How do you

[Meshavrischika]

sit back and watch people being stupid?

Ugh. My friends attend a church and basically the whole place fell apart and the pastor had to leave and there was some issue of misappropriation of funds and just flat improper behavior... which happened because the elders didn't say anything, and when one did he was pushed out of the board... Well, finally things came to light and they realize they were wrong... but they INSIST on this air of secrecy.

It just KILLS me.

Secrets cause people to lie. That's just truth. Unless it is a private situation with a specific church member, I believe their dealings with church funds and decisions should not be held in private BECAUSE they missed the mark so bad.

I relate it to a sick child. You don't just pray for a sick child... you pray AND take it to the doctor. They want to just pray for this situation and make no changes (when the reason they are in this situation in the first place is because either they were not listening to the Spirit - which is their obligation as leaders, no? or they were crooked too... ) To me it seems like they're just trading the frying pan for the fire.

It just KILLS me (I'm so stressed) watching these people just "have faith" and not use the wisdom they should have gleaned from this situation.

 

[~RENEE~]

I'll be back gonna tae the guy outside to play for a while.

 

[pinetree]

Thats happening alot lately,sorry for your pain.I see you are a libertarian,I like alot of what they say,,I quess the good thing is,it will breed a healthy independent Christians.When humans fall apart,we will go to the anchor within,pinetree.

 

[Andry]

It just KILLS me (I'm so stressed) watching these people just "have faith" and not use the wisdom they should have gleaned from this situation.

You need to pick and choose which battles God calls you to fight and champion. Otherwise the burden can become so great that there isn't grace for it, since it wasn't yours to fight to begin with.

Jesus not once addressed the fact that Judas was stealing from the treasury, nor addressed the injustices of the Roman occupation of Palestine. I don't think it was because he didn't care about them, but rather, he was cared more about his calling....which was to get to Calvary.

 

[Meshavrischika]

You need to pick and choose which battles God calls you to fight and champion. Otherwise the burden can become so great that there isn't grace for it, since it wasn't yours to fight to begin with.

Jesus not once addressed the fact that Judas was stealing from the treasury, nor addressed the injustices of the Roman occupation of Palestine. I don't think it was because he didn't care about them, but rather, he was cared more about his calling....which was to get to Calvary.

I have this tendancy to run to the aid of people I percieve as the underdog.

I just wish I knew if I was supposed to do anything at this point or not. I feel too caught up in myself and my thoughts on this situation to clearly hear God (or even know if He is trying to give me commentary or direction at all)

 

[New_Wineskin]

sit back and watch people being stupid?

Ugh. My friends attend a church and basically the whole place fell apart and the pastor had to leave and there was some issue of misappropriation of funds and just flat improper behavior... which happened because the elders didn't say anything, and when one did he was pushed out of the board... Well, finally things came to light and they realize they were wrong... but they INSIST on this air of secrecy.

It just KILLS me.

Secrets cause people to lie. That's just truth. Unless it is a private situation with a specific church member, I believe their dealings with church funds and decisions should not be held in private BECAUSE they missed the mark so bad.

I relate it to a sick child. You don't just pray for a sick child... you pray AND take it to the doctor. They want to just pray for this situation and make no changes (when the reason they are in this situation in the first place is because either they were not listening to the Spirit - which is their obligation as leaders, no? or they were crooked too... ) To me it seems like they're just trading the frying pan for the fire.

It just KILLS me (I'm so stressed) watching these people just "have faith" and not use the wisdom they should have gleaned from this situation.

This could fit under the "cult" thread , imo .

 

[Meshavrischika]

This could fit under the "cult" thread , imo .

that's part of where this comes from

ugh.

this is also what the love covers thing is about

basically I had an elder tell me there would be no books audit because people would go to jail

 

[pdudgeon]

that's part of where this comes from

ugh.

this is also what the love covers thing is about

basically I had an elder tell me there would be no books audit because people would go to jail

if any of the members who are responsible for the financial dealings of the church are bonded, then the company who holds that bond will probably order an audit. And if the curch is part of a denomination, then the denomination may order one as well.

finally, the church trustees would be personally responsible if they don't do an audit.

but unless this is your church and you are a member, then you have no say in what happens.

 

[Br0kenSunshyne]

You need to pick and choose which battles God calls you to fight and champion. Otherwise the burden can become so great that there isn't grace for it, since it wasn't yours to fight to begin with.


That right there is wisdom. That was a cool little "aha" moment for me. Thanks for letting God use you to give it to me.

 

[Br0kenSunshyne]

Elsan, I'm sorry to say this, but please help me understand why you are still there???? I would not want to stay under that leadership. One big deal, I could understand, but it seems like this place just has a myriad of unresolved issues that were just swept under the rug and not dealt with and hidden and lied about....that isn't Jesus at all. No matter how well you religiously cover it. Love does cover a multitude of sins....but there becomes a point when you have to see that some things just are too much. You have to do what's right for you and your family too....do they need to be under that leadership?

 

[mdaniel]

You need to pick and choose which battles God calls you to fight and champion. Otherwise the burden can become so great that there isn't grace for it, since it wasn't yours to fight to begin with.

Amen.

I feel too caught up in myself and my thoughts on this situation to clearly hear God

Then you need to cast your cares on God. Pray about the situation and also pray that the Lord send laborers to those who left the church to restore them. That's our ministry. To reconcile the lost and to restore those in the body who have fallen away.

You have an opportunity to be a shinning light here by refusing to gossip, refusing to think anything put good thoughts about those in your church, and by praying that the Lord restore your church and its former members.

God bless.