Peace, Love, and Kindness

 Something I think that needs to change in the church: evaluation of people based on whether they're hurt by others in the church. I feel it is often considered a defect to "be hurt." I've gone through this experience myself. Unreliable people often cause hurt. When unreliable people hurt others, if they are not held accountable for their actions, there is lack of "discipline" in the church. In my experience, unreliable people can sometimes be someone high up in the church structure. Excerpts from James follow:

Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly. Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!

James 3:1‭, ‬9‭-‬10 NLT

James makes many examples to prove the same point: if we bless some, and curse some, we are in the wrong.  

Pastorship

Pastorship is a responsibility. It is a grievous thing to be an "unworthy" pastor. If we are an "unworthy" pastor, we see things "our" way, instead of "God's way." We see that we are high, on a pedestal, and others are low. We see ourselves as giving authoritative commands, and others as receiving them. Sometimes, if the commands are not "received" properly, an "unworthy" pastor might be tempted to harass that individual. I have seen it happen, with my own eyes. Pastors giving commands, and then harassing those who don't understand, or don't want to follow those commands. Understanding is mutual, and there should be understanding by the pastor that not everyone sees things *their* way.

Leadership

Eldership in the church is a privilege. Leaders are often privileged, but they view themselves as the ones to be served by others, instead of the other way around. Servanthood is the ultimate qualification, besides the Holy Spirit, that matters. This is because Jesus was the *ultimate* servant. Qualifications are mentioned in the Bible, and this is also necessary, but the *servant* qualification is mentioned by Jesus, and it is therefore Greater the other qualifications. They are "summed up" in the qualification of "servanthood."

Jesus told them, “In this world the kings and great men Lord it over their people, yet they are called ‘friends of the people.’ But among you it will be different. Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant. Who is more important, the one who sits at the table or the one who serves? The one who sits at the table, of course. But not here! For I am among you as one who serves.

Luke 22:25‭-‬27 NLT

So God tells us that the greatest among men should behave as if they were of "low rank," as a servant would. A servant is kind to those he serves, if he or she has a true heart of a servant. A servant does not demand from the master.

And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

Revelation 16:12‭-‬14 KJVAAE

The dragon is the devil, the Beast are those who ascribe to its worldview, and the false prophet are leaders who support the worldview in the world. The frogs are representative of evil spirits. In the last days, scripture says:

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

1 Timothy 4:1‭-‬2 KJVAAE

This represents what has been happening in the church for many, many years: evil doctrines, which are not of God, being spoken for the people digest. If we accept the doctrines of "demons," soon, we shall accept the lies that they tell us. What happens next? When we accept their lies into our hearts, we prefer them instead of God. Mankind has no chance to repent, outside of God's eternal mercy. When we reject the lies that tell us we don't need kindness, love, and mercy, and we receive the gift that God has for us, we shall be free.

Doctrines may tell us we shouldn't give our hearts freely, but the Word of God asks for exactly that. Service to the least, to make ourselves lesser than them. Pray about this as we enter into this new season. The evil shall be judged, the loving shall be given more. More responsibility is for the one who loves, and for the one who cares. The kind, and the just, and the wise shall inherit the Earth.