Am i being condemned?

[Animelover93]

My pastor says he sees no repentance in my eyes and that I'm not bearing good fruit, so for those reasons he will not let me sing or play piano in church. He says I'm a spiritually dangerous person and a danger to his ministry. Yet I am changed. I'm not perfect and I sin and mess up. But he will not let me worship God through music because of the things I've done recently. But I asked God to forgive me. And I know God wants me to sing because he gave me a gift. And he commands us to sing but I'm not allowed because I used to do marijuana and because I told people about the way he has been doing me therefore I'm a danger to his ministry and can't sing. Am I overreacting or am I being condemned? I need advice

 

[AlexB23]

My pastor says he sees no repentance in my eyes and that I'm not bearing good fruit, so for those reasons he will not let me sing or play piano in church. He says I'm a spiritually dangerous person and a danger to his ministry. Yet I am changed. I'm not perfect and I sin and mess up. But he will not let me worship God through music because of the things I've done recently. But I asked God to forgive me. And I know God wants me to sing because he gave me a gift. And he commands us to sing but I'm not allowed because I used to do marijuana and because I told people about the way he has been doing me therefore I'm a danger to his ministry and can't sing. Am I overreacting or am I being condemned? I need advice

Your pastor is not a good pastor. He lacks forgiveness.

 

[Joseph G]

My pastor says he sees no repentance in my eyes and that I'm not bearing good fruit, so for those reasons he will not let me sing or play piano in church. He says I'm a spiritually dangerous person and a danger to his ministry. Yet I am changed. I'm not perfect and I sin and mess up. But he will not let me worship God through music because of the things I've done recently. But I asked God to forgive me. And I know God wants me to sing because he gave me a gift. And he commands us to sing but I'm not allowed because I used to do marijuana and because I told people about the way he has been doing me therefore I'm a danger to his ministry and can't sing. Am I overreacting or am I being condemned? I need advice

Hi Anime,

For clarification, have you received Jesus as your Lord and Savior, and are you aware of His Holy Spirit within you, leading you in all truth?

If so, since you say that you have asked God to forgive you, have you repented and turned away from any sins His Spirit has convicted you of? Have you asked forgiveness from whomever you may have sinned against?

If so, you have every assurance that you are indeed forgiven and have no need of gaining anyone's approval or judgement of your spiritual state - pastor or no.

If you do feel peace that you and God are thusly straight, it sounds to me that the only dangerous thing about you is his fear that you'll expose his sins against you! If you've confronted him and he has refused to repent himself, then he's not worthy of the moniker of "pastor". Nor spiritual leader. Strikes me as kinda squirrelly that he thinks he can discern your spiritual state by seeking "repentance in your eyes". Would love to hear his Scriptural support for that particular gift.

As for whether or not you are producing good fruit, do not pass go, go directly to the Father and ask Him to verify that you are. If you are willing to be thusly vulnerable to His examination, I guarantee you He will confirm and encourage you to keep on keeping on. He is delighted to answer anything we ask of Him if we are willing to believe.

One last question, does this pastor have the actual power to dictate whether you may sing and play piano in church? If so, and you feel the encouragement of the Holy Spirit to exercise that gift, it may be time to head for greener pastures.

Considering all these things, you can trust God with them all and His ability to guide you to stay or to go - either way just believe He will, because if you are suppressed from exercising His will, He'll just have to make the rocks cry out until that door is open again! *wink*

God bless!

 

[Ted-01]

My pastor says he sees no repentance in my eyes and that I'm not bearing good fruit, so for those reasons he will not let me sing or play piano in church. He says I'm a spiritually dangerous person and a danger to his ministry. Yet I am changed. I'm not perfect and I sin and mess up. But he will not let me worship God through music because of the things I've done recently. But I asked God to forgive me. And I know God wants me to sing because he gave me a gift. And he commands us to sing but I'm not allowed because I used to do marijuana and because I told people about the way he has been doing me therefore I'm a danger to his ministry and can't sing. Am I overreacting or am I being condemned? I need advice

Hi Animalover93, I'm sorry to hear that you're dealing with all that. I'm very glad that you're asking for advice... not that I think the internet is a great place for seeking advice, lol.

