Get out the whip

I have always detested politics of any kind. I was elected President of an organization one time and it was the most miserable experience of my life. My wife and I worked extremely hard at no pay for an entire year for this organization. The results were splendid. We added more members during my term, had the largest convention, and raised more money in the history of the organization. You would think the membership would have been appreciative. Instead I received mean-spirited criticism almost from the time I took office until my term expired. That taught me a valuable lesson; I will never run for elective office again.

I don’t know what it is about people but we just cannot seem to get along. Look at this great country. We are divided right down the middle. In many instances it is not just good debate, it is vitriol. The extreme bitterness and hatred today is as bad as I’ve ever seen it in my 62 years.

One might think that churches might be above it all and a nice sanctuary in which we can collect our thoughts in peace and escape the angst, but alas churches are not immune. When I was young I was exposed to nasty church politics and I was so disgusted by it that I eventually turned from all religion and ultimately went on to become an atheist, in large part because of what I had experienced. Fortunately I came to know Jesus and realized that not everyone who claims to represent Him actually does.

I am often asked what religion I am. I answer that I am a Bible believing Christian who follows Jesus. I have read the Bible numerous times from cover to cover and I study it nearly every day of my life. I believe it to be the living word of God. The messages delivered at the churches that I attend must be consistent with my understanding of the Bible.

I have found Baptist ministers that preach the word and manage the church just like I would if I were an ordained minister. I have listened to Baptist ministers that do not preach the Bible as I understand it, nor do they manage the church according to biblical principles as I understand them. The same goes for other denominations.

Hmmm What to do? Find a Bible-believing-Bible-preaching church that preaches the word of God out of the Word of God, (the Holy Bible), and manages the church in like fashion and then support that minister with all your ability.

I have never seen where the Bible tells us to go to a Baptist church, Methodist, Episcopal, Catholic, or otherwise and personally I think denominations are overrated. Gathering together with other believers in fellowship gives us strength to battle satan. We should worship GOD at these times and not the church, the preacher, the denomination, Mary, prophets, or any human being. Try your best to worship the Lord in peace.

If you are having problems at church ask yourself, “What would Jesus do?” Keep in mind that Jesus was not hung up on religious protocol. He had utter contempt for the established religion of the day. He got angry and overturned the tables of the money changers and vendors that were setup in the temple and told them they had turned the temple into a den of thieves. At times Jesus preached in fields and sitting in boats instead of in the temple. This tells me that if we look hard enough we can find a place to worship God with other believers practically anywhere and not necessarily at some designated temple or church.

Wherever we worship, church should be all about Jesus Christ. If He is not the foundation, then it is time to move on, or possibly get out the whip and drive out the money-changers. (On second thought we might want to leave that chore to Jesus). Jesus wants us to love each other and to get along with each other. In as much as it is in our control we should strive to do just that.

1 Cor. 3:12
For no other foundation can anyone
lay than that which is laid,
which is Jesus Christ.