I will be doing a series of biographies on several women pastors as I continue to pick up interviews from other women clergy.
As the second female bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, Bishop Carolyn Tyler-Guidry was the first female appointed to be a presiding elder in the Fifth Episcopal District which includes California. She started Bible School in Los Angeles in 1977, followed by her pastor-ship of the First AME Church in Indio, California. After instituting some creative programs there, Tyler-Guidry moved on to pastor another church, Cain Memorial AME Church in Bakersfield, where she remained for five years.
Coming to Los Angeles in 1989, Tyler-Guidry was appointed to pastor the Walker Temple AME Church, a major metropolitan church with about 600 members. Her performance was so extraordinary that five years later, she became the first female appointed to presiding elder in the Fifth Episcopal District - a milestone.
Throughout the years that she pastored the above-mentioned churches, Tyler-Guidry used the skills she had acquired in Business and Secretarial Science at J.P. Campbell College in Jackson, Mississippi, her hometown, where she earned her AA degree and she later studied economics at Tougaloo College, a liberal arts institution also in Jackson, Mississippi. She had also worked for the NAACP and chaired the women's voter registration in Jackson. In addition, Tyler-Guidry's 12 years at Security Pacific Bank in California added to her wealth of experience that she used skillfully during her various stints as pastor.
Tyler-Guidry went on to become the second female bishop elected in the A.M.E. Church in July 2004 about the same time she received her master's of theology from Fuller Theological Seminary. With her election as a bishop, she is designated one of the AME's Episcopal district worldwide; her first district was the 16th Episcopal district which consisted of Cuba; the Dominican Republic; Haiti; Jamaica; London, England; Suriname, Guyana; the Virgin Islands; and the Windward Islands.
At the 48th Quadrennial Session of the AME General Conference in July 2008, Tyler-Guidry presided over the Business Session XIV. One of the items on the agenda during the sessions, held every four years, is the assignments of the bishops to the various AME districts worldwide. After the 16th district, the Right Reverend (her official title) Carolyn Tyler-Guidry was assigned as the presiding prelate of the 8th district. That district included Louisiana and Mississippi, her home state and she stated that she was pleased to extend greetings to all who visit this site and I must say that I am truly excited to have the opportunity to serve as the Presiding Prelate of the Eighth Episcopal District for this 2008- 2012 Quadrennial.
Despite the rigorous schedule her administrative and pastoral duties as a presiding prelate entailed, Tyler-Guidry always found the time to conduct invocations, served on numerous boards and other community activities outside of the church. And though her official duties often make her relocate to different districts within the AME church structure, Tyler-Guidry calls Southern California her home. She is the mother of six children and the grandmother of twelve.
True Power
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Women in the pulpit
I ran across an article by a husband and wife ministry team, the Swifts, who tackle the issue of 'Women in the pulpit.' Their entire article can be found on ezine (http://ezinearticles.com/?Are-Women-Supposed-to-Minister-in-the-Pulpit?&id=1057596)
I like the way they use various passages from the Bible to bring to the forefront who exactly is allowed to teach others. They take the totality of the Scriptures, knowing that the letters of the New Testament were written separately, to deal with specific issues faced by a city at a particular time in the unfolding of the founding of Christianity. They begin by building a foundation of who the new Christian is:
To most Believers (especially new Believers who haven't been taught old customs) the verse that seems most natural (in a supernatural way!) about the ministry of women is found in Galatians where Paul says:
Gal. 3.26-28 -- Ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Establishing first, who we are in Christ, is crucial on the individual level. To realize we have been freed in Christ from restrictions that bound us in culture and the Jewish faith allows us to participate in our new lives as Christians. This is the building block for all else we do in Christ.
Next, the article points out the main scripture used to show women should not be in the pulpit:
"But," many men claim, "there are Scriptures that teach the submission of women -- in marriage and in ministry!" Actually, there's just one. Our key verse is found in the letter to Timothy:
1 Tim 2.11-14 -- "But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression."
I have tackled this passage in my book "When Will Eve Be Forgiven?" pointing to the goddess worship that was occurring in Ephesus at the time Paul wrote this and their belief that womanhood was to be worshipped for its life giving and regenerative essence and the male counterpart was not to be held in high regard. The Swifts also looks at key words used in the passage such as: usurp and silence. In my book I did not deconstruct the usage of the word silence, which I now believe plays an important part to understanding the 1 Timothy passage, so I will include the Swifts' exegesis of the word at this point:
In fact, "silence" is a good word to show how quickly you and I can make a wrong guess as to the meaning of a word in the Bible. After all, if women are to "keep silent", wouldn't you think that means they have to keep their mouths shut? But the Greek word used for "silence" (hesuchia) is the same word used in 1 Tim 2.2 in which we're told to pray continually "for kings, and for all that are in authority; so that we may lead a quiet [hesuchia] and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty."
The word hesuchia (according to Strong's Dictionary) describes the life of "someone who stays at home doing his own work" and doesn't meddle in the lives of others." In 1 Tim 2.2, it would obviously be wrong to say it means the kind of "silence" that we usually talking about -- you know, "pray for kings, and for all that are in authority; so that we may all shut up and live in peace..."? It doesn't make any sense.
But when you apply the correct meaning in 1 Tim 2.12, it makes perfect sense that Paul would tell women to participate in the meetings "quietly", not "meddling" with the teachings that Paul had given them about the Gospel, Jesus Christ, etc.
"I do not permit a woman to teach"... In the spiritual atmosphere of Ephesus, women (especially women) needed to sit quietly and learn. And Ephesian women needed especially to not be allowed to "usurp authority" over the men who were teaching -- attempting to perpetuate the cultic teachings of female, spiritual authority and thereby taking control of the young, Ephesian church. What Paul is saying here to the Ephesian Believers, in light of the extraordinarily difficult circumstances facing this Asian church, was that women (steeped in these false teachings) needed to just be quiet, sit and learn from the men. Remember: Paul doesn't tell women this anywhere else. It is a word of instruction for Ephesus."
For this particular church faced with the false teaching of it's time--goddess worship, the women learning about the gospel of Jesus should not speak up about the goddess and what all of the other women in the area were participating in. Women, in that area, believed that it was through womanhood that people could be saved, not a man (Jesus). To take power from the notion of powerful womanhood, it would take men leading the charge. Even if the women of that area spoke the gospel and taught correct doctrine, it would still be a WOMAN in a power position issuing truth, still keeping the image of manhood weak. Paul had to use strategy in this area of female domination and it would have to be the MAN to step up to the plate in this area if the grip of goddess worship was to be conquered. Remember, Paul did not teach this to every area he evagelized and we know he evangelized Lydia and in essence sanctioned her home church and she was the one who would go on to teach the rest of the converts in her area. There is no way to get around this fact of this home church Lydia set up Acts 16:14-15. We all pull Phoebe up (Rom. 16:1-2) as a close worker in the church with Paul. Even with two named women, very active in ministry, one instruction in the book of Timothy seems to supercede them.
Whenever there seems to be some confusion in interpretation, more in depth study should be done. One of the main things I try to gently tell people is that the words used over 2,000 years ago have undergone many 'definition' changes. What a word meant even 200 years ago does not necessarily mean the same in the 21st century. Who would have guessed that 'silence' could have another meaning other than "shut up" or "be quiet?"
Continue to seek God's truth in prayer, study, and conversation amoung saints. Read the Swifts' article in its entirety. It is sure to be a blessing in the life of those trying to reconcile this issue of women as ministers.
I like the way they use various passages from the Bible to bring to the forefront who exactly is allowed to teach others. They take the totality of the Scriptures, knowing that the letters of the New Testament were written separately, to deal with specific issues faced by a city at a particular time in the unfolding of the founding of Christianity. They begin by building a foundation of who the new Christian is:
To most Believers (especially new Believers who haven't been taught old customs) the verse that seems most natural (in a supernatural way!) about the ministry of women is found in Galatians where Paul says:
Gal. 3.26-28 -- Ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Establishing first, who we are in Christ, is crucial on the individual level. To realize we have been freed in Christ from restrictions that bound us in culture and the Jewish faith allows us to participate in our new lives as Christians. This is the building block for all else we do in Christ.
