About a year ago there was an article written in the Corpus Christi Caller Times about our church. It was actually a great article that did a good job of describing the heart of Bay Area Fellowship. The next day that same article ran on the on-line version of the Caller Times, but this one had a place for comments. I was not surprised, but still saddened, by how many "Christians" decided to not only publicly criticize our church and it's leadership, but to attack other churches, some by name, who weren't even mentioned in the article.
I got past getting my feelings hurt by "Christian" critics who attack our church a long time ago, but I don't think I will ever get over how it makes me feel when I see Christians using all kinds of public media to criticize other Christians. With the direction the world is headed today, seems like we would be too busy fighting the battle the Enemy is waging to have time devour each other, apparently that's not the case. If you don't believe me, watch me get devoured for this post.
Why do so many Christians feel the need, or feel like they have the authority, to publicly attack other churches and leaders who don't do things the same way they do? And what does God think about Christians who appoint themselves as judge and jury over His churches?
Here's what the Bible says about this in Acts 5:38-39
"So my advice is, leave these men alone. If they are teaching and doing these things merely on their own, it will soon be overthrown. But if it is of God, you will not be able to stop them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God."
I don't know about you, but this scripture tells me, if a church or leader is off course, GOD will deal with them!
I would hope we might ask ourselves this question next time before we publicly criticize another Christian or Church;
If I was 100% sure, that a lost person was going to use one of my nasty public comments attacking another Christian or church as their justification for not choosing to follow Jesus Christ, would I still write that comment?
The lost are watching us, and their hypocrisy meters are scanning our lives, and when we devour our own, we give them a reason to stay lost!
I'm not sure who wrote this comment but it's one that will stick in my heart forever.
"The person you love the least, is how you love Jesus."
Wow, that one hits home!
John
Amen John! I have enough to worry about growing the church God has given me to lead to worry about someone else. Praise God for BAF and your fine work in it's leadership. A very wise pastor once told me that when the critics come (and they have), to just tell them you're working on the wall and do not have time to come down to chat. (Obviously a reference to Nehemiah).
Stay on the wall John. I'm watching. Praying for you as I know you pray for us!
Posted by: Scott Cheatham | August 11, 2008 at 06:07 PM
well put. I'm an avid reader of caller.com because of the silly comments on the stories they publish. The story on BAF had the most comments ever for a caller story. That means only one thing; BAF is on the right track, and there are those who cannot identify with a "successful" church. What I mean by successful is that BAF is reaching the unchurched. I play every week at BAF Kingsville and it is something I look forward to every week. I am a BAF'er. nuff said.
Posted by: bud | August 11, 2008 at 08:39 PM
Thank God for Bay Area Fellowship and its leadership
Posted by: Loui Canchola | August 11, 2008 at 09:59 PM
WOW. What a great post. "The person you love the least, is how you love Jesus." Again, WOW.
Posted by: Grant Clark | August 28, 2008 at 10:56 AM
Over 4 years ago I was on staff at another church in Corpus. During that time I felt challenged by what Bay Area Fellowship was doing. Many of your staff allowed me to come in and see how you guys did church and I was incredibly blessed by those relationships. It changed my life and ministry forever. Still today as we have phone conversations I really appreciate what we can do together if we will just spend our time giving to each other and focus on reaching "unchurched"/hurting people. I am now at a church that does church like Bay Area and it is great to see people experience life-change every weekend. I thank you for being Bay Area! Thank you for leading Christ Followers to think about people outside the church...It's all about them...
Posted by: Doyle Brookshire | April 05, 2009 at 05:46 PM
Gig 'em John!!! Your the man!
Posted by: Richard H. Wendland | April 06, 2009 at 05:07 PM