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Loyalty: A Lost Art
Posted on Friday, May 12, 2006 @ 17:00:57 EDT by carmen
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By Pastor Carmen Rizzo
What's your preference Dunkin Donuts or Starbucks coffee? Do you drive American or Foreign cars? Are you into Rap, Punk, Heavy Metal, Disco, or Hip Hop? Your preference commands and determines your loyalties. But is that the way it's supposed to be? Especially when it comes to God and the people He has thrown us together with? Hey, if this church doesn't work for you, or if they don’t have what you’re looking for anymore, just check out the one down the street. See what I mean? Your preference commands your loyalty! The thing is it's not about you. It's about what you can bring to the equation of the other peoples lives that God has thrown you together with. The thing about God, He hangs in there with us, even when we have nothing to offer Him. That’s because He's not in it for Him. He's in it for us. And there it is in a nutshell, you'll never discover God, and I don’t care how many goose bumps the latest "spiritual fix" is bringing you right now. You'll never discover God until you figure out that loyalty is a big priority with Him. And you'll never discover what loyalty is until you figure out that he did not pull you out of Hell so you could go and find what suits your particular fickle taste. He pulled you out of Hell, so that you could add something to the group that he threw you into. Be careful before you cut yourselves off from your roots. You may be cutting yourself off from your soul.
Peace.
PS: I drive American cars, because with me it's a question of loyalty. But I must confess I also drink Starbucks coffee.
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| "Loyalty: A Lost Art" | Login/Create an Account | 4 Comments | Search Discussion |
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Re: Loyalty: A Lost Art (Score: 1)
by kkoslp on Saturday, May 13, 2006 @ 05:46:58 EDT
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I drink Dunkin Donuts, but then again I drive a Honda.
I prefer a bible-based church that welcomes my family. When I am comfortable in a church I can feel like the members are friends and family and I can let my gifts show, and my children can develop their gifts. "It's about what I bring to the equation of other peoples lives that God has thrown me together with." But it is also about what other people bring to the equation to minister to my life, through God. So, if I am not comfortable in a church after a length of time, or come to realize that the particular church really is not a bible-based church, then I leave. I never make my decision lightly. I always seek God's guidance in my decision.
Maybe I'm fickle but I call it seeking what is best for my family, seeking a church home where we can feel accepted and comfortable and able to let our gifts shine.
I grew up Catholic and in my late 20s I left the Catholic church. Do I read your last four sentences correctly - that God threw me into the group of Catholicism so I could add something to it and I should be careful before having cut myself off from my roots? I didn't cut myself off from my soul when I left Catholicism - I was born again in my late 30s. I found my soul when I shed the misteachings of the Catholic Church.
When you say that we will never discover what loyalty is "until you figure out that He did not pull you out of Hell so you could go and find what suits your particular fickle taste." are you saying we should just pick any church, settle down and be loyal to it, despite it's administrative difficulties, despite what it's preaching, despite how you are welcomed or treated?
Respectfully,
kkoslp
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Re: Loyalty: A Lost Art (Score: 1)
by Carmen on Monday, May 15, 2006 @ 13:01:30 EDT
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I need top correct you on something.You did not find your soul when you left the Catholic church.You found your soul when God breathed life into you through His grace.For it is by grace that we are saved.What is your criteria for a "bible based" church? I assume that you would have done your homework ahead of time before bringing your family to attend?There are legitamate reasons for leaving a church and this article does not speak to those but rather to those persons who bounce from church to church for fickle reasons.Did you try to be an agent for change in those churches you attended? You may call it what you like but the plain and simple truth is that the Son of Man came to serve not to be served.Are we not called to imitate Him? If you really tried doing these things and if you really tried to address an issue that neeed to be addressed and got nowhere,then I guess it was proabaly right for you to move on.I dont know the specifics of your situation.This article was intended to address the church hoppers that are constantly bouncing to and fro for frivolous reasons.Forgive me but the tone of your comment gives me a sense that you have an axe to grind.I'm sorry that you have had bad experiences in church.
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Re: Loyalty: A Lost Art (Score: 1)
by kkoslp on Tuesday, May 16, 2006 @ 06:49:02 EDT
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Pastor,
After reading your reply, I went back and re-read your article three more times, all the time asking myself if I had initially misread it with an "axe to grind." Your response, actually softened the tone of your article. Or maybe it softened the tone in which I read it and interpreted it. I didn't mean to come across as having an axe to grind, but you are right that I have had bad experiences in finding a church home. So, maybe you perceived what I didn't think was there. Am I forgiven?
However, I truly had a question by what you meant about cutting ourselves off from our roots. Considering my roots are Catholic, and I know I don't want to go back to Catholicism, I'm not sure what you mean. Yet, on a deeper level, my roots are Christianity, and I will never abandon Christianity. Could you expand on your comment from your article about being careful not to sever your roots?
As for church hoppers that bounce to and fro for frivolous reasons, they don't get a chance to settle into a church family, nor to serve the Lord, within the church. They establish no bonds with church members nor a Pastor and thus during times of crises or stress have no one of faith to turn to. They don't see the prayers that are answered within the congregation either, because they don't stay in one place long enough. They are vulnerable christians because they could easily fall off the path as they are accountable to no one but themselves and God. No one misses them in church if they don't come some Sunday, no one gets to know them intimately. They pay a high price for not being loyal to one church. It's rather sad, don't you think?
Loyalty to one church on the otherhand, is much more rewarding. As you become involved in the life of the church you establish christian friendships that will sustain you through stressful periods of your life. You will have friends and a Pastor to turn to in times of crises, sickness and stress, and in times of joy. You get to see prayers answered within the congregation which helps build your faith and perseverance and hope. As you become comfortable within the church you will let your God-given gifts shine to serve the Lord. Of course, Pastor, all these benefits are a result of what happens by being loyal to God and serving Him.
And just an aside - I"m a loyal Red Sox fan. Always have been, always will be.
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Re: Loyalty: A Lost Art (Score: 1)
by Carmen on Tuesday, May 16, 2006 @ 09:23:55 EDT
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K-you have not offended me in anyway.I just clearly sensed the Lord's Spirit showing me that you have been hurt in another church/s.What I meant by severing from our roots is that many times a brother or sister in the Lord who has been joined to a spiritual family will take a trip into sin.The duty that we all have to each other is to bring love and correction to each other.In other words,I need you to watch my back and you need me to watch your back.Sometimes this involves saying and doing the hard things that none of us like doing but are called upon from time to time to do.I have seen beloved saints run from this love and correction,just because they were unwilling/able to see the need for repentance and a change of direction.When they do this they cut themselves off from the root that God has grafted them into for their protection.I am not speaking about the need to seperate from a church or church leader that has fallen into error and is unwilling to repent and change direction.In that situation the Scripture is very clear,if after loving confrontation the church/leader refuse to repent and change direction,then you must move on.The roots as they apply to you would be that spiritual family that God is or will lead you and your family to.Not catholicism.Catholicism teaches "Another Gospel" and is therefore under the curse of Galations 1.The Scripture gives very clear guidlines on when we must seperate and move on.I gave you 2 of them above.I hope this helps you and clarifies any ambiguity that my words may have left.This article was orginally written and posted on MySpace to address a dialogue that was taking place on that site and the intended readers knew full well of what I was speaking.I appologize to you.I should have done a better job of editing my work..God Bless
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With my soul have I desired thee in the night\; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early...
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