I would need more info on all the particulars in order to give anything close to something sound advice. Still, I would say that perhaps there's a little bit of both going on... being defensive on your part and being (overly?) reactive on his part. Perhaps seeking a middle ground would work? After all, seeking peace and restoration are things that we are called to strive for in the congregation.

So, you'd have to seek to meet with him and talk things out. I'm wondering about how recently it is that you have "done things recently", as you put it? Also, the type of sin might come into play... IDK. But having a recurring "sin" of smoking weed doesn't really seem be a thing that would affect your performance in a music ministry position, but I do understand his overall concern... his being certain that nobody is under the influence while at service or practice seems wise. But how is it that he knows that you smoked weed? I'm assuming that you were doing that in front of him.

I don't think that a pastor should just say those things without teaching one of his sheep how to get right with the body, but I'm not a pastor. Perhaps you could ask him how you can prove that you are trustworthy in his eyes? Also, the not showing fruit thing is an issue with me because some folks think that fruit should be visible sooner than I would... nevertheless, I would ask his views about that. That could be a sign of a critical and condemning nature. The "spiritually dangerous person bit is also a red flag to me... anyway, try to meet and talk with him. Work towards peace but be willing to walk away and find another congregation if he's not willing to teach his flock... as he's called to do. But don't condemn back.

 

[Unqualified]

Sin has consequences. That’s all.

 

[ozso]

My pastor says he sees no repentance in my eyes and that I'm not bearing good fruit, so for those reasons he will not let me sing or play piano in church. He says I'm a spiritually dangerous person and a danger to his ministry. Yet I am changed. I'm not perfect and I sin and mess up. But he will not let me worship God through music because of the things I've done recently. But I asked God to forgive me. And I know God wants me to sing because he gave me a gift. And he commands us to sing but I'm not allowed because I used to do marijuana and because I told people about the way he has been doing me therefore I'm a danger to his ministry and can't sing. Am I overreacting or am I being condemned? I need advice

Is it that he won't let you worship through singing, or that he won't let you lead worship? Because leading worship is a big responsibly and it's a position that's given through discretion. A church needs a worship leader that is beyond reproach. Certainly not someone who's perfect, because that's impossible, but at least someone who's lifestyle and reputation isn't controversial. Perhaps you have further to go before reaching that point.

 

[Bobber]

My pastor says he sees no repentance in my eyes

Repentance in your eyes? That's a weird way of saying something. Nobody can know by what they think they see in another's eyes.

and that I'm not bearing good fruit, so for those reasons he will not let me sing or play piano in church.

And as others have asked....sing how. Seems like you're talking about as a solist and to play piano.....well perhaps the way churches are set up he has a right to do that. If you're talking about singing as just a member fine.

He says I'm a spiritually dangerous person and a danger to his ministry.

You're not giving us no where enough information. I've never heard anyone say another is a danger to their ministry. You sure that's exactly what they said.

Yet I am changed. I'm not perfect and I sin and mess up. But he will not let me worship God through music because of the things I've done recently.

But again you've talked about playing piano......so what are the horrible things you've done. I side in with him to a point if is so very extreme the things you've done. You can sing as a member of the congregation fine.....but as a leaders on stage? And maybe in the future you can but they do have a right to see that there's a certain level of spiritual stability for him to show case you as a leader.

But I asked God to forgive me.

Yes and he will and does!

And I know God wants me to sing because he gave me a gift.

People do have gifts about a lot of things. God wants as well a basic commitment to moral standards to. One needs both things going for them. Doesn't mean one is perfect but what is the type of failures one is following into and is it a continual pattern?