Next, the article points out the main scripture used to show women should not be in the pulpit:
"But," many men claim, "there are Scriptures that teach the submission of women -- in marriage and in ministry!" Actually, there's just one. Our key verse is found in the letter to Timothy:
1 Tim 2.11-14 -- "But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression."
I have tackled this passage in my book "When Will Eve Be Forgiven?" pointing to the goddess worship that was occurring in Ephesus at the time Paul wrote this and their belief that womanhood was to be worshipped for its life giving and regenerative essence and the male counterpart was not to be held in high regard. The Swifts also looks at key words used in the passage such as: usurp and silence. In my book I did not deconstruct the usage of the word silence, which I now believe plays an important part to understanding the 1 Timothy passage, so I will include the Swifts' exegesis of the word at this point:
In fact, "silence" is a good word to show how quickly you and I can make a wrong guess as to the meaning of a word in the Bible. After all, if women are to "keep silent", wouldn't you think that means they have to keep their mouths shut? But the Greek word used for "silence" (hesuchia) is the same word used in 1 Tim 2.2 in which we're told to pray continually "for kings, and for all that are in authority; so that we may lead a quiet [hesuchia] and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty."
The word hesuchia (according to Strong's Dictionary) describes the life of "someone who stays at home doing his own work" and doesn't meddle in the lives of others." In 1 Tim 2.2, it would obviously be wrong to say it means the kind of "silence" that we usually talking about -- you know, "pray for kings, and for all that are in authority; so that we may all shut up and live in peace..."? It doesn't make any sense.
But when you apply the correct meaning in 1 Tim 2.12, it makes perfect sense that Paul would tell women to participate in the meetings "quietly", not "meddling" with the teachings that Paul had given them about the Gospel, Jesus Christ, etc.
"I do not permit a woman to teach"... In the spiritual atmosphere of Ephesus, women (especially women) needed to sit quietly and learn. And Ephesian women needed especially to not be allowed to "usurp authority" over the men who were teaching -- attempting to perpetuate the cultic teachings of female, spiritual authority and thereby taking control of the young, Ephesian church. What Paul is saying here to the Ephesian Believers, in light of the extraordinarily difficult circumstances facing this Asian church, was that women (steeped in these false teachings) needed to just be quiet, sit and learn from the men. Remember: Paul doesn't tell women this anywhere else. It is a word of instruction for Ephesus."
For this particular church faced with the false teaching of it's time--goddess worship, the women learning about the gospel of Jesus should not speak up about the goddess and what all of the other women in the area were participating in. Women, in that area, believed that it was through womanhood that people could be saved, not a man (Jesus). To take power from the notion of powerful womanhood, it would take men leading the charge. Even if the women of that area spoke the gospel and taught correct doctrine, it would still be a WOMAN in a power position issuing truth, still keeping the image of manhood weak. Paul had to use strategy in this area of female domination and it would have to be the MAN to step up to the plate in this area if the grip of goddess worship was to be conquered. Remember, Paul did not teach this to every area he evagelized and we know he evangelized Lydia and in essence sanctioned her home church and she was the one who would go on to teach the rest of the converts in her area. There is no way to get around this fact of this home church Lydia set up Acts 16:14-15. We all pull Phoebe up (Rom. 16:1-2) as a close worker in the church with Paul. Even with two named women, very active in ministry, one instruction in the book of Timothy seems to supercede them.
Whenever there seems to be some confusion in interpretation, more in depth study should be done. One of the main things I try to gently tell people is that the words used over 2,000 years ago have undergone many 'definition' changes. What a word meant even 200 years ago does not necessarily mean the same in the 21st century. Who would have guessed that 'silence' could have another meaning other than "shut up" or "be quiet?"
Continue to seek God's truth in prayer, study, and conversation amoung saints. Read the Swifts' article in its entirety. It is sure to be a blessing in the life of those trying to reconcile this issue of women as ministers.
Friday, January 21, 2011
The Pain of Christianity: My Story Dorothy Guyton Part 2
THIS IS GOING TO BE A LONG READ:
I have said many times that a person must have a vision and a goal. I may have said some kind of 'happy go lucky' kind of quote or spark of wisdom like 'never give up and never give out." I remember drill sergeants screaming "Don't quit on your body and it will not quit on you" as they pushed you to do your 80th pushup.
The truth of the matter is you can get beat up on the way to greatness or success. You can be pushed so hard by people you would believe would be cheering for you until it not only knocks the wind out of you, but you’re fighting spirit as well.
I have been stung by comments from people and wondered what "I" was doing that warranted such a comment. I have had prophesied over me that I needed 'a humble spirit thus sayth the Lord.' This was after I was the only person to answer, strictly out of pity, the pleas and beggings of the prophet for people to come forth for prayer.
My latest gut punch was when a woman interrupted a conversation I was having and said I needed a covering and needed to stop jumping from church to church. How do you respond to a statement like that? What is a COVERING? And as far I know I have only been the member of one church, which I no longer attend, but visit other churches from time to time.
Maybe some more back story is needed. I am from a very small town where you are born into a church. You go there because everyone else in your family goes there. Your pastor is selected by whoever asks and you say yes so you will not hurt his feelings. People find it difficult to finish high school and will not attend any Bible teaching that requires a book, pencil, and paper. With this said, these are some wonderful, loving, devout Christians who have lived religious tradition and consider it some kind of voodoo to introduce anything new. Needless to say, the religious atmosphere is rigid and hell is the destination of those who want anything more or different. You must "WAIT UNTIL THE PASTOR DIES" because the anointed can not be removed. The Baptist are very Baptist and women are not allowed in the pulpit because they are unclean (I have heard because she has a period) and every other denomination holds very close to their tenants.
Some may assume from the above paragraph that I may have a problem with humility and they would also be mistaken. When I believed I was not being fed enough to enable me to have a closer personal relationship with God, I went to college to learn more. I did not make it an issue with my church or try to teach them all of the new wonderful revelations I was learning. Just the opposite occurred. The more invisible I tried to make my biblical studies, the more comments were being made. I heard "the Holy Spirit tells you all you need to know and man can tell you things and make you sound smart but God does not have to send you to school. People try to learn psychology and philosophy but all you need is God's word." It was more than clear that book smarts was not acceptable when it can to religion in my area.
There were many Sunday's after church that I would cry and ask my family was I doing something to warrant the comments. My family became protective of me trying to shield my=e from assaults as I tried to remain a faithful Christian and remain in the church for fellowship purposes. Good Christians wait out the devil, as pastors are prone to say when Christians are having difficulties within the church. I would become nauseous before attending church and began anointing myself with oil and having my family to pray before we entered the church doors. My children finally gave me an ultimatum, they could no longer bear to see me be under assault for no reason and they could no longer watch this unfold month after month. If the Lord told me to stay that was fine, but I was scarring them. WOW! What do you do with that?
After much fasting, prayer and tears, I finally felt peace within myself that five years was enough. I spoke to a Christian counselor who after hearing my story actually told me I was dealing with a person with a dangerous personality disorder where no matter what I did I was going to be a target of aggression. Even with this counseling, it was painful to leave my family church.
I have been searching for another home church that valued Bible study community service, and women. I was so traumatized from leaving my first church that I never wanted to get into that situation again. Needless to say, the search goes on and you are not considered a Christian or a good Christian if you are not in the pews every Sunday. People shun you; you must be a rebellious person who stirs up trouble wherever you go. I am a Christian with a SCARLET LETTER.
Now, do I believe I am the Christian people say I am or the Christian God says I am?
Paul said whether anyone believed him or not, he knew the calling God had given him (to preach to the Gentiles) and did not need anyone else's approval. He did not remain in the 'church' to prove he was a Christian, he went about his work and answered to God becoming one of the most prolific evangelists of the Bible. Jesus himself would be asked by the priests if he was the son of the devil. David, the anointed one of God, was chased for years by King Saul whose only intent was killing David. Jezebel put a hit out on the prophet Elijah.
If you are a fan of facebook, there is story after story of disenfranchised Christians for one reason or another was left with no other option than to leave the church. There are many who tell you that you must be in a church or else you are a renegade Christian. Martin Luther broke from the Catholic Church as did many other founders of denominations most are sitting under till this day. Persecution goes hand in hand for those truly seeking God.
Acts 5:41 "The apostles left the Sanhedrin rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name." the apostles had been arrested for preaching to the people in the temple court. In my case I was not teaching the gospel. But I was saying in a meeting that our community and children were being lost and the church would have to make a change and become involved because they were the ones who had the people's ear. Many in the meeting agreed going into more discussion on the subject with agreement from the chairperson who was a pastor. After the meeting I asked the pastor to ask his congregation, with strong encouragement, to attend a unity event meant to try to draw the community and churches together. The pastor began to explain the people were too poor and not concerned with anything and I said that has been the response from every one but could he really try to sell this as important to his congregation. "Enter pastor’s wife stage right with the comment I need a covering and to stop jumping from church to church."
I immediately became repentant and apologized for any offense. She said she just had to tell me what the Bible says.
I had a restless night of conversation with God; of soul searching. My family as usual prayed for me and became angry with others as I told them not to be. I got admonished as usual "when was I going to learn to stop throwing pearls in front of swine." I happen to be the vice president of the organization relaying the sentiments of all of the members, not my own (even though I thoroughly believe the
same).
