I Wonder...

It's a long, unedited one... Sorry, but it's been a minute since I blog'd. Enjoy & Comment.

Where to start? Ok, so… I was on FB reading my news feed and one of my friends posted a post regarding Pastor Jamal Bryant. It dealt with him taking his daughter to the Beyonce concert. Many people voiced their thoughts as comments and I wanted to respond as well. However, I am an individual that likes to talk… a lot. Well, at least when it comes to expressing my thoughts about controversial topics.  My point, I am blogging because a simple comment would not suffice my mind process. Anyways, I decided to go look on Pastor JB’s page to read the thoughts of others. I got tired of reading. LOL. This is what I gathered from the comments I read.

Some “Christians” believed that he was wrong for going because it was not the Christian thing to do. Many believed that it showed compromise and bad decision making as a renowned leader. Some of these same Christians felt as if he was in error because he went to a concert of a “satan worshipper”.. Beyonce. Sorry, I just laughed a little with that last statement. But anyways, many proclaimed Christians did not agree with the whole idea of the concert.

On the other hand, there were many “Christians” that believed there was no wrong in him attending the event with his daughter to celebrate her sweet 16. They felt that he was just being a father and spending time with his daughter. #TurnUp Pastor JB, as a poster said… Lol. But anyways, after I read as much as I could without getting tired of the nonsense, I calculated that more Christians were against his actions than those who were okay with it.

Here is my stance:

Sometimes, we as a people really do not think before we speak. We feel like we have the right to say whatever because we are saved and we have holiness printed on our lives. However, being slow to speak should be a wisdom nugget some of us Christians need to pick up. Also, in my opinion… let me restate that again: In My Opinion… there are a lot of us Christians that feel like we got the EXCLUSIVE on the Holy Ghost and the way God wants things done. My friends, that is the wrong answer; it is a dangerous thing.

Do I feel like he was wrong for going? That’s personal. Haha. I am not going to speak on that right now. I am blogging just to bring some awareness to how we sometimes speak on things not realizing we have double standards. I did a blog on this previously; feel free to read my archives. Anyways, to the meat of my blog…. My stance.

I do not know if the man of God prayed about going to the concert nor do I know if God okay’d it. I do not believe he is less of a Christian because he attended. We all fall short of the glory of God every day. NO MAN is without sin. So, if he did go and it was wrong, I wonder how many of the opposed “Christians” prayed for the man of God before they spoke on the issue. Furthermore, the word says: Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Hmm, I wonder how many of us Christians actually took that approach before we gave our thoughts?

Now, on the double standard.

I wonder how many of the same opposed Christians have watched movies that do not glorify God. I ponder on how many TV show series some of them may watch that promote everything but God. Shall I mention Scandal, Being Mary Jane, Friends, Real Housewives of wherever… I wonder how many people watch these shows that opposed his actions? I know there are a lot of actors/actresses that does not believe in God, but I wonder if we hold the same standard when it comes to what we watch in our spare time.

Ok, off TV… let’s talk about other facets of worldly entertainment. What about the MLB, NFL, NBA, MLS, etc. I wonder how many of us watch athletes that do not promote God in any way for entertainment. How many championship series or games have we watched? Ok, off that… we can transition into the medical field. How many of us take our children to see doctors that do not believe in God. Let’s be honest, there are a lot of doctors that do not believe in Jehovah. Yet, we pay co-pays & insurance to their practices to make sure our children and ourselves stay in healthy states. Why not just quote a scripture and never see a doctor? I mean, the word of God says we are healed; yet we see other people who are of this world to help aid in remedies for physical relief.

But off that… I would love to get on the stereotype subject many Christians face. FOOD. Lol. How many restaurants do we eat at that do not promote Godly things? I mean, shall all Christians avoid restaurants that are not Chic-Fil-A? What about the clothes that we wear? How many gay designer bags do some Christian women and men (eek) have in their closets. How many pair of shoes belongs to designers that do not believe in God? Who rocks that designer? I wonder if some of these opposed Christians looked at these things before they posted their thoughts.

