Today,
the reply is on the differences between divine and human
qualifications for serving GOD through Jesus Christ. In the same way
many refuse to label gossip, innuendo, lying, and slander as the work
of the devil, and are willing to view verbal aggression as acceptable
among mankind, many believers want to avoid a conclusion that divorce
is a sin, or that social behavior is a genuine indicator of ones
spiritual condition. Yet, within the church, it may not be denied
that patterns of behavior emerge in keeping with having spirit
content from the makeup of divinity. Included are gradual growth,
permanent change, learning, repentance, and stability. Multiple
incidents that display forswearing commitment, immaturity, breach of
promise, and self-contradiction do not encourage mutual respect and
trust. Even when considering the recent events in government
hearings regarding the Supreme Court, the sacred principles and
process provided by Jesus Christ should be in effect, for only they
continue to mark and set apart those who belong to the Lord as his
disciples and followers. The goals to comfort, heal, and show
compassion are rarely achieved by complaining, continuing accusations
from ones past, law enforcement investigations, or political
manipulation that emerge from the flesh. Fitness to serve in the
divine priesthood (we say, being ceremonially clean; purity) should
appear among all those receiving atonement and sharing themselves as
living sacrifices where Jesus Christ is named as High Priest. The
fighter in the “Yahoo! Answers” Religion and Spirituality public
forum who uses the ID “Patty” (Level 1 with 95 points, a member
since October 01, 2018) posted the following:
An
assistant pastor has been divorced 2 times. Is single at this time.
Is he qualified to hold this position in the church?
THE
GOLDEN ARROW: If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are
ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their
part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. But let
none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer,
or as a busybody in other men’s
matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be
ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. For the time is
come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first
begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel
of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the
ungodly and the sinner appear? Wherefore let them that suffer
according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him
in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator. (1st Peter 4:
14-19, King James Version, KJV)
THE
DOUBLE DAGGER: Bible Definitions Of Sin (09/30/2018); Those Apt To
Teach? (06/20/2018); Standards For Godly Behavior (02/01/2018);
Caution! Work In Progress (10/19/2017); All Have Come Short
(10/11/2017); Sanctify Yourselves for Tomorrow (05/07/2017); Temporal
and Eternal Judgment (02/15/2017); Servants To The Body? (01/17/2017)
“Patty”,
because the operations and process of the church must be different
from that for the World, among many Christian believers, your
question will be understood as asking “Is the assistant pastor
faithful (i.e., filled with the Holy Spirit)?” There is a danger
when judging those who seem to be sent by GOD and to be the Lord’s
anointed (e.g., clergy; evangelists; prophets) that GOD will be
unjustly accused. On surface, we should expect that human behavior
focusing on things carnal, material, secular, and social will not be
same as that expressing accountability, commitment, and devotion to
GOD. In the church, such elements as forbearance, forgiveness,
longsuffering, lovingkindness, reverence, wisdom, and wrath against
sin are to be understood as making visible the character, makeup, and
substance of divinity; and are to routinely appear within those who
are born again as tools and vessels of the “active presence”
whom we honor as our GOD. Discerning faith and the other inseparable
aspects imparted to indwell mankind from the divine fullness (we say,
the Godhead; the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit) is a sacred
process that pertains to being in accord, acknowledgment, “oneness”
without “sameness,” recognition, and the display of
godliness.
Behavior
in marriage includes the expression of appetite (e.g., hunger,
thirst, sexual cravings) and sensation (e.g., hearing, seeing,
tasting, touching) along with communicating emotion/mind (e.g.,
anger, fantasy, fear, recall). Only where marriage acknowledges a
joining to divinity (we say, holy matrimony; sacred union; the two
become one flesh, and GOD is the other) are we correct to expect to
see the expressions of rebirth that include completeness, maturity,
obedience to divine law, sacred practice (we say, sacraments),
sobriety, and unselfish service.
For
those existing as the church, the body of Christ on the earth,
ongoing judgment establishes the resolution of conflicts and the
settlement of disputes through the application of divine law. In
addition to impartiality, judgment must display balance, consistency,
mercy, restraint, and righteousness. Correction and restoration are
more the objectives of judgment than displaying disfavor or
punishment. As an aspect of revelation, judgment further proclaims
the personhood and sovereign will of divinity. Forgiveness may
respond to (yet does not cancel) the sanctions against sin that are
written within the law. Resurrection of the dead permits all to
appear before GOD in required living tribunals. Thus, touching
judgment, circumspection and discretion are to appear with openness
and thoroughness; the confidentiality and secrecy of confession and
private prayer may not appear. Consider again the following that
uses language from the Bible:
(1.)
Malachi 3: 13-18, King James Version (KJV): 13 Your words have
been stout against me, saith the LORD.
Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee? 14 Ye have
said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have
kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the
LORD
of hosts? 15 And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work
wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.
16 Then they that feared the LORD
spake often one to another: and the LORD
hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before
him for them that feared the LORD,
and that thought upon his name. 17 And they shall be mine, saith the
LORD
of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare
them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. 18 Then shall
ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between
him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.
(2.)
1st Corinthians 2: 9-15, KJV: 9 But as it is written,
Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart
of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit
searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11 For what man
knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him?
even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit
which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given
to us of God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which
man’s wisdom teacheth, but which
the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God:
for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them,
because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he that is spiritual
judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
(3.)
Matthew 18: 15-17, KJV: 15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass
against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone:
if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 16 But if he
will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the
mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 17
And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but
if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen
man and a publican.
There
is far more that should be said, correctly examined, and spiritually
apprehended. (For example, (4.) Matthew 5: 13, KJV: 13 Ye are the
salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith
shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be
cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.) Even so, I trust
this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE
BLACK PHOENIX
Washington,
DC
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