Comments on: Who Cares What You’re Not?

By: Be all that you can be! | daveingland.com

Be all that you can be! | daveingland.com — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 11:58:46 +0000

[...] was reminded of something that we as pastors do that really sucks! Pastor Craig Groeschel posted here about a rebuke that more in church leadership should [...]

By: Kasey

Kasey — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 18:22:28 +0000

Well said Craig! What is that saying… “the Body has many parts”? That guy was smart.

By: Great posts! | Purpose 4 You

Great posts! | Purpose 4 You — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 14:15:26 +0000

[...] Awesome post from Lifechurch.tv as well about pumping up what you do without putting down what other churches do. Check it out here. [...]

By: graynation

graynation — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 03:39:33 +0000

Craig: great word. thank you for sharing. it is dissapointing that even after you shed light on our own vain conceit and selfish ambition, there are still others who vigorously defend their attacks on churches who are truly leading others to become fully devoted followers of Christ. How much longer must we remain a divided body of Christ? Didn’t Christ call us to be united? I wonder what Paul would write to our churches today - i have to think that he would give us a 21st century version of Philippians, reminding us to contend as one man for the faith of the gosple, making his joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.
it is my absolute joy to be apart of the body of Christ, and to be able to contribute to it’s edification. Lord Jesus, make us one!

By: Cathy H

Cathy H — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 04:10:34 +0000

Thank you so much for saying this!

By: Steve Blackwell

Steve Blackwell — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 12:47:00 +0000

I can relate to your rant, but, and there is always a “but” aren’t you stating what “you are not” by coming in through the backdoor? You are disagreeing with these others, and in effect preaching that this is what “you are not.” And, maybe, they are being “who they are.” Could it be that they are actually being somewhat more honest than you, because you state that this is who you “are not” when in effect that is exactly who you are. Our human nature tangles us in so many webs of deceit. We all to some degree love to stick a feather in our own hats by focusing attention on a perceived fault in others. It may be that what those others were saying is the truth, although in a negative way. We all have tried to set ourselves apart from the crowd by our differences, but in the end we find that we are a real part of that crowd, the human crowd, partaking of the same sins, albeit, sanctified in our own minds.

Blessings,

Steve Blackwell

By: Talk about “who” you are! «

Talk about “who” you are! « — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 03:43:35 +0000

[...] Groeschel at Life Church nailed it today in his blog……..good stuff Craig! [...]

By: JC Riley

JC Riley — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 00:53:16 +0000

Good stuff. It’s kind of like watching politicians bash each other rather than letting us know what they themselves have to bring to the table.

By: Avery

Avery — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 23:58:58 +0000

Scott Rodgers said:

Bottom Line: Would a person who is full of the fruit of the spirit and inspired by the Spirit of God EVER (publicly) say anything negative about another part of the body of Christ?

Hmm… I think it boils down to perception…

When Jesus called the pharisees whitewashed catacombs full of dead men’s bones… some perceived it as negative…

When John the Baptist called some a “brood of vipers”… some perceived it as negative…

Both of them were filled with the Holy Spirit…

On the other hand many false teachers almost always said something perceived as positive… but proved to be the destruction of those who believed their message…

I am not sure the perception of positivity is a sign of being filled with the Spirit or not… I think truth is a better indicator… and truth doesn’t compromise… it is exclusive, and it can’t inter marry…

Based on that… maybe humility and truth can shape perception, rather than vice-versa… but that is going to take some work…

IMHO

By: Terry Jimmerson

Terry Jimmerson — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 23:18:13 +0000

Terry Jimmerson here from Las Vegas.
GREAT ending to this article. If we would spend more time promoting the vision God gave us instead of downing every other church that isn’t like us we might see some different results in our country. Last time i checked we were all still on the same team……we just use different field houses!! Bless u man. COME TO VEGAS!!!!!!

By: Who Cares What You’re Not? - LifeChurch.tv : swerve | Theology for the Masses

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 22:05:00 +0000

[...] via Who Cares What You’re Not? - Craig G. [...]

