Saturday, October 4, 2008

Unsuccessful Leaders

Mt 4:19 Then He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men."

We have seen that a major first step in being used by God is to admit that something is wrong. Here we get more specific: if God isn't using you to bring people to Him, something is wrong.

When Christians successfully backstab their way into leadership positions, without being able to lead anyone to Christ, something is wrong. When churches have extensive committees to monitor and control everything, keeping their people busy without anyone being saved, something is wrong. When Christians proudly point out their loyalty to man-made rules and standards without anyone getting saved, something is wrong.

A major fist step in being used by God is to humble yourself by telling the truth: something is wrong.

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Admit that something is wrong

2Ch 7:14 "if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land."

I live in "The Gringo Zone" of Mexico, which is full of retired Americans. You would think that after being saved for decades, we would have a thriving Christian community here. Instead, we have a series of failed churches, with most Christians doing little with their lives. There are some genuinely Christian churches here, and they are beset by politics and back-stabbing by church members who believe that spiritual maturity is indicated by your ability to seize leadership positions in the church, even if they are not being used by God.

The Bible contains no such teaching; in fact, it teaches that God will hold leaders to account for their failures. A major step forward for many Christians would be: HUMBLE YOURSELF BY ADMITTING THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG.

If Christians are not growing, something is wrong. If no one is getting saved, something is wrong. If God's people are fighting each other, something is wrong. If you are in the same place spiritually that you were in years ago, something is wrong.

A good place to start growing in the Lord is with humility: admit that something is wrong.

Sunday, September 28, 2008

Why Do Some Christians Succeed?

Folks, I've posted 61 articles to help Christians who have been hurt by churches or other Christians. I'm starting a new series here on "Why Some Christians Succeed."

Here in Mexico, we have missionaries arrive and leave without much success. We have Christians who successfully climb to the top of local churches, and then the churches fail. And then we have people who are reaching Mexicans for Christ, sometimes with poor training and even poor doctrine. Why?

If you want to succeed in Christian service, the Bible tells you how to be a success. I'll be posting about twice a week, and I hope that you'll stay with us.