Basically, I am just saying… it is nothing wrong to believe what you believe, but make sure you are not living in a double standard Christianity. Do not conform your convictions to your own convenience. Ask yourself, as I am asking myself… am I any different than Pastor Jamal Bryant when it comes to choosing ways to celebrate leisure time in my life? Be honest with yourself. I know for myself, I am not. I will listen to a secular song and watch a TV series that probably has nothing to do with holiness. I will let them go as God tells me to. Some things I can no longer listen to or watch because of Thus Saith The Lord. Some things He has not convicted me of yet. God knows the heart of every man and He knows how to convict His people.

Yes, I know he pastors a mega church. What does that say to his members? I don’t know. I am not under his leadership, but if I were… I would say it showed me that he understands how to live. He is a father first… not a pastor. That is the true order. I understand the conflict of us being separate from the world and not endorsing the devil, but I also understand that you have to be in it. I am not saying compromise to touch worldly people, but understand the aspects of humanity with wisdom so that you can be touched.

We all are called to represent Christ, front line or behind the scenes. Just because we do not have a mega ministry or a little popularity does not mean we should hold our standards of living righteously any different. I am saying this because I honestly wonder how many of the opposed people feel like: Man, Scandal is just a TV show; that’s different. Taco Bell is cheap and we have to eat. It’s just a Michael Kors bag. Shoot, Kevin Hart is funny. I like watching movies with Denzel Washington. What, Act Like A Lady; Think Like A Man …that’s the truth. Hangover is just crazy comedy. My point: All these things promote some form of message that is contrary to what we stand for. Adultery, Lust, Lewdness, Drunkenness, etc. are just a few to name.

So, I say… before we start bashing the man of God for an event he choose to celebrate his daughters sweet 16, make sure we are not doing the same thing in our own lives. It is the principle behind the matter, not the situation.  Yes, he could have gone to a conference or to a gospel concert… but let’s be real: there are some things to enjoy that are not all about religion. if you watched TBN or the Word Network all day for the rest of your life, mad respect to you. But that is not I and I will not do that unless God told me to.

I think if we focus on loving one another more and quit bashing each other when someone errors, we will be able to show the world what it means to be ye separate. This walk is about love, not our philosophies and vain traditions. Love the man of God. Pray for him if you feel he was in error. I wonder how many people actually lifted him up to give him a word from God and not a word from their own convictions. THERE IS A BIG DIFFERENCE.

Edification: If we as a Body would lock in to an undying world as much as we locked into Pastor Jamal Bryant’s actions, we probably would’ve saved half of FB and twitter. Again, I wonder… I wonder how many of the ‘opposed and for’ Christians have put just as much energy into spreading the gospel to people outside of the church. How many have actually ministered to someone they do not know? Church, we have to love one another and pray for those who are in error. However, be careful that your personal convictions does not determine if someone should be on trial by their actions. Allow God to tell you in prayer when to speak on any man or woman of God and do it in order. You go to them first. He still is a man that God called and because of that, I refuse to put my mouth on him. I’ll let God do what He does best when it comes to His children… Love, correct, and uplift them.

To end: Love one another. Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

The plan of salvation is available (always) if you want to be saved; it is at the top of this page. If you want Jesus to be THE Lord of your life, pray it with sincerity and allow God to change your life and build your morals in Truth. Prayer request are always welcome! We are here to set the captive free through His grace. God Bless You All and please respond. Fellowship is awesome, not debating. LOL.

Servant Hood vs. Release pt. II

Part 2 Starts Here: John 2:1-11

Jesus’ first miracle was turning water into wine. At this event, Jesus calls his mother woman. This is not the only instance where Jesus calls his mother woman. He also calls her woman in John 19:26 (Woman, behold your son). <-- He was speaking to Mary from the cross.

…. From this point on, my blog will focus on my revelation from God. I say this because this is my personal conviction and it may not adhere to what you believe. Anyways, let’s go -->

When Jesus called Mary woman, I do not believe He disrespected his mother. Woman was like saying madam. Likewise, Jesus calls many women in the bible, woman. This does not mean he degraded who they were. The language back in the day was way different than what it is now. In my rationalizing, I believe that Jesus called Mary mother as He was growing up. I don’t believe that He called her woman all His life. I believe this because it was at the wedding that the term “woman” was first introduced when He spoke of His mother.

