Rotten Fruit & Itchy Ears: The Real Pandemic Infecting The American Christian Church

I think we can all agree that the year 2020 is a weird time to be a person. I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve said that.

2020 has felt like an earthquake opening up chasms. (Sometimes literal earthquakes.) Shattering a landscape that was familiar. Revealing all the layers of mess and division that existed under the surface. Bubbling, molten anger and fear.

If being alive is weird now, being a Christian is even weirder. The very people called to be peacemakers. The very people called not to fear. The very people called to unity are fractured and divided. Each a chief of their own tribe at war against all the other tribes. Unwilling to bend or collaborate or listen. Grasping for power.

The things the world should recognize us by:

Love
Compassion
Patience
Faithfulness
Joy
Peace
Kindness
Gentleness
Self control

..the very things that should distinguish us, are vanishing from sight. And it is breaking my heart.

I’m seeing something happen in the church, something that’s happening to pastors that I want to reveal.

As a pastor’s wife, here’s what I see:
* People are being discipled by things/voices that have not earned the privilege to disciple them.
* Christians are being discipled by things and people that do not care for them or have their best interest at heart.
* Christians are being discipled by people who do not even know Jesus.

Why are we allowing this to happen? It caters right to our fears and insecurities and sinful desires.

2 Tim 4:3 has come to mind over and over again throughout the last several years. “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.”

How can we put more trust in something on the internet or saw on a biased news source than in the people God placed in leadership in their very own living, breathing community? I’m not calling people to put blind trust in their pastors, not at all. Discernment and wisdom are important. Not all pastors are worth following. (That’s a whole other post for someone else to write. In fact, they already exist.) BUT what I’m seeing is a considerable lack of trust happening here.

Brothers and Sisters: what are you letting disciple you?  A political party or Twitter feed or YouTube channel? Does that discipler love and know you?

Will you allow the pastors God has placed in your very own church community the opportunity to teach you? To challenge you? To lead you in the way of Jesus? Then approach your interactions with those God has placed in leadership with humility, love, and compassion.

People of Jesus: the world knows we are disciples of something. May they clearly see the one whom we follow. May they see our love. May they see the fruits of the Spirit. May they see Jesus.

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:35

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Gal 5:22-23

By guest author Grace Cramer

https://gracecramer.wixsite.com/mysite

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Mary Pat Johns
3 years ago

What a great message! Loved the emphasis on getting back to following the One who loved us from the beginning.

Sherry Shindelar
Sherry Shindelar
3 years ago

Thank you for sharing this important message. I pray for healing for the heart of the church, and that people may see Jesus more and more in my life.

Patricia M Gonzales
3 years ago

Now more than ever, we need to stand up in the midst of the crowd and be the light in a dark and dying world. We need to show our family, friends, neighbors, church family, co-workers, and strangers that we put our trust in the living God and His son Jesus Christ! Thank you for sharing this truth with us, Grace. Amre, thank you for hosting Grace today.

Kathy McKinsey
3 years ago

Excellent reminders!:)

Pam Young
Pam Young
3 years ago

Thank you Erma. Happy Thanksgiving to you and Bert.

Good article. A lot of truth in what she is sharing. A lot at stake in our nation. Important for me to pay attention.

I am grateful God says “My Will will be done”.

Hugs,
Pam

Dave
Dave
3 years ago

Yes, indeed.

A pastor mingles in the pasture with the flock.

S/he does not tweet from a distant city.

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