What does one do when they are witnessing the death of their community, state, nation? Martin Luther King gave his life for his vision that was tinged with religious values. All that is needed for evil to flourish is for good men to do nothing. Many great ministers said they wanted to quit and throw in the towel. They say people covet what they now have but would not have survived the torment and trials they endured.
I want to throw myself a pity party, but I know I have nothing to be pitied for. God directed me to more education so "I" could have a closer relationship with him. And we know the Scripture says to those much is given much is expected or what you were given will be taken. I guard the gifting God have given me and I will not allow the three or four voices of opposition to stop me from encouraging and ministering to the needs of the greater number that have sought me out for counsel or a prayer. I will not say I love my brother or sister and watch them be misled if they ask me a question and if their soul is in danger I speak up gently in love planting a seed without demand, judgment, contempt, indignation, self righteousness or pride, because I represent Jesus and I will not be a stumbling block or have blood on my hands.
We have pretty much reinstituted the law again after we have been freed from it by Jesus. We tell each other you must do this or that in this way to be stamped publicly as a Christian. A deviation in the approach is not tolerated, we have found the one way God has approved and it must be adhered to: the Baptist way is the only way, the Methodist way is the only way, the Church of Christ way is the only way etc. and we are the only one's going to heaven. It is the outward that we must judge to know your Christianity by even though we were never intended to be the judge and the heart is what is judged by God. Anyone going against the established group is suspect. Join the church, be silent, be observant, and learn the people and the flow of operation before you try to put in your two cents. No new member instruction or doctrinal teaching; just follow what the rest are doing. If you catch on good, if not, it's your fault.
I feel at times I am living in a mad mad mad world and then I remember the Bible said this is the way it was going to be. Then you begin to question yourself; "I can't be the only sane one so something is wrong with me and they are all right?" Again take it to God, listen to Him, trust in Him and His word, hold firm to His word, live your gifted life in Him.
I guess you have guessed it is one of those days in which I need to be encouraged, a day I pray for my heart not to become hardened or bitter. Romans 13 begins under the heading of Submission to the Authorities we are told "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities..." and goes on to say God knows who is in charge and no one is in charge he has not placed there and to pay your taxes, respect, even honor. Then 13: "Owe no man anything, but to love one another, for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law."
So in those hard times that bring you to tears; those unjust times when you were not deserving of the punishment for the crime you did not commit, when being misunderstood leaves you wounded, when you realize no one knows your heart: YOU OWE NO ONE ANYTHING MORE THAN TO LOVE THEM, and you can survive without them giving you their stamp of approval. It is God who we worship, serve, and seek to please.
I have said many times that a person must have a vision and a goal. I may have said some kind of 'happy go lucky' kind of quote or spark of wisdom like 'never give up and never give out." I remember drill sergeants screaming "Don't quit on your body and it will not quit on you" as they pushed you to do your 80th pushup.
The truth of the matter is you can get beat up on the way to greatness or success. You can be pushed so hard by people you would believe would be cheering for you until it not only knocks the wind out of you, but you’re fighting spirit as well.
I have been stung by comments from people and wondered what "I" was doing that warranted such a comment. I have had prophesied over me that I needed 'a humble spirit thus sayth the Lord.' This was after I was the only person to answer, strictly out of pity, the pleas and beggings of the prophet for people to come forth for prayer.
My latest gut punch was when a woman interrupted a conversation I was having and said I needed a covering and needed to stop jumping from church to church. How do you respond to a statement like that? What is a COVERING? And as far I know I have only been the member of one church, which I no longer attend, but visit other churches from time to time.
Maybe some more back story is needed. I am from a very small town where you are born into a church. You go there because everyone else in your family goes there. Your pastor is selected by whoever asks and you say yes so you will not hurt his feelings. People find it difficult to finish high school and will not attend any Bible teaching that requires a book, pencil, and paper. With this said, these are some wonderful, loving, devout Christians who have lived religious tradition and consider it some kind of voodoo to introduce anything new. Needless to say, the religious atmosphere is rigid and hell is the destination of those who want anything more or different. You must "WAIT UNTIL THE PASTOR DIES" because the anointed can not be removed. The Baptist are very Baptist and women are not allowed in the pulpit because they are unclean (I have heard because she has a period) and every other denomination holds very close to their tenants.
Some may assume from the above paragraph that I may have a problem with humility and they would also be mistaken. When I believed I was not being fed enough to enable me to have a closer personal relationship with God, I went to college to learn more. I did not make it an issue with my church or try to teach them all of the new wonderful revelations I was learning. Just the opposite occurred. The more invisible I tried to make my biblical studies, the more comments were being made. I heard "the Holy Spirit tells you all you need to know and man can tell you things and make you sound smart but God does not have to send you to school. People try to learn psychology and philosophy but all you need is God's word." It was more than clear that book smarts was not acceptable when it can to religion in my area.
There were many Sunday's after church that I would cry and ask my family was I doing something to warrant the comments. My family became protective of me trying to shield my=e from assaults as I tried to remain a faithful Christian and remain in the church for fellowship purposes. Good Christians wait out the devil, as pastors are prone to say when Christians are having difficulties within the church. I would become nauseous before attending church and began anointing myself with oil and having my family to pray before we entered the church doors. My children finally gave me an ultimatum, they could no longer bear to see me be under assault for no reason and they could no longer watch this unfold month after month. If the Lord told me to stay that was fine, but I was scarring them. WOW! What do you do with that?
After much fasting, prayer and tears, I finally felt peace within myself that five years was enough. I spoke to a Christian counselor who after hearing my story actually told me I was dealing with a person with a dangerous personality disorder where no matter what I did I was going to be a target of aggression. Even with this counseling, it was painful to leave my family church.
I have been searching for another home church that valued Bible study community service, and women. I was so traumatized from leaving my first church that I never wanted to get into that situation again. Needless to say, the search goes on and you are not considered a Christian or a good Christian if you are not in the pews every Sunday. People shun you; you must be a rebellious person who stirs up trouble wherever you go. I am a Christian with a SCARLET LETTER.
Now, do I believe I am the Christian people say I am or the Christian God says I am?
Paul said whether anyone believed him or not, he knew the calling God had given him (to preach to the Gentiles) and did not need anyone else's approval. He did not remain in the 'church' to prove he was a Christian, he went about his work and answered to God becoming one of the most prolific evangelists of the Bible. Jesus himself would be asked by the priests if he was the son of the devil. David, the anointed one of God, was chased for years by King Saul whose only intent was killing David. Jezebel put a hit out on the prophet Elijah.
If you are a fan of facebook, there is story after story of disenfranchised Christians for one reason or another was left with no other option than to leave the church. There are many who tell you that you must be in a church or else you are a renegade Christian. Martin Luther broke from the Catholic Church as did many other founders of denominations most are sitting under till this day. Persecution goes hand in hand for those truly seeking God.
Acts 5:41 "The apostles left the Sanhedrin rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name." the apostles had been arrested for preaching to the people in the temple court. In my case I was not teaching the gospel. But I was saying in a meeting that our community and children were being lost and the church would have to make a change and become involved because they were the ones who had the people's ear. Many in the meeting agreed going into more discussion on the subject with agreement from the chairperson who was a pastor. After the meeting I asked the pastor to ask his congregation, with strong encouragement, to attend a unity event meant to try to draw the community and churches together. The pastor began to explain the people were too poor and not concerned with anything and I said that has been the response from every one but could he really try to sell this as important to his congregation. "Enter pastor’s wife stage right with the comment I need a covering and to stop jumping from church to church."
I immediately became repentant and apologized for any offense. She said she just had to tell me what the Bible says.
I had a restless night of conversation with God; of soul searching. My family as usual prayed for me and became angry with others as I told them not to be. I got admonished as usual "when was I going to learn to stop throwing pearls in front of swine." I happen to be the vice president of the organization relaying the sentiments of all of the members, not my own (even though I thoroughly believe the
same).
What does one do when they are witnessing the death of their community, state, nation? Martin Luther King gave his life for his vision that was tinged with religious values. All that is needed for evil to flourish is for good men to do nothing. Many great ministers said they wanted to quit and throw in the towel. They say people covet what they now have but would not have survived the torment and trials they endured.
I want to throw myself a pity party, but I know I have nothing to be pitied for. God directed me to more education so "I" could have a closer relationship with him. And we know the Scripture says to those much is given much is expected or what you were given will be taken. I guard the gifting God have given me and I will not allow the three or four voices of opposition to stop me from encouraging and ministering to the needs of the greater number that have sought me out for counsel or a prayer. I will not say I love my brother or sister and watch them be misled if they ask me a question and if their soul is in danger I speak up gently in love planting a seed without demand, judgment, contempt, indignation, self righteousness or pride, because I represent Jesus and I will not be a stumbling block or have blood on my hands.
