I AM LOYAL. I am loyal to my Lord, loyal to my husband and loyal to my church. Some people do not understand this concept of loyalty to my church. My husband and I are church planters and these are the people I have walked through life with. These are the people I have prayed and fasted for and cried out to God for them and their children. I have labored hard for these people’s souls and now they are my brethren in Christ.
We are the family of God. We are connected by the blood of the Lamb and we are unified by His resurrection power and baptism in the Holy Spirit. I am untied with this church body and I would never take a hammer to break my own toes. So don’t think that you can slander my church or my pastor and think that I’m ok with it. Talk about me and it just might be true, I have done worse than you accuse me of; but slander my brethren and watch out. I will forgive anyone of anything at anytime, but if you cause great division and slander my church and then pretend like you never did anything and want to sweep it under the rug, it will not go well with you.
Jesus tells us, “Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he REPENTS, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I REPENT,’ you shall forgive him.”” Luke 17:3-4 Notice that to maintain a relationship, there must be repentance. Reconciliation is two-sided. Forgiveness can be extended, but only if one repents can that fellowship be restored. People do this all the time, they cause great division in the church body and slander the pastor and leadership, then try to come back around and pretend like they never did anything wrong.
I see these people all over FB, trying to keep relationships and friendships without repentance. First of all, this is horrible communication. I do not operate in superficial and surface relationships. If you are unwilling to talk about what happened and your role in sin, we will not be friends. I may be friendly to you, but we are not friends. Secondly, if you are unwilling to repent, you have no fellowship with the Body. God hates slander and gossiping division, “These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.” Proverbs 6:16-19 NKJV“Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.” Titus 3:10-11 NKJV“
Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.” Romans 16:17 NKJVPerhaps you should really pay attention to the Scripture’s warning about divisive people, especially as it pertains to false doctrine. Jesus said to rebuke them and if they repent, then forgive. But if you rebuke them and they do not repent, then avoid them. You are not loving them by feeding into their continued rebellion and deception. You cannot sweep an offense under the rug.
You can’t pretend like you never did what you did, causing hurt, pain, betrayal and division; and still have fellowship with God’s holy people. It is the adulterous woman who kicks her lips and walks away saying, “I have done nothing wrong!” You can be sure your sin will find you out. #runyourrace
To Learn More About Pastor Crystal please visit the Leadership Page
