I received an article for the paper from Delbert Gray, Professor Emeritus of Louisville Bible College. Now, Mr. Gray is from the Pekin area, and he has on occasion sent things to the paper. I love what he has to say and enjoy the way he says it. This article was great, and while I don't want to spoil the entire read to you, I have to share this part with you...
Robert Moeller gives one of the most powerful insights.... "If I wanted to raise my children to be atheists, I wouldn't remove all the copies of the Bible from our home. Nor would I sit them down night after night and lecture them on the non-existence of God. I wouldn't even spend my time trying to have the motto, 'In God We Trust' removed from our coins."
"No, I would turn them into little atheists in a much more efficient fashion. I would just let them observe me consistently criticizing the pastor or another church member, refusing to go along with any decision of the leaders. I would allow them to witness us engaged in vicious gossip about the church leadership. Perhaps for good measure I would also hold a meeting of concerned members in my home to discuss the faults and sins of people in the church. Two or three years of such unloving behaviour and I could almost guarantee my children would never darken the doors of a church as adults."
Wow... when I read that I couldn't help but realize the damage that we can do to our children's chance for salvation just because we don't always see eye to eye with our leadership.
I hope that you will take the time to read this article in the October issue of the paper. I was blown away by what I found there. In the meantime... I loved this verse shared by Delbert...
Let your gentleness be evident to all. Philippians 4:5
5 comments:
Very well said.
wow we should put this in next months Christian caller and in the weekly bulletin it hits the nail on the head
But even when you dont see eye to eye with your church leadership, is it not ok to voice the concerns, as long as they are not done in a criticizing, rude and obnoxious manner?
WOW!!! Cant wait to read the whole article!
Amy, you will have to read the article for the "full version" but the author isn't suggesting that we become... "mind-numbed robots or zomblie-like, passive individuals" but that we something have to learn "humility in submission to authority. He also says that we should "discuss matters in private with the one in authority and not make a public spectacle of the issue." It is an interesting read!
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