We have pretty much reinstituted the law again after we have been freed from it by Jesus. We tell each other you must do this or that in this way to be stamped publicly as a Christian. A deviation in the approach is not tolerated, we have found the one way God has approved and it must be adhered to: the Baptist way is the only way, the Methodist way is the only way, the Church of Christ way is the only way etc. and we are the only one's going to heaven. It is the outward that we must judge to know your Christianity by even though we were never intended to be the judge and the heart is what is judged by God. Anyone going against the established group is suspect. Join the church, be silent, be observant, and learn the people and the flow of operation before you try to put in your two cents. No new member instruction or doctrinal teaching; just follow what the rest are doing. If you catch on good, if not, it's your fault.
I feel at times I am living in a mad mad mad world and then I remember the Bible said this is the way it was going to be. Then you begin to question yourself; "I can't be the only sane one so something is wrong with me and they are all right?" Again take it to God, listen to Him, trust in Him and His word, hold firm to His word, live your gifted life in Him.
I guess you have guessed it is one of those days in which I need to be encouraged, a day I pray for my heart not to become hardened or bitter. Romans 13 begins under the heading of Submission to the Authorities we are told "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities..." and goes on to say God knows who is in charge and no one is in charge he has not placed there and to pay your taxes, respect, even honor. Then 13: "Owe no man anything, but to love one another, for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law."
So in those hard times that bring you to tears; those unjust times when you were not deserving of the punishment for the crime you did not commit, when being misunderstood leaves you wounded, when you realize no one knows your heart: YOU OWE NO ONE ANYTHING MORE THAN TO LOVE THEM, and you can survive without them giving you their stamp of approval. It is God who we worship, serve, and seek to please.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
FASTING
Count it an honor and privilege to FAST.
There seems to be a fair amount of confusion and disagreement about how and why to fast. ; This is understandable since the bible does not give concrete guidelines for fasting. There are various passages in several books of the Bible where it is clear that there is power in fasting. I want to offer my opinion and attitude for this act of faith without implying that my view is the concrete biblical way. I hope my addressing this topic opens doors for reflection, prayer, and discussion on the subject.
Fasting is defined in The Layman's Bible Dictionary as the practice of giving up eating and drinking for a specified time, generally as part of a religious ritual in times of PERIL. Elijah and Jesus fasted for forty days (1 Kings 19:8; Matthew 4:2.
In the New Testament the Greek word is nesteuo meaning to abstain from food, to abstain from eating. Christ taught the need of purity and simplicity of motive. Fasting was the answers of Christ to the questions of the disciples of John and of the Pharisees reveal His whole purpose or method. (Mt. 4:2, 6:16-18, 9:14-15 MK. 2:18-20, LK 5:33, 18:12, Acts 13:2-3).
Matthew 6:16 "When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen, and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."
The Book of Esther is a good study on when a great national need was met by the fasting of many. An edict had been given by the king for all of the Jews to be killed. The Jews responded to this by fasting, weeping, and wailing. Mordecai reached out to Queen Esther to plead the case of the Jews to the king which would be a dangerous undertaking. Only those invited into the king’s presence could speak, those not invited faced death. Esther told Mordecai to "Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is DONE I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish." Esther 4:1-17.
In the above chapter, the life of a nation was at hand, there was a threatening danger to the lives of others as well as the petitioner of God's mercy. Notice that Esther said AFTER the fast was over, then she would take ACTION. This passage demonstrates working cooperatively with God after seeking His mercy and grace.
Another great study on fasting would be the book of Jonah. Jonah was directed by God to go to the enemy of his people in Nineveh to reach out to them one last time before God would destroy them. Jonah is famously known for his disobedience and being swallowed by a whale before changing his mind and obeying God. Jonah was tasked with telling the people of Nineveh "Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned." Jonah did not know if his enemy would kill him even before he had a chance to relay God's message. He had concern for his life. The Ninevites believed God. They declared a fast, and all of them,...The king issued a decree "Do not let any man or beast, herd or flock, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence." Through their fasting, praying, and turning from their evil ways, Nineveh was saved. Again we witness a situation occurring on a large national scale.
Finally I would like to look at Jesus. Before Jesus began His ministry, He went off to himself for forty days to fast, led by the Spirit. It was after His fast that Satan came to tempt Jesus. Jesus was able to resist and to tell Satan to leave and go on to begin His ministry after being ministered himself to by angels. We know that Jesus' ministry was a ministry of life and death for those who listened or refused to listen. His ministry changed a nation. His own life along with those who He ministered to and led was in mortal danger.
There are other mentions of fasting in the Bible but I use these three to point to a greater good and power of fasting. I do not believe fasting should be taken lightly because of its great power. There are people fasting for cars, money, restoration of health and I will not be the one to say they are wrong, because I am not qualified explicitly by Scripture to make that determination. But I do believe that fasting is a part of the armor of God. It is a weapon to fight against the principalities of darkness. I think as with all things concerning God it is the heart-motive that matters. Fasting in the examples I used were for the greater good, extending beyond self. Supernatural power and authority was needed for a supernatural change.
Fasting is a cry or plea to the gates of heaven for God to look down on you and to have mercy from your position of brokenness and humility on the highest form. The lack of food and water is an outward sign, a declaration stating your existence is not dependent on bread and water but on the mercy and grace of the Lord. I live or die by your hands, not by any other external source.
Christians teach on the power of fasting-to get what you want. But I do not think the posture or position of fasting is taught. Fasting says I will perish without your intervention- without you Lord. Once Esther and Nineveh had come to the realization of their dire circumstances, they pulled out the most potent weapon in their communication of God to relay their dire circumstance, but after the fasting there was an action. It was not left to the supernatural power of God but I believe in and will act on my faith in the ability of God to do what takes supernatural intervention. Esther went to the king, relying of the grace and mercy of God to spare her life; which He did. The Ninevites quit their behavior which had caused them to have the wrath of God turned to them. They became different-changed, with their petition for mercy. Jesus began His ministry in the power of God knowing men would reject Him; that He was putting His life in jeopardy each day. After fasting, Jesus began His appointed mission for the kingdom.
So fasting is not a one way street of just receiving. It is asking God to be with you, go before you, open un-openable doors, and do what has not been done before as you work with Him in His kingdom. Neither of these examples were a selfish request. It went beyond the faster.
This is why in the New Testament, God is warning to make sure your fasting is not just an act of gaining attention or for manipulation and that you have right motives.
I began this post by saying it is an honor and privilege to fast. How wonderful to know that when you are at your most hopeless and helpless you can still go to God. To say to God, this situation needs your supernatural intervention on a large scale. This situation is a matter of life and death and no one can do anything about it but you my Lord. Are you familiar with the boy who cried wolf? In the three examples I gave above about fasting, there is no doubt that these were dire circumstances needing supernatural intervention. As a soldier in God's army, sometimes we take a tank into battle when only a knife is needed.
I would never try to discourage anyone from fasting. I do not have that authority. My post is mainly to praise God for saying we can turn to Him when we are at our last and He will intervene. That when we are at the darkest hour in our lives, He can be counted on to be with us. I also wanted to stress ACTION on our part. Fasting is inviting God into OUR situation, not releasing us of our duty and responsibility. So the next time you fast, know that your part has not ended with the fast, but you have asked God to do the part that you are not able to do, but continue to do what you MUST DO. Remember, most people DO fast in dire circumstances, but they are empowered through and with God to continue on and to finish the supernatural
There seems to be a fair amount of confusion and disagreement about how and why to fast. ; This is understandable since the bible does not give concrete guidelines for fasting. There are various passages in several books of the Bible where it is clear that there is power in fasting. I want to offer my opinion and attitude for this act of faith without implying that my view is the concrete biblical way. I hope my addressing this topic opens doors for reflection, prayer, and discussion on the subject.
Fasting is defined in The Layman's Bible Dictionary as the practice of giving up eating and drinking for a specified time, generally as part of a religious ritual in times of PERIL. Elijah and Jesus fasted for forty days (1 Kings 19:8; Matthew 4:2.
In the New Testament the Greek word is nesteuo meaning to abstain from food, to abstain from eating. Christ taught the need of purity and simplicity of motive. Fasting was the answers of Christ to the questions of the disciples of John and of the Pharisees reveal His whole purpose or method. (Mt. 4:2, 6:16-18, 9:14-15 MK. 2:18-20, LK 5:33, 18:12, Acts 13:2-3).
Matthew 6:16 "When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen, and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."
