others … Worse yet … he throws them out. Friend, don’t go along with evil. Model the good. The person who does good does God’s work. — 3 John 1:9-12

John, the most loving apostle of all, had some difficulty with a church member. Some people, having little to no influence anywhere else, see the church as the place they can throw their weight around.

Real life examples:

  • A wealthy parishioner tells a young pastor to quit preaching on one topic or another (See Jim Martin’s post, “Called or Just Employed”)
  • Years ago a parishioner pulled me aside to brag how he gave the sound system to the church and if I ever wanted to adjust anything let him know because he had the key
  • Two years ago the leader of a major denomination calls personal salvation a heresy and takes church property away from congregations who won’t submit to her authority (See article here)

But God and his people, the Church, move on and still meet — sometimes in homes, sometimes in rented buildings, sometimes even on church property where others dispute.

Jesus is committed to individual members of His Church wherever they are. He is still changing lives.

— fritz@langgang.com
Also see: Trouble In Church – October 4, 2011

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Trouble In Church

October 4, 2011 by Fritz

The apostle Paul has a disturbing word to those who think that Church should be perfect!

For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. — 1st Corinthians 11:18-19

Some stay away from church because of all the hypocrites and cliques– but they don’t let hypocrites and cliques keep them from ball games, work, or the various clubs and groups they like.

Sure there are factions and hypocrites in church, the Bible says it must be that way to help us more easily pick out genuine believers — the ones who act like Jesus!

— fritz@langgang.com

Posted in Church, Conflict, hypocrites | Tagged | Leave a Comment »

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