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Jerry (Jerry)
Posted on Sunday, August 04, 2002 - 2:33 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

So, this phrase was thrown in my face today:

"We need to work on the church's bills right now! After all, this is GOD'S WORK!"

Indeed, we DID need to work on the church's bills. Indeed, God is the owner of all things, including the work on the church's bills.

However, do I not have an obligation to do all my duties to any end to the glory of God?

Is this the right way to think about this?

Of course, being the hothead that I am, I said, "this is the CHURCH'S work."

I then said, "Everything is God's work, except that which is not according to His will."

So, I guess I was supposed to think, "Well, it would have been fine to cheat or slack off. However, since this is associated with the church and is God's work, I will be honest and diligent."

Is that not like the Pharasees "showy righteousness?"

I guess I was unaware of the requirement to "worship" paperwork and financial matters.
Colleentinker (Colleentinker)
Posted on Monday, August 05, 2002 - 11:21 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Jerry, I understand your reaction. I tend to want to respond, "If this is God's work, then why are we working so hard to make it come about?"

I've been really astonished at the way $$ is available at our church when there is a need. We joined our church toward the end of a building project. People had been given a chance to make monetary commitments, but they were not harangued regarding their fulfillment of their promises. Some people in our congregation know that God has given them the spiritual gift of generosity, and when needs such as this arise, while the whole church participates, some people (I'm thinking of one in particular who acknowledges that God has given them this spiritual gift) actually experience miraculous situations in which contracts, etc. come to them providing money expressly dedicated to the project.

Once or twice a year from the pulpit and annually at the business meeting the church budget is announced along with current donations. If there is a shortfall, they never beg for money,and there is no emotional pressure placed on the people. They simply state the obvious and then say the situation is in God's hands. They pray at the time of announcement and say no more. The money always comes in on time. If there is no shortfall, the congregation rejoices, applauds, and there is a prayer of thanksgiving.

I think all of us, individually as well as corporately, have trouble learning to trust at these basic levels of existence. Remember Matthew 6:25-34? That has always been an enigmatic passage to me. I'm just beginning to understand that when our focus is ALWAYS Jesus, not our situation, he provides the mundane things of life as well. (Not that I easily keep my focus on him exclusively!) But he is amazing and faithful!

Colleen
Jerry (Jerry)
Posted on Monday, August 05, 2002 - 11:57 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Thanks, Colleen.

Your point about ěemotional pressureî was exactly what I saw in this situation. The ENTIRE purpose of the statements was to pressure me and elevate the work as ěmore holy than any other work.î I never had a problem with being diligent and responsible, but this smacked of idolatry. By idolatry I mean reverence for anything other than God. In fact, another implication was that my salvation was at risk if I so much as made an unintentional math error.

Aside from this, since I consider several parts of the SDA doctrine serious heresy, I am reticent to ascribe instantly everything her church does as according to Godís will.

Of course, God does his work there, despite whatever heresy there may or may not be. However, no activity that any human organization does can be assured AUTOMATICALLY of being according to Godís will simply because it is done by that group. As you said, we must focus on Him.

God bless you,

Jerry

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