The Book of Esther is a good study on when a great national need was met by the fasting of many. An edict had been given by the king for all of the Jews to be killed. The Jews responded to this by fasting, weeping, and wailing. Mordecai reached out to Queen Esther to plead the case of the Jews to the king which would be a dangerous undertaking. Only those invited into the king’s presence could speak, those not invited faced death. Esther told Mordecai to "Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is DONE I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish." Esther 4:1-17.
In the above chapter, the life of a nation was at hand, there was a threatening danger to the lives of others as well as the petitioner of God's mercy. Notice that Esther said AFTER the fast was over, then she would take ACTION. This passage demonstrates working cooperatively with God after seeking His mercy and grace.
Another great study on fasting would be the book of Jonah. Jonah was directed by God to go to the enemy of his people in Nineveh to reach out to them one last time before God would destroy them. Jonah is famously known for his disobedience and being swallowed by a whale before changing his mind and obeying God. Jonah was tasked with telling the people of Nineveh "Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned." Jonah did not know if his enemy would kill him even before he had a chance to relay God's message. He had concern for his life. The Ninevites believed God. They declared a fast, and all of them,...The king issued a decree "Do not let any man or beast, herd or flock, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence." Through their fasting, praying, and turning from their evil ways, Nineveh was saved. Again we witness a situation occurring on a large national scale.
Finally I would like to look at Jesus. Before Jesus began His ministry, He went off to himself for forty days to fast, led by the Spirit. It was after His fast that Satan came to tempt Jesus. Jesus was able to resist and to tell Satan to leave and go on to begin His ministry after being ministered himself to by angels. We know that Jesus' ministry was a ministry of life and death for those who listened or refused to listen. His ministry changed a nation. His own life along with those who He ministered to and led was in mortal danger.
There are other mentions of fasting in the Bible but I use these three to point to a greater good and power of fasting. I do not believe fasting should be taken lightly because of its great power. There are people fasting for cars, money, restoration of health and I will not be the one to say they are wrong, because I am not qualified explicitly by Scripture to make that determination. But I do believe that fasting is a part of the armor of God. It is a weapon to fight against the principalities of darkness. I think as with all things concerning God it is the heart-motive that matters. Fasting in the examples I used were for the greater good, extending beyond self. Supernatural power and authority was needed for a supernatural change.
Fasting is a cry or plea to the gates of heaven for God to look down on you and to have mercy from your position of brokenness and humility on the highest form. The lack of food and water is an outward sign, a declaration stating your existence is not dependent on bread and water but on the mercy and grace of the Lord. I live or die by your hands, not by any other external source.
Christians teach on the power of fasting-to get what you want. But I do not think the posture or position of fasting is taught. Fasting says I will perish without your intervention- without you Lord. Once Esther and Nineveh had come to the realization of their dire circumstances, they pulled out the most potent weapon in their communication of God to relay their dire circumstance, but after the fasting there was an action. It was not left to the supernatural power of God but I believe in and will act on my faith in the ability of God to do what takes supernatural intervention. Esther went to the king, relying of the grace and mercy of God to spare her life; which He did. The Ninevites quit their behavior which had caused them to have the wrath of God turned to them. They became different-changed, with their petition for mercy. Jesus began His ministry in the power of God knowing men would reject Him; that He was putting His life in jeopardy each day. After fasting, Jesus began His appointed mission for the kingdom.
So fasting is not a one way street of just receiving. It is asking God to be with you, go before you, open un-openable doors, and do what has not been done before as you work with Him in His kingdom. Neither of these examples were a selfish request. It went beyond the faster.
This is why in the New Testament, God is warning to make sure your fasting is not just an act of gaining attention or for manipulation and that you have right motives.
I began this post by saying it is an honor and privilege to fast. How wonderful to know that when you are at your most hopeless and helpless you can still go to God. To say to God, this situation needs your supernatural intervention on a large scale. This situation is a matter of life and death and no one can do anything about it but you my Lord. Are you familiar with the boy who cried wolf? In the three examples I gave above about fasting, there is no doubt that these were dire circumstances needing supernatural intervention. As a soldier in God's army, sometimes we take a tank into battle when only a knife is needed.
I would never try to discourage anyone from fasting. I do not have that authority. My post is mainly to praise God for saying we can turn to Him when we are at our last and He will intervene. That when we are at the darkest hour in our lives, He can be counted on to be with us. I also wanted to stress ACTION on our part. Fasting is inviting God into OUR situation, not releasing us of our duty and responsibility. So the next time you fast, know that your part has not ended with the fast, but you have asked God to do the part that you are not able to do, but continue to do what you MUST DO. Remember, most people DO fast in dire circumstances, but they are empowered through and with God to continue on and to finish the supernatural
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Christian Adultery
I almost titled this post "HOSEA'S WHORE" but shock value is not always needed, even though the title would fit well into my commentary on forgiveness in marriage after infidelity.
My facebook friends had what they considered to be a hot topic: SHOULD A CHRISTIAN REMAIN IN THE MARRIAGE AND FORGIVE AN ADULTEROUS SPOUSE.
One would think the Bible has answered this question beyond a shadow of a doubt, but for some reason, FORGIVENESS is really pushed and stressed regarding adultery. It seems the party offended must demonstrate their Christianity by how forgiving their heart is in this situation. I posted a reply saying that it seems marriage counseling is geared more for the sinner than for the saint. I said this because even when the one being cheated on is Christian and the spouse doing the cheating is a non-Christian, the counseling remains the same: FORGIVENESS. I also posted if the sheep is continually being bitten by the wolf, why are we instructing the sheep to forgive the wolf?
Leviticus 20: 10: "If a man commits adultery with another man's wife---with the wife of his neighbor--both adulterer and the adulteress must be put to death."
We are familiar with the adulterous woman of John 8:4 where the priest brought her before Jesus without the man she was committing adultery with to be stoned in accordance with the Law of Moses and Jesus in essence said let her go becaause you are following only part of the Law. Both guilty parties are to be stoned.
Proverbs 6:32 "But a man who commits adultery lacks judgment whoever does so destroys himself."
The Bible does not want Christians to commit adultery period. THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT IN EXODUS 20:14 STATES SUCH: "You shall not commit adultery." So the issue that is causing some debate is how does God feel about DIVORCE?
There is a long passage about divorcement that makes the head swim in Deuteronomy 24:1-4 "If a man marries a woman who becomes displeasing to him because he finds something indecent about her and he writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her and sends her from his house, and if after she leaves his house she becomes the wife of another man, and the second husband dislikes her and writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her and sends her from his house or if he dies, then her first husband who divorced her is not allowed to marry her again after she has been defiled. that would be detestable in the eyes of the Lord." DEFILED is not of a sexual nature but from touching or eating something unclean.
Matthew 5:31-32 :"It has been said 'Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce. But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries a divorced womon commits adultery."
There you have it. Adultery is grounds for divorce. WHERE'S THE QUESTION?
Now let's look at the prophet Hosea who God told to marry an unfaithful woman. Hosea 1:2: "...Go, take to yourself an adulterous wife and children of unfaithfulness, because the land is guilty of the vilest adultery in departing from the Lord. So he married Gomer..." God picked Hosea's wife and named the children that were born during that relationship. Why would God tell a chosen servant to marry an unfaithful woman?
God wanted to use Hosea's marriage to demonstrate how Isreal was like an unfaithful spouse and the kind of destruction that can bring to a 'body' i.e. marriage, family, and nation. God showed how the unfaithful goes after material things in selfish ways in 1:5 "Their mother has been unfaithful and has conceived them in disgrace. She said 'I will go after my lovers who give me my food and my water, my wool and my linen, my oil and my drink." 4:14: "I will not punish your daughters when they turn to prostitution, nor your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery, because the men themselves consort with harlots and sacrifice with shrine prostitutes- a people without understanding will come to ruin!"
The only God sanctified marriage consisting of adultery was a marriage intended to reflect how the children of Israel had turned to satisfying their flesh, both the men and women. At the end of the book of Hosea, God states even the vilest of sins can be forgiven if the people turn from their wickedness back to God in repentence.
So, why the push to forgive the adulterer? I don't know. Is there Scripture freeing the Christian from an aduterous spouse? Yes, there is. Should forgiveness even be attempted? Well, we are told to have a forgiving heart.
My advice is to present to the couple the Scripture and after that they themselves will have to decide their next course of action. To FORCE a person to forgive an adulterous spouse or their Christianity will be in doubt is abusive and I can not see it being biblical or healthy to the spirit. A covenant has been broken and there are numerous examples of what a perosn is to do once a covenent is broken. In all of them, the person breaking the covenent has released all obligations of the other person the covenant was made with ***look at my older post on covenants***
My final word on the subject is take everything to God in prayer. Live for God and not for man and realize God's word is meant to heal the broken, not cause more bondage and pain.