I also believe that Jesus served His mother as He grew up. He obeyed and did what she required of Him. He probably took out the trash, killed a couple of chickens.. lol (jk), labored where she asked Him, and etc. He was perfect, he obeyed His mother in the Lord for it was right and He honored both His father and mother. He was the word. He did it right.

So, this is where I am going with this:

Mary understood she was Jesus’ mother. She knew she had a son that loved her and would obey her words. She knew who He was and the power that He possessed. After all, she mentioned the circumstance to Him (the failing of the wine or the lack of the wine). She also told the servants to do whatsoever He would have them to do. She had expectancy for a miracle to be performed.

Now, I believe Mary got caught up in motherhood at this point. I do not believe she had a great focus on the “timing” for Jesus to reveal His glory. I believe this because Jesus says, “mine hour is not yet come”. In this same verse, He says, “Woman, what have I to do with thee? The verse reads like this :: Woman, what have I to do with thee? Mine hour is not yet come.

Jesus calls his mother woman because Mary must not think of Him as her son only. He is the Messiah and He has a work to fulfill. The revelation of who He is, The Son of God, must be revealed at the perfect time.

Now, he turned the water into wine. He still served his mother, but He had to show the release of obligation by calling her woman. Jesus understood that He was her son, but He also understood who He was and what His purpose was. The distinction and release had to be made known to the woman He grew up serving all his life.

Just like with ministry, spiritual parents cannot be so caught up on the parenthood aspect of things that they forget to pay attention to who they are actually raising. Likewise, spiritual children must be able to separate themselves for the purpose when it is appropriate. Jesus did not call her mother, but He HAD to show the separation.

We see this with parents and their children. Parents are to train up a child in the way that he/she should go. They are to release them to back to God for His purpose. But sometimes parents find it hard to let go of their children because of the investment they put into their lives. Some fear that their children will not make it in the world. Some parents are so attached to their children that they do not believe anyone else will have their best interest in mind. Some parents do not want to let go of their children because they build their lives and identity around them. The problem in all of this is that parents can miss seeing who their child was created to be because they only see who they are in their world.

Ministry leaders must look beyond who their spiritual children are in ‘their’ world and recognize who they are in ‘this’ world. You are still mom and dad when your child is living the life they were created to, even if you are not the actively involved in it. (Speaking about members leaving ministries and establishing personal ministries b/c God called them to).

Moving along… if you read the previous blog, this part will not seem foreign to you:

The problem I faced, with the ministries I attended, was … not being able to separate when the purpose called for it. I felt like this: … because I was a spiritual daughter, I had no right to say “woman” to my spiritual parents. As a result, I never identified my purpose and myself appropriately. My identity was based on who they trained me to be. The identity that said I was to serve at a ministry and not establish a separate ministry. An identity that said I was their intercessor, leader, and/or member. But the truth is, I am God’s intercessor/creation. But I was so stuck on serving my ministry that I could not recognize who He was training me outside of our world (My spiritual leaders and myself).

I had to learn how to say “woman” when it came to who I was. I had to learn how to walk in the separation of man’s ministry vs. God’s ministry. I still had/have to serve, but there must be an identification of you are outside of spiritual leaders/parents.

Let’s go to the next example: Garden of Gethsemane. Matthew 26:36-46.

Jesus takes His disciples with Him to the Garden of Gethsemane and tells them to sit here and pray. Jesus is fully aware that His hour has come to complete His purpose on earth. Here is a brief description of the text.

Jesus goes to pray. He returns to the disciples and He sees that they are all asleep. He asks them if they could keep watch with him for one hour. Jesus goes back and prays more. He then returns to His disciples a 2nd time; the disciples are still sleeping. He left them and went back to pray. The 3rd time He returned to His disciples, He said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting…?”

Where am I going with this?

The disciples followed Jesus and served Him in ministry. They were released and taught by Him. More importantly, they were served by Jesus.

When it came to completing His purpose on earth, it was His cross to bear. He had to pray His flesh dead. The disciples were asleep. It was not their responsibility to make sure Jesus went to the cross. It was up to Him to complete His purpose. He could not rely on the people serving Him. If He had, all of mankind would be destined for hell. The disciples were knocked out and they did not understand the urgency of the moment. They did not understand the magnitude of His purpose, otherwise… they probably would have been praying and not sleeping.

