tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29606082.post64401674255118538..comments2023-10-03T06:25:41.357-05:00Comments on Grace Roots Blog: Individually members of one anotherJoel Bruesekehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10395847887953875757noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29606082.post-37527362260660011732009-01-28T10:12:00.000-06:002009-01-28T10:12:00.000-06:00Leonard,No doubt this will be a recurring theme he...Leonard,<BR/><BR/>No doubt this will be a recurring theme here. :)<BR/><BR/>Bino,<BR/><BR/>Yes! That's so true. I remember years ago, some evangelists (a married couple) in an old church that we used to go to who would preach about their wonderful love for each other and their excellent marriage. But a few times before and after church services (when they thought they weren't in the public view) I happened to see them interacting with each other in some not-so-excellent ways (bickering, fussing, etc). :)<BR/><BR/>At that time in my life, this actually was a great help to me, because it's when I began to realize that the people who are up there preaching all this stuff are <I>not</I> as 'excellent' as they make themselves out to be, and it was the beginning of the process in which I began to realize that my faking of a holy lifestyle was unnecessary and was in vain.Joel Bruesekehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10395847887953875757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29606082.post-82694420880843671942009-01-27T10:54:00.000-06:002009-01-27T10:54:00.000-06:00Joel, Great job writing this post! One thing relat...Joel, Great job writing this post! One thing related to what Aida mentioned about the hierarchy (and the factor of envy associated with it), I think it happens when some people stand there and declare that they have 'something' which others don't have. For example, when a pastor claims that he has the perfect marriage life on earth, what is the congregants thinking, especially those who do not have a perfect marriage (who has it, anyways?)?<BR/><BR/>I wish people (especially those in the leadership) speak <B>truth</B> in love! You know, just speak truth instead of setting people up for UNrealistic expectations! We can save a lot of heart ache.Bino M.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02303467552834533436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29606082.post-51237092184657397842009-01-27T10:37:00.000-06:002009-01-27T10:37:00.000-06:00I like this Theme. Hope you keep em coming...I like this Theme. Hope you keep em coming...Leonardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13127809388107620419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29606082.post-37643114362259512492009-01-27T07:21:00.000-06:002009-01-27T07:21:00.000-06:00Aida,I agree... there are different parts and diff...Aida,<BR/><BR/>I agree... there are different parts and different functions, but there was never meant to be a hierarchy. The church has created that hierarchy and has caused a lot of unnecessary envy and corporate ladder climbing. If we could only all simply be who we are, then the whole body would thrive.<BR/><BR/>Free Spirit,<BR/><BR/>Well, if we did disagree on this, we'd have to have a 30 or 40 comment thread to hash it all out! LOL. I do think we all have that desire to know God more and more and to experience Him in our lives in all the fullness that He intends for us.Joel Bruesekehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10395847887953875757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29606082.post-18982868096431887422009-01-26T22:15:00.000-06:002009-01-26T22:15:00.000-06:00Hey Joel,Well, it was alright, I guess... ;)Really...Hey Joel,<BR/>Well, it was alright, I guess... ;)<BR/><BR/>Really, I don't think you and I have disagreement about this. These are good words, and while I am very happy to be whatever part He has made me uniquely to be, that doesn't negate my desire for more of Him.<BR/><BR/>Well done, sir!Free Spirithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00942692680513002360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29606082.post-63450967732895729372009-01-26T17:46:00.000-06:002009-01-26T17:46:00.000-06:00Joel, I think envy is the result of the system of ...Joel, I think envy is the result of the system of hierarchy that has developed in the institutional church. They tell us that all gifts are important but it’s obvious that some gifts are considered to be on a higher level than others. The upfront gifts are given greater honor and others are made to feel less important because they’re not a pastor or a missionary. As long as that hierarchical system is in place, I believe people will struggle to accept themselves for who they are and they’ll continue to envy and desire what they feel are the greater gifts.Aidahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09885702269506142727noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29606082.post-58893396470140356792009-01-26T07:12:00.000-06:002009-01-26T07:12:00.000-06:00Amy and Aida,As you can tell, all of this is reall...Amy and Aida,<BR/><BR/>As you can tell, all of this is really big in my heart. I really have seen so much dysfunction within the Body of Christ, including in my own life in the Body, and it's been my observation that a lot of it is due to people being pressured or manipulated into being who they're not, or simply not taught (or allowed) how to discover who they really are in the Body.<BR/><BR/>The Church seems to have sort of a "template," and you're supposed to fit into that template somehow. But I know I don't fit into it, so it's been freeing to break out of it and discover who I truly am! At the same time, it's left other church people scratching their heads and even looking down on me because I'm not walking the line correctly, but I'm just not getting back into that cage (!), especially when I know that as my part in the body, I don't function correctly there!Joel Bruesekehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10395847887953875757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29606082.post-88746246928996211852009-01-26T06:28:00.000-06:002009-01-26T06:28:00.000-06:00Joel, this is a wonderful post!! You’ve made so m...Joel, this is a wonderful post!! You’ve made so many good points. <BR/><BR/>It’s true. To be healthy, the body needs for every part to be functioning as it was intended and we need to accept and allow other members of the body the freedom to be who they are. I just left an online group because many of the members can’t accept the other members’ journeys. Different members try to impose their will on other members. The result is a very dysfunctional group of believer. Many have left hurt and the group can’t move forward because of all the bickering. <BR/><BR/>Accepting myself the way I am has been a major turning point in my life and has freed me to accept others the way they are. How I’m gifted is a benefit to the body of Christ and to the world. Yet, I would never be able to fulfill Billy Graham’s calling because I’m not gifted that way. There are some things that I am gifted for that I would like to be doing but for some reason I’m not. That causes me a bit of stress but, as you said, what I am doing is keeping me busy enough and right now I’m having some difficulty keeping up.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for this post, Joel. It was excellent and very encouraging.Aidahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09885702269506142727noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29606082.post-33098420469859363762009-01-25T08:08:00.000-06:002009-01-25T08:08:00.000-06:00Joel,Again this is an excellent post...a good exte...Joel,<BR/>Again this is an excellent post...a good extension of your three previous! They are great encouragements for us to embrace our unique character/personality/gifts Papa has given us.<BR/><BR/>Blessings,<BR/>~Amy :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com