My facebook friends had what they considered to be a hot topic: SHOULD A CHRISTIAN REMAIN IN THE MARRIAGE AND FORGIVE AN ADULTEROUS SPOUSE.
One would think the Bible has answered this question beyond a shadow of a doubt, but for some reason, FORGIVENESS is really pushed and stressed regarding adultery. It seems the party offended must demonstrate their Christianity by how forgiving their heart is in this situation. I posted a reply saying that it seems marriage counseling is geared more for the sinner than for the saint. I said this because even when the one being cheated on is Christian and the spouse doing the cheating is a non-Christian, the counseling remains the same: FORGIVENESS. I also posted if the sheep is continually being bitten by the wolf, why are we instructing the sheep to forgive the wolf?
Leviticus 20: 10: "If a man commits adultery with another man's wife---with the wife of his neighbor--both adulterer and the adulteress must be put to death."
We are familiar with the adulterous woman of John 8:4 where the priest brought her before Jesus without the man she was committing adultery with to be stoned in accordance with the Law of Moses and Jesus in essence said let her go becaause you are following only part of the Law. Both guilty parties are to be stoned.
Proverbs 6:32 "But a man who commits adultery lacks judgment whoever does so destroys himself."
The Bible does not want Christians to commit adultery period. THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT IN EXODUS 20:14 STATES SUCH: "You shall not commit adultery." So the issue that is causing some debate is how does God feel about DIVORCE?
There is a long passage about divorcement that makes the head swim in Deuteronomy 24:1-4 "If a man marries a woman who becomes displeasing to him because he finds something indecent about her and he writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her and sends her from his house, and if after she leaves his house she becomes the wife of another man, and the second husband dislikes her and writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her and sends her from his house or if he dies, then her first husband who divorced her is not allowed to marry her again after she has been defiled. that would be detestable in the eyes of the Lord." DEFILED is not of a sexual nature but from touching or eating something unclean.
Matthew 5:31-32 :"It has been said 'Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce. But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries a divorced womon commits adultery."
There you have it. Adultery is grounds for divorce. WHERE'S THE QUESTION?
Now let's look at the prophet Hosea who God told to marry an unfaithful woman. Hosea 1:2: "...Go, take to yourself an adulterous wife and children of unfaithfulness, because the land is guilty of the vilest adultery in departing from the Lord. So he married Gomer..." God picked Hosea's wife and named the children that were born during that relationship. Why would God tell a chosen servant to marry an unfaithful woman?
God wanted to use Hosea's marriage to demonstrate how Isreal was like an unfaithful spouse and the kind of destruction that can bring to a 'body' i.e. marriage, family, and nation. God showed how the unfaithful goes after material things in selfish ways in 1:5 "Their mother has been unfaithful and has conceived them in disgrace. She said 'I will go after my lovers who give me my food and my water, my wool and my linen, my oil and my drink." 4:14: "I will not punish your daughters when they turn to prostitution, nor your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery, because the men themselves consort with harlots and sacrifice with shrine prostitutes- a people without understanding will come to ruin!"
The only God sanctified marriage consisting of adultery was a marriage intended to reflect how the children of Israel had turned to satisfying their flesh, both the men and women. At the end of the book of Hosea, God states even the vilest of sins can be forgiven if the people turn from their wickedness back to God in repentence.
So, why the push to forgive the adulterer? I don't know. Is there Scripture freeing the Christian from an aduterous spouse? Yes, there is. Should forgiveness even be attempted? Well, we are told to have a forgiving heart.
My advice is to present to the couple the Scripture and after that they themselves will have to decide their next course of action. To FORCE a person to forgive an adulterous spouse or their Christianity will be in doubt is abusive and I can not see it being biblical or healthy to the spirit. A covenant has been broken and there are numerous examples of what a perosn is to do once a covenent is broken. In all of them, the person breaking the covenent has released all obligations of the other person the covenant was made with ***look at my older post on covenants***
My final word on the subject is take everything to God in prayer. Live for God and not for man and realize God's word is meant to heal the broken, not cause more bondage and pain.
Monday, January 17, 2011
ANGER MANAGEMENT
Ephesians 4:26-27 "In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold."
Being made in the image of God we must assume correctly that we all have the emotion of anger just like our creator. In the New Testament we are told not to become so angry to the point of sinning and once angered, do our best to reconcile it and not carry it over into another day.
Many male Christians have made the point of saying that the Bible has become feminized. In their minds this means that there is only flowers and rose petals of love written within its pages. They are advocating for a 'masculine' look at the truth of Scriptures that God and Jesus became angry at times.
In Matthew 21:12-13: "Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 'It is written,' he said to them, 'My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of robbers." In this passage Jesus was upset because many people had come to the temples to make sacrifices that were the standard for the Jews to do at that time and were being ripped off, having their sacrifices devalued in the monetary exchange of goods by the men in the temple set on making a crooked handed profit from the devout people of faith.
Even in marriage relationships, counselors advise not to focus on the 'anger' but the issue or root of the anger. In the same manner we should not focus on Jesus' anger, but the reasoning behind His anger. Jesus, as well as God, was always upset about the way the poor and the widow were treated.
Now for our favorite friend the Apostle Paul. Paul was a straight shooter and did not care about public response when it came to his clear ministry for God. In Galatians, Paul addresses the issue of circumcision and that it was a step backwards for the Galatians in their faith in Jesus. Circumcision was instituted under the Law of Moses. After Jesus' ministry, death, and resurrection, the Law of Moses was no longer to be adhered to.
As Paul gave point after point as to why circumcision no longer factored into the following of the teachings of Jesus, he said those that were teaching them such were wrong for doing so and their belief and following of such instructions were inexcusable.
One thing that struck me as I read the entire chapter was when Paul was coming to the end of his letter to the Galatians. Galatians 5:7-12:
"You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth...As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!"
Oh my goodness!!! Paul said for those advising you to just cut off the foreskin of your penis-I wish they would just go ahead and cut off their entire PENIS.
I believe Paul was a little hot under the collar at those continuing to preach circumcision. This example shows even great man of God become frustrated in their ministry. Paul had a problem with aggressive actions of faith before God called him on Damascus road and we can see his aggressive zeal continued as an apostle. Pretending we do not have issues with anger does not make us more holy. It is how we deal with our anger that makes us more Christ like. Paul had a powerful ministry. He was a strong personality and may not have been as effective if he did not possess all of the characteristics that made him in the image of God.
God gives us guidance in all areas of our lives, including the area of anger. I have said jokingly more than once, the holier many woman present themselves to be the more soft, angelic pitched their voices seem to be. Soon, some of them are going to be so godly until you will not be able to hear them.
The Bible has not become feminized and on that same note its masculinity does not have to be protected. Anger is a natural course of living, but its management is a part of Christian living. As 2011 has dawned, I find myself calmer, not easily rattled by things that use to push my buttons. I have always tried not to pitch a tent in the neighborhood of anger once angered. I purposefully try to find ways of diffusing my anger, not trying to win the argument or change the offender. My anger is about me in the end. I have a right to be angry but I do not have a right to allow my anger to cause me to sin.
If you found this blog while searching for ways to manage your anger; I hope I have said something to give you to think about for a moment. It is my prayer that you become released from the bondage of anger. Many people will declare almost with pride that they have a 'short fuse.' I guess we all are different, but we all are capable of anger. But we must strive to be the master of it and not mastered by it. Let's face it; if you choose to, you can be mad 24-7. There is just that much in this world to keep you involved in anger. But this is not your natural state of being, it is only one facet of a dynamic YOU. Tap into those greater parts of you that breathe life. Let anger come and go just like the wind. Your time can be filled with so many more spirit building activities.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Sexual harassment or doctrine: My Story Dorothy Guyton
To begin let me state without question I am not bitter at my journey through biblical academia. I have grown leaps and bounds spiritually, but there was a price to be paid. I thought long and hard about telling my story. I asked first would it seem like backbiting against my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ and second I asked would there be any benefit to telling my story. Satisfied with my answers, I think I'll let you come to your own conclusion about my reasonings for opening up.
To say I wanted to be a female minister would result in the same answer from any other minister: God does the calling whether I want the duty or not. To say I am a female minister would not be correct anyway. I believe I am more akin to Joyce Myers; somewhere in the realm of not needing a title other than servant of God. Titles are only important to those seeking position. I admit, titles help to identify what your job or purpose is, but work results can also define us too. I can be called a mechanic, have it written across my chest and never fix a car. I can talk about it and be well versed in it, but would I be a TRUE mechanic. People would seek me out looking for aid for their car because of my title. Until I produce, and produce competently I do not live into my title.
I do believe God put a restless spirit in me back in 2005 to seek to know Him more in depth. To my surprise, I found in my local community a Bible college. I became excited and really praised God for divine direction. I had never noticed the the college in all of my years living in the community and I believed God had to have had something to do with letting the scales fall from my eyes.