Here is what I am saying: do not expect people that serve you to fulfill your purpose. It is something you must do on your own. It is no one’s responsibility to fulfill your call or bring your vision to pass. We give others that serve us things to do that will assist in our ministries, but in the end… it is your job to fulfill your purpose.

Jesus understood that. He went back to pray 3 times. He had to get Himself ready because the disciples could not help Him at that time. He had to remember why He came down to earth in the first place, to be our propitiation for sin.

This leads me to the leaders of ministries.

There are servants & members in your congregation that you disciple. Some have grown into mature Christians and powerful leaders. There are some who will remain stagnant and some that will never assist you in bringing your vision to past.

As a leader, it is a heart’s desire to have people invest in your life and ministry like you have done in theirs. It’s the reciprocity factor that we all look forward to. But, the truth is… not all people you pour into will give you something back. This is where you must continue to go back to the Garden and keep praying until you accomplish the work you were sent to do. (Just like Jesus did with the disciples).

If they never help, it is still your responsibility to complete the call. It is a cross that you must bear. You cannot give up if your congregation, or whoever, chooses not to assist you with completing the vision/purpose. God will give you the strength and ability to accomplish the call. He did that with Jesus. It is God that gave Jesus the peace to walk out of the Garden of Gethsemane for mankind.

The disciples did not help, they were all asleep. It does not mean that they did not love Him or serve Him in ministry. They did and they did works right along with Him, but for this particular purpose (taking His cross)… Jesus had to do it on His on. They did not pray Him through it, they were asleep. He prayed Himself through it. This should be encouragement to leaders that feel like they have no help. YOU CAN PRAY YOURSELF OUT OF THE GARDEN and ACCOMPLISH THE PURPOSE… even when the people you have taught is asleep. Be encouraged and keep pressing.

I’m going to end the blog with this: Servant hood is a must in the Body of Christ. However, one cannot be so focused on serving ministers and ministries that he/she forgets to serve God. We are more than someone’s protégé; we are God’s creation first. We were created to serve Him and accomplish the tasks He sent us to do. You have to identify yourself outside of leaders; you must know who you are in God and why you are here. There has to be a release.

Exhortation In Truth: To the world (and some Christians), it may seem disrespectful to identify the separation between leadership and servant hood, but there has to be a point where you begin to walk in the purpose you were created for. Release does not mean servant hood becomes void, it simply means that what you are called to do is no longer restrained. Do not get my words twisted... in no way am I saying one should abandon servant hood to ministry/leaders; I am simply saying, do not be so caught up in ministry that you forget to fulfill the GOD ordained purpose for your life. Identify who you are like Jesus did with His mother. Do not continue to let people and churches define and govern who you are and what you do for the Kingdom. Allow God to define and govern you.... I guarantee that servant hood, respect for leadership, and humility will flow appropriately.

Figuratively Speaking: There are many Juanita Bynums, TD Jakes, Joyce Meyers, Lester Sumralls, Billy Grahams, etc. I believe ‘one’ reason we do not see them in abundance is because we never identify who God created us to be on this earth. We sit in church and allow it to label us and not God. Begin to ask God, Who Am I really? Why am I created… in this dispensation? What is it that I am supposed to do that no one else can do?

To end, Heavenly Father, I pray that you will give each individual that is reading this the wisdom to walk in unity with the Body while they fulfill the personal call you gave them accomplish. I decree that they will not walk in division, but will walk in agreement with the Body of Christ… serving one God, You.. El Elyon. Open their eyes to see who You created them to be and let the purpose You have given them start to manifest with clarity from this moment on. Set fire to their feet to run the course you have set before them with no hindrances. Sever ungodly ties that hinders your Kindgom work. These things I ask and decree in Jesus name. Be Glorified, Amen.

Be encouraged and be who you were created to be by God, not mankind. Luff yahz!

The plan of salvation is available (always) if you want to be saved; it is at the top of this page. If you want Jesus to be THE Lord of your life, pray it with sincerity and allow God to change your life and build your morals in Truth. Prayer request are always welcome! We are here to set the captive free through His grace. God Bless You All and please respond. Fellowship is awesome, not debating. LOL.