"Exposed”

Be Careful Who You Hang Around

     Have you ever had someone whom you trusted in the church say to you, be careful who you hang with?  I did, and while the conversation was going on, I felt angry with a bad taste in my mouth.  Here is the conversation, minus the names of the others involved:

(1st party);  Hey brother im not gona tell u who to hang around,but im not so sure (2nd party) best interest is the body of Christ, maybe you see diff,but god gave me a word, he says he knows theres things wrong with his church but just show love.If you came into church showing Gods love it would break more than u think, (2nd party) never called me back because he knows i see through things,you can do as u like your older than me,but time is now to worship and show Gods love,Even if people hate me if i show love im more like jesus is it easy no,I care for your soul brother, love what ever u do

(My response);  I was helping (2nd party) move his freezer, I wasn't aware that just helping someone constituted hanging out with them

(1st party);  Dont take me wrong,i wasnt saying that just a friend that cares for you i dont assume things,love ya brother jeff

(my response);  I do worship God, but I don't need to be in church to do that and I do love, I'm not picky fussy who I love, I love all and if not jumping through hoops is not showing love, then people really need to get an understanding of what God says love is and if being in service is some prerequisite, is it more noble to obey God or man? I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing, if people don't like that, no skin off my teeth as long as God is pleased with me

(1st party);  I guess if theres love you, will know them by their fruit,well we are there if u need us,

This conversation like I said previously angered me with a bad taste in my mouth, I am the first to beat myself up with things I don’t understand, and in this case, I didn’t understand my anger.  I went to the Lord and asked Him to remove this anger from me, I didn’t want it, when the anger didn’t leave, I asked God for understanding, this is what He spoke and showed to me.  Jesus was accused of hanging out with sinners and whores, they virtually asked Him if He knew who He was hanging out with.  I will not say this is what we refer to as a righteous anger, but at the same time, I will not deny it.  The following is taken from the first comment of the (1st party);and highlighted differently:  he says he knows theres things wrong with his church but just show love.If you came into church showing Gods love it would break more than u think,

This statement also added to my anger, generally speaking, people reflect those who influence them and with me having a knowledge of the leadership, this is how this came across to me.  This is God’s church and though there are frailties and failings in this church, this is the only right church.  The Apostle Paul said; be like me as I am like Christ, to many today who are in the pulpit are under some misguided understanding as to the meaning of this statement.  Paul spent much time in the presence of the Lord in order to gain a true and greater understanding of what God wanted expressed to man.  Paul was not saying, be a disciple of me, but rather, spend time with God, be His disciple, learn from Him through His Holy Spirit, who will teach you truth and no lie.

The (2nd party) that I was helping, when going into the church, was very poorly received by the Pastor of the church, as if to say to the (2nd party) you are a traitor.  The (2nd party) had left the church, he like myself got fed up with teachings of God being constantly and consistantly laced with untruths and self understandings.  The (2nd party), like myself, has been judged unrighteously, and the above conversation shows the truth of this.

Though it is true, we do need to be careful who we hang with, we are to consider what God said; preach the gospel to every living creature and restore those who have walked away.  The (2nd party) never walked away from God, just went where truth is taught.  How quick we judge and all for what we don’t understand.  Leadership and man judged the (2nd party) for leaving the fold for truth, while me they judge for being some form of trouble maker, because I choose to obey God and not man.

Let us all learn not to be so quick to accuse or judge, God does not have to inform anyone else of what He tells other individuals to do, nor does He have to ask anyone’s permission.  As long as He has the authority to bypass human thinking, then we don’t know what God is doing with or in someone else’s life, and we for doggone sure don’t have a right to accuse or judge.  Like Paul implied with his words, be a God seeker and pleaser, rather than leaning to your understanding and watch what the Lord will do.  As far as watch who you hang with, let God be your guide.  God bless you!