I registered after reading their college catalog, deciding the classes were what I was interested in. Time passed and passed and I waited to be notified of orientation day. I finally decided there was only a week left before Fall term began and I better check to make sure I had everything in order to attend. To my surprise the campus was abuzz with the last ditch efforts to do placement test for straggler students. I was told I just walked in on the last testing opportunity to become registered and would have to take the 3 hour test within an hour before staff went to lunch; was I able to? Of course I said yes, and plowed into the 100 multiple choice test on the Bible, 50 question math test, and 5 question essay test to show my writing skills. To my surprise, I scored high on all and was informed I had cleared to register for classes in two days.
Feeling extremely lucky, I showed up to register for classes the following Monday. I followed the example given in the college catalog for my Junior year class selections(already had an associate degree). I was routed from one department head to the next for approval signitures, until I came to the next to last signiture needed. This middle aged man began to ask how I found out about the college and did I know certain "black" women in the community; which I did not. It was a friendly chat before he headed off the get the final signiture needed to complete my class registration (he said).
He returned with news that one class in particular had only one opening left and a senior desparately needed the slot and would I be willing to substitute another class allowing the senior to have that last slot. More than understanding and willing I agreed and we substituted a class, I took my form myself for final approval and headed to the book store to get my books.
Almost skipping I entered the bookstore still feeling lucky to have gotten in and so ready to learn more about God and the Bible I entered the bookstore to audible whispering "That's her" "She tried to sign up for Methods of Patoring" The people began to back away from me as I claimed books off of the bookshelves and stood in line to purchase them." I felt stares digging into my back. Some faces had actually turned red. The lady behind the desk literally snatched my class schedule with the list of my needed books from my hand. I was puzzled. This was a college with adults first and a Biblical College second. Was I imagining hostility? And if not, why was everyone hostile? People talk about playing the race card, but if you are the only black person standing in a sea of white people, the race card jumps out first in its own magic trick. Of course, knowing what Christianity should be, I did not let that reasoning find fertile soil in my mind.
Day one first class; I'm the only female in a class of 15 other males. The instructor suggested we go one by one to introduce ourselves and why we decided to attend Bible College. STANDARD PRACTICE in many class room settings. My turn came and being in Bible college truth reigns "I came to Bible college because I love God and wanted to learn more about Him and the Bible."
The guy who followed me (about 43 yrs old), stood up placing his arms behind his back in military style (parade rest) and said, "This is not a Sunday school class and it takes more than loving God to be a Christian. It takes obedience to His word, and that's why I am here." Okay people I have said many times I am slow on the uptake. This man who stood up was also different than everyone else in the room. He was bald, wore a silver band on his thumb and looked like a aging rebel, so I quickly was happy that there was diversity at the college and he was in the right place for his strong views. After two more introductions, a young man about 21 asked the instrutor, instead of introducing himself, would God hold people accountable for teaching people who were not called to certain areas (I promise this went over my head because first I was not called by God for anything, secondly no where in their catalog did they say women could not attend the college or certain classes, thirdly, I BELIEVED ALL CHRISTIANS WERE NICE and this was some kind of question to do with his own personal life.)
It took me about two weeks to finally realize my presence there was not wanted. Class instructors asked about my husband everyday and why he was not at the college and could they speak with him, I was never called on to read a passage from the Bible or answer any questions presented to the class. One of my instructor's wife had a class with me and she avoided me like the plague. It was not a black and white issue it was a WOMAN issue. Jokes about denominations especially the Baptist were cracked I do believe in a joint effort to offend me and make me quit. I was not Baptist and did not care for separation of God's children using denominations. I thought the denominational jokes were childish and crude; but not even close to being something to make me quit. I dug in my heals once I realized the nature of what was occurring. My husband was very upset with me that I was potentially putting myself in unknown harms way. When Christians are wrong they are very worng and very malicious and very dangerous. There was not a place of peace for me at college or home for that 1st semester.
I spent my second month there actually fearful. I had a young man about 21 become so visibly agitated at my presence in the college that he transfered to our college brother University in another state. He caused me a good deal of internal fear. Young men raised by fathers they admire will fight to the end to protect the integrety of their father's words and beliefs. I always sat as far away as possible from him.
After completing my first semester with 'A's, carrying myself as Jesus would, being far better, gracious, loving, kind, approachable, to others than they had been, killing them with the love of God, they broke. I gave them no reasoning to be cruel to a nice godly person whose ONLY interest was learning more about her professed religion. No agenda on my part was found, after much investigation. I became a mirror in which they only saw self after a while and then finally they could see me and along with me; Jesus.
The militant guy became my in-class-joking buddy. We sat side by side in all of the classes we had together my last semester. He had a great transformational testimony for God before I had met him and after we became friends. The last semester of my senior year he was demanding instructors to let me read from the Bible in class to the point I had to poke him to make him stop, it had developed to picking status. He admired me, my husband, and my children. He was a dear friend that continued on to minister to people in jail and recovering from drugs as he did while in college at our local jail and prisons in surrounding counties.
The instructor's wife and I laughed and laughed throughout the two years that followed and she cried my final semester almost every other day at my leaving her and returning her back to her testosterone world with no shading of compassion for womanhood.
Oh, the instructor who chatted me up before removing me from my 'preacher' class was a great academic mind who transferred to another state for family reasons. I cried missing his demanding expected expectation of greatness he believed we all had in us before exam time. I learned the most in his classes.
This was my undergrad experience and I walked into seminary with many echos of this on a higher level of civility and shading but it was there. I recalled on this blog a dentist in the throws of working on my tooth questiong me as to whether I was going to preach or not and I was terrified to give an incorrect response.
I had never been exposed to ugliness, hostility, prejucice, self righteousness, pride, egotism, sexism, abuse moreson than when I enrolled in these religious institutions designed to teach about God, His nature, His word, His doctrine. But my testimony rings louder. I determined to show Jesus when no one else wanted to. I determined to learn for myself the God I served and make sure everyone else who so desired would and could no matter what anyone else said. I saw first hand the power of being and living how God has told me to no matter what everyone around me has chosen to do. I learned it is not about others it is about self and what are YOU going to do and HOW are you going to respond and are you WILLING to be uncomfortable for God and GROW and not become bitter and die.
I ask in all of our efforts to follow the word of God, are we destroying the word of God? In all of God's truth and wisdom written for man to read, follow and flourish is his seed of love being demonstrated? You cannot harrass people into following God. You cannot abuse them into believing your understanding of His word, and you can not force the Spirit filled giftedness out of a person. All avenues of God's working and sovereignty do not begin and end with you. God is going to use His creation to reach His creation and He is not going to run it past you for approval.
Many have inccorectly assumed I wanted to become a minister or pastor without asking me and I can pretty much assume without asking God was that my intentions. My true calling has it's title which is Christian. Define the duties of a Christian and decide how I can fulfil them by sitting in a corner being silent. God said we have problems because we have no wisdom. Operate in God's word but operate in it in wisdom.
Sadly to say, this Bible College that taught so extraoridinarily well, I mean sound doctrine and opened the Scripture up to me in ways I will forever be grateful, closed in 2010 due to the economy and lack of students. My final semester there issued in a new college catalog with an asteric next to courses women could not take and also classes in which the men could not take.
This horrible time, this absolutely frightening time that made me run to the bathroom three time in two years to cry, gather myself up, say a quick Psalm 23 prayer, grew my spirt and mind in ways I can only give God the glory for taking my life in that direction. I testify to the goodness of that college and how it made me a better Christian, not to any of it fewer pitfalls.
When I began in 2005, I just wanted to know my God more, I learned there was so much I did not know and would spend the rest of my life trying to know. I had no further dreams than a bachelors degree. When I entered seminary on the road to my masters degree I was nauseous and questioning could I do this. Two books later and several print ready manuscripts, I am so blessed to have encountered everything I encountered those years. I met the person God knew me as during those years and I get reintroduced yearly to this person He knows and loves. He has whispered so audibly 'BELIEVE ME TO TELL YOU WHO YOU ARE IN ME. I CREATED YOU AND I KNOW.'
Women of God, keep doing the first part of being born again in Christ Jesus, living that transformed life daily and your title will be the title proclaimed in Scripture "a new creature in Christ" that all will try to give an 'other' name, but it is the name God knows you by that matter
To say I wanted to be a female minister would result in the same answer from any other minister: God does the calling whether I want the duty or not. To say I am a female minister would not be correct anyway. I believe I am more akin to Joyce Myers; somewhere in the realm of not needing a title other than servant of God. Titles are only important to those seeking position. I admit, titles help to identify what your job or purpose is, but work results can also define us too. I can be called a mechanic, have it written across my chest and never fix a car. I can talk about it and be well versed in it, but would I be a TRUE mechanic. People would seek me out looking for aid for their car because of my title. Until I produce, and produce competently I do not live into my title.