Am I overreacting or am I being condemned? I need advice

Condemned? I don't think so but you don't give us enough information. Appreciate also that pastors try their best to be making right sound decisions.....sometimes it's not easy. know this though that God loves you but if you want leadership he doesn't turn over the keys of a car to a kid and I don't mean that offensively but for one who needs some maturity.

 

[Unqualified]

A year of being faithful and going to church is what we make people wait before going into ministry. I’ve done it. It’s fair. If you’ve changed this will be minimal.

 

[Richard T]

Hi, all I would add is that there are churches that will have more love, grace and power. Love believes the best in others. Does this pastor have care? Does the church offer forgiveness and teach that man's goodness means nothing and that we all only get to heaven on a the perfect grade of Jesus? Lastly, does the church have power, which are the gifts of the spirit, the ability to cast out devils and prayers with spiritual warfare that change some of the toughest sinners lives? That is the church I would look for. Imperfect still but at least having some of those characteristics, love being the most important. I do pray you can find such a church, that you can be taught and loved, that you can understand the important things of God, have fellowship and become the woman of God that He intends. Please do cast all your cares on Him, let Him know when you need help, when you are hurting, when you need a refuge. Remember too not to strive for changes in the flesh, that it takes a partnership with God to make those life changes. God bless you always and may you remember you are highly important to the kingdom and no person can ever take that away.

 

[Jo555]

My pastor says he sees no repentance in my eyes and that I'm not bearing good fruit, so for those reasons he will not let me sing or play piano in church. He says I'm a spiritually dangerous person and a danger to his ministry. Yet I am changed. I'm not perfect and I sin and mess up. But he will not let me worship God through music because of the things I've done recently. But I asked God to forgive me. And I know God wants me to sing because he gave me a gift. And he commands us to sing but I'm not allowed because I used to do marijuana and because I told people about the way he has been doing me therefore I'm a danger to his ministry and can't sing. Am I overreacting or am I being condemned? I need advice

 

[com7fy8]

You can look at 1 Timothy 3:1-10 > this shows the qualifications of a pastor or deacon. Even though someone is a Christian, still the person must meet these qualifications in order to be trusted to lead God's people.

Likewise, you can expect to be tested before you are trusted to lead the church with piano or song.

Your past before becoming a Christian, though, should not be considered . . . if you are clearly changing out of that bad behavior and other wrong things of personality - - - and learning how to relate in love and how God's love has us becoming emotionally >

"Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you." (Ephesians 4:31-32)

"Do all things without complaining and disputing," (Philippians 2:14)

"But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts." (Romans 13:14)

So, I say you should encourage him to examine you. And you, too, be sure to evaluate if and who you trust and how you trust each person. But I would say, that in examining someone, you do not evaluate only by what a person looks like!!

"'Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.'" (John 7:24)

I have seen how someone can be absolutely charming, intelligent, talk Jesus, be talented and beautiful. But then she might run through a string of men in bars, looking for a husband, be intoxicated at a church event, then marry someone and want a divorce within months. That is not a role model person who should be appearing in front of a church and managing ministries. Ones like this need to get with Jesus and learn how to be and how to love, how to do things in Jesus Christ's rest for our souls (Matthew 11:28-30, Colossians 3:15), and how to test reliably about who they trust and for what they are trusting each person . . . not just praising everyone for being so great, without evaluation.

So, not only should you be evaluated, but you need to learn how to evaluate. And learn to live in Jesus Christ's way of loving with rest for your soul >

"'Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.'" (Matthew 11:29)

And yes there will be people who do not know how to evaluate you and ones can be even abusive. You need to be ready to love them and forgive them, and do not automatically trust them just because you forgave them, but test >

"Test all things; hold fast what is good." (1 Thessalonians 5:21)

How we are spiritually and emotionally can be what we are spreading to help others to become the same way. This includes during your prayer, not only in public in church. So, maybe we could say, never mind if you are up front ministering, because also you are ministering while you are alone and praying or doing other things.

So, how to be is important > this is what can spread >

"rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God." (1 Peter 3:4)

God sees deeper than you eyes!! And He will make sure you do what He really wants you to do.