Prayer for misunderstanding within my local church

[SnEptUne]

Hi people,

In my church, I have recently changed my cell group and met new people. Within the new group, I got the impression that a person is looking down on me because I mentioned that I cannot promise I can make it to every evangelistic mission.

I got this impression because during our bible study session, the person mentioned how we have no choice and must follow the Lord when he has called us, and don't just attend evangelistic mission as if helping out because they don't really need my help. When I want to communicate that being close to God is more than just doing mission in church, he asks me funny question which make me think he is looking down at my faith.

Both of us has problems, but it happens because I never bother to explain my reason for not making promises lightly. And this "impression" I got come from my judgment of other. Please pray for me to be more mature so that there will not be conflict in church; church is a place for healing and learning to be closer to God.

And please also pray that my fellow brothers and sisters would have more understanding of bible and wouldn't think their will is God's will, which is the impression I got (again I am judging people...)

[Atria35]

Praying! Those within the church are just as fallible as those outside of it, and I'm praying both of you will be able to come to an understanding of eachother.

[solidray2002]

Hey Sneptune,
I fully understand what you are saying. Often, in the midst of being a "radical Christian" individuals can have an attitude that brings a self-righteous feel that often only offends and hurts others. Don't be discouraged by this in your walk (Thank God for the cross of Christ for sinners and self righteous followers alike right!?).
My wife and I are missionaries, and we cannot make every "evangelistic event". The walk of faith is not about just "doing", or else our salvation would be based on works, but its on a heart renewed by God's spirit from a repentant heart.
If you have the opportunity, (if I were in your shoes) I would talk to the individual, no need to argue or anything, just ask him if you guys are ok or if you offended him in any way just cause you feel tension. Often he may come out with his frustration and in speaking it aloud, feel childish. I will definitely pray for you on this and let me know how it turns out in the weeks to come no matter the route you take to fix it. Know that sometimes, the individuals who are in the "so serious of a Christian that I offend all the time" are actually believers who are more young in the faith and actually need an example of a mature Christian (even if they know it or not) to show a balance of, Yes I am all about Jesus and sharing the good news, but I don't simply want to stand on a soap box and make everyone in the world hate Jesus from my arrogance, and God can use you for that example and role model!
God bless

[SnEptUne]

Thanks solidray2002 and Atria35.

When opportunity arises, I will talk with him to resolve this misunderstanding and clarify what the good news means for me.

[MrKrillz0r]

Prayin' for you man! =)

[Wrave]

Praying for you!
My church is having some problems to:(

[SnEptUne]

I have tried to resolve this issue with the person for the pass few weeks; but we never go deep enough to talk about our problems.

In the last few days, he made remarks that sounds as if he is Jesus which really **** me off. I know I shouldn't get angry with people based on the impression that I got; but I am not able to handle it without resolving it for good.

So today, I have asked him to meet together face to face, just to have a chat. Please pray that I have the strength and kindness to guide both of us out of misunderstanding and condemnation.

[Xeno]

I will keep you in my thoughts. I would like to impart some thoughts to you as well. It's perfectly fine if you can't make it to every evangelistic mission (I'm understanding this as a meeting or event). If Jesus based our salvation on if we could make it to every single meeting of His people or not then I think we'd all be doomed, because regular life just interferes too often.

As far as responding when God calls us, I do feel we have the responsibility to respond to His call, but again it's not anyone's place but the person being called to determine what that calling is. Whether the calling is to help out in putting on home group meetings, evangelist work, home or foreign missions, intercessory prayer, preaching and/or pastoring, music ministry, etc. that calling is given to the person God gives it to. It's not given to someone else who is then tasked with telling you what your calling is. If that was the case then how would you ever know it was truly God that gave you the calling unless He spoke it directly to you and it was merely confirmed by another?

Be careful not to judge someone else, it's easy and we all do it whether we mean to or not. I go out of my way to be as non-judgemental as I possibly can, and yet I still find times when I see something and I have a thought and I have to swat it down and remind myself it's neither my right nor my place to make such calls. I hope God gives you the words to speak in your discussion with this particular person and I hope everything works out well. Again I will keep you in my thoughts, and please up date us on how it turns out.

[SnEptUne]

Thanks Xeno. I have talked to the person, and it seems the problem comes from mis-communication. Apparently, he didn't mean to make everyone follows what he thinks their calling is, but maybe he is just trying to provoke people to think whether they have been called by God, by mimicking Jesus to remind people what Jesus said.

I am indeed judgmental and probably have see him with a color-tinted glass. I thought that he could have use a better tone and body languages, and be more careful when bringing God into his acts. But both of us are not close enough to discuss our sins, so it ends there.

But thanks to the confrontation, I can rest tonight instead of imagining what he really means back then. Thanks for the prayers.