I do believe God put a restless spirit in me back in 2005 to seek to know Him more in depth. To my surprise, I found in my local community a Bible college. I became excited and really praised God for divine direction. I had never noticed the the college in all of my years living in the community and I believed God had to have had something to do with letting the scales fall from my eyes.
I registered after reading their college catalog, deciding the classes were what I was interested in. Time passed and passed and I waited to be notified of orientation day. I finally decided there was only a week left before Fall term began and I better check to make sure I had everything in order to attend. To my surprise the campus was abuzz with the last ditch efforts to do placement test for straggler students. I was told I just walked in on the last testing opportunity to become registered and would have to take the 3 hour test within an hour before staff went to lunch; was I able to? Of course I said yes, and plowed into the 100 multiple choice test on the Bible, 50 question math test, and 5 question essay test to show my writing skills. To my surprise, I scored high on all and was informed I had cleared to register for classes in two days.
Feeling extremely lucky, I showed up to register for classes the following Monday. I followed the example given in the college catalog for my Junior year class selections(already had an associate degree). I was routed from one department head to the next for approval signitures, until I came to the next to last signiture needed. This middle aged man began to ask how I found out about the college and did I know certain "black" women in the community; which I did not. It was a friendly chat before he headed off the get the final signiture needed to complete my class registration (he said).
He returned with news that one class in particular had only one opening left and a senior desparately needed the slot and would I be willing to substitute another class allowing the senior to have that last slot. More than understanding and willing I agreed and we substituted a class, I took my form myself for final approval and headed to the book store to get my books.
Almost skipping I entered the bookstore still feeling lucky to have gotten in and so ready to learn more about God and the Bible I entered the bookstore to audible whispering "That's her" "She tried to sign up for Methods of Patoring" The people began to back away from me as I claimed books off of the bookshelves and stood in line to purchase them." I felt stares digging into my back. Some faces had actually turned red. The lady behind the desk literally snatched my class schedule with the list of my needed books from my hand. I was puzzled. This was a college with adults first and a Biblical College second. Was I imagining hostility? And if not, why was everyone hostile? People talk about playing the race card, but if you are the only black person standing in a sea of white people, the race card jumps out first in its own magic trick. Of course, knowing what Christianity should be, I did not let that reasoning find fertile soil in my mind.
Day one first class; I'm the only female in a class of 15 other males. The instructor suggested we go one by one to introduce ourselves and why we decided to attend Bible College. STANDARD PRACTICE in many class room settings. My turn came and being in Bible college truth reigns "I came to Bible college because I love God and wanted to learn more about Him and the Bible."
The guy who followed me (about 43 yrs old), stood up placing his arms behind his back in military style (parade rest) and said, "This is not a Sunday school class and it takes more than loving God to be a Christian. It takes obedience to His word, and that's why I am here." Okay people I have said many times I am slow on the uptake. This man who stood up was also different than everyone else in the room. He was bald, wore a silver band on his thumb and looked like a aging rebel, so I quickly was happy that there was diversity at the college and he was in the right place for his strong views. After two more introductions, a young man about 21 asked the instrutor, instead of introducing himself, would God hold people accountable for teaching people who were not called to certain areas (I promise this went over my head because first I was not called by God for anything, secondly no where in their catalog did they say women could not attend the college or certain classes, thirdly, I BELIEVED ALL CHRISTIANS WERE NICE and this was some kind of question to do with his own personal life.)
It took me about two weeks to finally realize my presence there was not wanted. Class instructors asked about my husband everyday and why he was not at the college and could they speak with him, I was never called on to read a passage from the Bible or answer any questions presented to the class. One of my instructor's wife had a class with me and she avoided me like the plague. It was not a black and white issue it was a WOMAN issue. Jokes about denominations especially the Baptist were cracked I do believe in a joint effort to offend me and make me quit. I was not Baptist and did not care for separation of God's children using denominations. I thought the denominational jokes were childish and crude; but not even close to being something to make me quit. I dug in my heals once I realized the nature of what was occurring. My husband was very upset with me that I was potentially putting myself in unknown harms way. When Christians are wrong they are very worng and very malicious and very dangerous. There was not a place of peace for me at college or home for that 1st semester.
I spent my second month there actually fearful. I had a young man about 21 become so visibly agitated at my presence in the college that he transfered to our college brother University in another state. He caused me a good deal of internal fear. Young men raised by fathers they admire will fight to the end to protect the integrety of their father's words and beliefs. I always sat as far away as possible from him.
After completing my first semester with 'A's, carrying myself as Jesus would, being far better, gracious, loving, kind, approachable, to others than they had been, killing them with the love of God, they broke. I gave them no reasoning to be cruel to a nice godly person whose ONLY interest was learning more about her professed religion. No agenda on my part was found, after much investigation. I became a mirror in which they only saw self after a while and then finally they could see me and along with me; Jesus.
The militant guy became my in-class-joking buddy. We sat side by side in all of the classes we had together my last semester. He had a great transformational testimony for God before I had met him and after we became friends. The last semester of my senior year he was demanding instructors to let me read from the Bible in class to the point I had to poke him to make him stop, it had developed to picking status. He admired me, my husband, and my children. He was a dear friend that continued on to minister to people in jail and recovering from drugs as he did while in college at our local jail and prisons in surrounding counties.
The instructor's wife and I laughed and laughed throughout the two years that followed and she cried my final semester almost every other day at my leaving her and returning her back to her testosterone world with no shading of compassion for womanhood.
Oh, the instructor who chatted me up before removing me from my 'preacher' class was a great academic mind who transferred to another state for family reasons. I cried missing his demanding expected expectation of greatness he believed we all had in us before exam time. I learned the most in his classes.
This was my undergrad experience and I walked into seminary with many echos of this on a higher level of civility and shading but it was there. I recalled on this blog a dentist in the throws of working on my tooth questiong me as to whether I was going to preach or not and I was terrified to give an incorrect response.
I had never been exposed to ugliness, hostility, prejucice, self righteousness, pride, egotism, sexism, abuse moreson than when I enrolled in these religious institutions designed to teach about God, His nature, His word, His doctrine. But my testimony rings louder. I determined to show Jesus when no one else wanted to. I determined to learn for myself the God I served and make sure everyone else who so desired would and could no matter what anyone else said. I saw first hand the power of being and living how God has told me to no matter what everyone around me has chosen to do. I learned it is not about others it is about self and what are YOU going to do and HOW are you going to respond and are you WILLING to be uncomfortable for God and GROW and not become bitter and die.
I ask in all of our efforts to follow the word of God, are we destroying the word of God? In all of God's truth and wisdom written for man to read, follow and flourish is his seed of love being demonstrated? You cannot harrass people into following God. You cannot abuse them into believing your understanding of His word, and you can not force the Spirit filled giftedness out of a person. All avenues of God's working and sovereignty do not begin and end with you. God is going to use His creation to reach His creation and He is not going to run it past you for approval.
Many have inccorectly assumed I wanted to become a minister or pastor without asking me and I can pretty much assume without asking God was that my intentions. My true calling has it's title which is Christian. Define the duties of a Christian and decide how I can fulfil them by sitting in a corner being silent. God said we have problems because we have no wisdom. Operate in God's word but operate in it in wisdom.
Sadly to say, this Bible College that taught so extraoridinarily well, I mean sound doctrine and opened the Scripture up to me in ways I will forever be grateful, closed in 2010 due to the economy and lack of students. My final semester there issued in a new college catalog with an asteric next to courses women could not take and also classes in which the men could not take.
This horrible time, this absolutely frightening time that made me run to the bathroom three time in two years to cry, gather myself up, say a quick Psalm 23 prayer, grew my spirt and mind in ways I can only give God the glory for taking my life in that direction. I testify to the goodness of that college and how it made me a better Christian, not to any of it fewer pitfalls.
When I began in 2005, I just wanted to know my God more, I learned there was so much I did not know and would spend the rest of my life trying to know. I had no further dreams than a bachelors degree. When I entered seminary on the road to my masters degree I was nauseous and questioning could I do this. Two books later and several print ready manuscripts, I am so blessed to have encountered everything I encountered those years. I met the person God knew me as during those years and I get reintroduced yearly to this person He knows and loves. He has whispered so audibly 'BELIEVE ME TO TELL YOU WHO YOU ARE IN ME. I CREATED YOU AND I KNOW.'
Women of God, keep doing the first part of being born again in Christ Jesus, living that transformed life daily and your title will be the title proclaimed in Scripture "a new creature in Christ" that all will try to give an 'other' name, but it is the name God knows you by that matter
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