Kumbayah....conclusion....

Let me wrap this thing up and press on.....the next "spiritual gift" the Pastor takes on is.....

The "Spiritual Gift" of Justifying
Those with this gift find any and every reason to explain away their thoughts, conclusions and behaviors without ever considering that maybe,just maybe, they should change them. If they're rude and disrespectful, it's ok, because they're just trying to share the truth and people don't like the truth. If they sin, there's always a good reason that makes it alright in that particular situation. They can never actually be accused of doing wrong because they know they're always right.

You may be getting a little tired of hearing this but it never gets old saying it....it's about the doctrine!. Are the "justifiers" operating in the ability to discern good and evil by the effectual working of the word resident in their inner man? Probably not. These are the individuals that need edification more so than maybe any of the other groups mentioned. A person's worthy walk will never be changed by any other method than the installation of the doctrine God has delivered through His word to the church, the body of Christ through the Apostle Paul to usward.

If someone is justifying their sinful activity, it should be absolutely clear they are not operating according to sound doctrine which requires someone stablished in the doctrine able to teach others also. Knowing the old man has been crucified and we are responsible for keeping him buried. We are all guilty at some point of this one. When I stumble, I know why and how to react rather than make excuses. I reckon myself dead indeed unto sin! and put on the new man.

As to the rude and disrespectful, that one needs clarification to deal with properly. Has someone interrupted a church service with some derogatory statements? I am not sure what the Pastor had in mind when he wrote that, so, let's move on to the next one,,,,

The "Spiritual Gift" of Discouragement
This is perhaps the most popular and prevalent of the gifts I don't want. People with this gift are always ready to give an answer to the hope that you have and it's usually in the form of why they couldn't or wouldn't and why you shouldn't do something. Want to reach out to the community in a creative way? Someone with this gift would say you shouldn't, maybe because it's not Biblical or it will cost too much or even just that they don't like it; anything to discourage you. They have the uncanny ability to manufacture reasons why things cannot be done, as well as supporting thoughts about all that would go wrong if you did do it. They find joy in others failures because it often provides the opportunity for them to say, "I told you so" while giving them a reference point for the next time they want to discourage you.
How frustrating and disappointing it is that people with these kinds of gifts are the ones that get the most attention in the church. They give us a bad name and give Christ a black-eye. And I'm sure there are others I missed. What are some of the "spiritual gifts" that you don't want?

I know this brother has a heart for the Lord and desires to do the right thing, don't we all? Seriously, who sets out to do the wrong thing knowing it is wrong? Like he states, the discouragers are in the church, always have been, always will be. So what is the reaction to their action? Ask them to leave? Tell them if you don't like it you can go somewhere else? If someone states what you are doing isn't Biblical, and may be a wise thing to listen to them. Aren't you walking on thin ice going beyond what has been set forth in the scriptures?

Look, I know it's not a walk in the park being a Pastor. It may just be the toughest job anyone could choose. It is a desire to do what you are doing. A desire based on motives. The motive must be established as one that has no other object of their affection than that of seeing souls saved and saints edifyed. That is something only the Pastor or anyone else must settle within themselves. One big problem I have noticed in my organized church experience is that everybody expects way way to much from the Pastor. Always have, and sadly, will always be. Remember, for over 1000 years the Roman stronghold on all things concerning faith?, it still exists along with the Papish mentallity. They don't realize what they are doing and it in many ways have just been instilled in their minds, so if you don't deliver for them, discontentment takes over.

Okay, I'm starting to ramble on getting off topic. Let me conclude with this statement. The Pastor who wrote the original blog is my brother in Christ. We are members one of another and members inparticular. I admire his courage for starting his assembly and apparently it is successful. My only desire for him is to get engaged in what Paul refers to as "my Gospel" and do as he told the saints in Ephesus "teach no other doctrine". It is that important. You cannot be saved today unless you trust the Gospel which Christ gave to Paul for usward. You cannot be saved today in the "red letters" but only by the information given to us through the Apostle Paul.. Christ sent Paul to declare the Gospel of the Grace of God. Christ sent Paul to be our pattern. Christ told Paul that if anyone preach any other Gospel, let him be accursed. Pauline doctrine is vital to getting your Bible right. We are exhorted to follow Paul as he follows Christ. Following Jesus today can only be accomplished by following the one He sent....Paul.