Pastor's Corner

Dr. Adrian Rogers was asked: "how do you deal with criticism?"
and he responded by saying: "I would say: Now Jesus, do you see what that person said? And, Jesus, I'm going to tell You, You're the One that got me into this trouble. Without You I wouldn't have people saying things like that; it's because of you, Jesus, and so, Jesus, I thank You that they can see enough in me, that I can be counted worthy, that this is for Your sake. Now Lord, I give You this as an offering. They have given me the privilege of offering to Jesus a sweet offering. Lord, this is for You. Here Jesus. Thank You."

Jesus has said that whatever we do to the least of these, we have done it unto him.

A GOOD, POSITIVE, ENCOURAGING word is what is needed in our congregation. If we disagree, fine, but how we disagree is of the utmost importance.

I say all the time that "Worship" is "Giving"; giving whatever you have to the Lord when you come to worship.

If you say something harsh about someone and they in turn give it to the Lord, where does that leave you?

When we can rightly :assume that most of those within a church are regenerated and that they are committed to the church, then the New Testament image of the church as a body and as a family can become a living vital reality.
In His goodness, God has called us to live out the Christian life together. In being part of a church I have grown as a Christian because of God’s work through my brothers and sisters. I think that’s normal. I don’t think that’s meant to be unusal. Tod intends to work on us by His Spirit through each other. Relationships imply commitment in the world; surely they imply no less in the church.
In the third commandment (Ex. 20:7; Deut. 5:11) God warned His people not to take His name in vain. By this He does not mean just avoiding profanity. More than that, He is saying, “Don’t take My name upon yourself, don’t claim to be My follower if you’re not going to live like one of Mine.” That, no less than profanity, would be taking God’s name in vain.
That command is for us as a church as well. Many churches today mistake selfish gain for spiritual growth. We mistake mere excitement for true worship. We treasure worldly acceptance rather than living in a way that will incur worldly opposition (see 2 Tim. 3:2). Regardless of their statistical profiles, too many churches today seem unconcerned about the very biblical marks that should distinguish a vital, growing church.
The health of the church should be the concern of all Christians, because it does involve the spiritual life of everyone who is a Christian and a member of a church, especially of those called to be leaders in the church. Our churches are to display the glorious Gospel of God to His creation in an amazing variety by all the different personalities. He puts in the church and the ways He allows them to relate together and to show His glory. That’s what we’re called to - - we’re called to display God and His character in a glorious way to His Creation (Eph. 3:10). We are to bring Him glory by our lives together.

and
The Pastoral Leadership Team
Bivocational / Smaller Church Ministry Team Strategist
Louisiana Baptist Convention
P.O. Box 311, Alexandria, La. 71309-0311
A Cooperative Program Ministry of Encouragement
wgm@bivocational.org	<---------->	E-mail Home Office
Gary.Mitchell@lbc.org		E-mail Baptist Building
318-448-3402 ext. 293		Baptist Building
318-449-4293		Office Directline
800-622-6549 ext. 293		Baptist Building (La. only)
337-457-7694		Hm. Office
318-446-3844		Cell Phone
www.lbc.org		LBC website
www.lbc-bivo.org		Personal website

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