By: Tony H

Tony H — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 18:14:41 +0000

If I had the power, I would say it and we would be done with such mindset in “Church”, but it’s been happening since before Paul, as he combatted it often. The spirit of exclusiveism, or eliteism, is as real a sin as all the rest. I believe we need to watch ourselves carefully less we too be tempted. I do believe LifeChurch is among the most innovative of churches right now, but what does that mean? Does it mean we are better, or more right than those who aren’t innovative? Does it mean we, even Craig is always right as a leader and following others is just worng? “How can you who are stuck in a traditionalist rut, not affecting the world around you continue to think you’re right, can’t you see those LifeChurch folks have all the answers?” I do recoil at those who speak as they did in the podacasts, but i must watch myself lest I too succomb to this insideous sin that has hurt the progress of the church for centuries. We do need to speak to the sin that is real, as Jesus would, but lets lift the folks decieved by it to come out from it. When Jesus spoke to churches and individuals about their walk, He came down hard on the sin, even said they could rise above it, He did nothing to promote more division. Learn who our enemies really are and fight against that which so easily entangles us all. I love the passion that speaks out to wrong when we see it, but I guess I’m just warning us not to be tempted ourselves in the process. Serious business this attempting to help those caught up in sin. I lived with folks who made these statements for decades and i used to just right them off, pigeon whole them, but Jesus can turn even a pharissee. Any time we start bragging on ourselves, judging ourselves, “boy we’re so spiritual, above all the others”, look to being on top of the heap in anyway, we are on dangerous territory, almost surely poised to fall in some way. Let’s continue to preach the message of the vision we all share, of bringing people to be fully devoted followers of Jesus, not any church, or system of doing things. He is the only one with the power to keep us pure in this and open to fully accepting all who come our way. We can make a huge difference in this, if we keep our focus on the right source.

By: Jared B

Jared B — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 18:03:25 +0000

Wow, very true!

To me the problem is definitely insecurity and a “we’re all separate” mindset.

If we don’t have confidence in what God is doing through us and the vision He has given us, then we will feel a need to defend ourselves before we are even attacked.

By saying we’re not something, we’re saying, “I think you are thinking this about me…and therefore I’m going to (in defense out of insecurity) tell you I’m not that.”

That’s where IT is lost. When we focus on what people think instead of what God thinks. That shows 1) No confidence in what God has said and saying and 2)No trust in what God is saying.

Push who you are, not who you’re not.

Just a few thoughts!

Thanks for the wisdom, Craig! It’s an honor to be able to hear this stuff early on (I get to skip all the crap you went through to find it, !

God’s best to you all!

By: Pastor David Gagne

Pastor David Gagne — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 17:30:44 +0000

Craig - thank you so much. This was exactly what I needed to hear. It is encouraging to know we have linked as a Network Church with LifeChurch and are like-minded when it comes to His Kingdom. Thank you for your ministering to all of us.

By: R.J. Sweatman

R.J. Sweatman — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 17:01:51 +0000

Love the blog article, it is simple yet very profound. I would have to say that one of the greatest hindrances to the gospel is the focus by Christians on the differences between Christians. It gives the world around us that we are disconnected and could not spell the word love more less practice it among each other. Thank God that even though we cannot love He stile does. Maybe some day we will learn to love each other no matter what church they go to or what they do. Just to love that is how God will be seen in us.

By: txmom4

txmom4 — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 16:54:01 +0000

Absolutely Craig!!! God only has ONE church. To say that one is better than any of the others is the equivalent of saying one person is better than someone else. I confess that at one point, I thought my church was the best at everything we did. I even caught myself once comparing our enormous mega church to my sister’s small town church, and telling her that “you should hear our music!” and “there’s no one sleeping in my church because it’s never boring.” I had a superiority complex when it came to churches. My Father didn’t put up with it for too long, and I’m very grateful for the lesson I learned. I can sum it up by saying that there are no perfect churches just like there are no perfect people. And to believe there are is a form of idolatry.

By: Marc Millan

Marc Millan — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 16:32:10 +0000

That is a really awesome perceptive and post Pastor Craig, it is WAY too easy for Church BASHING to go on, we pray for each other and rejoice when others are saved through other ministries, pray for God to continue the fire that burns in all of us..

By: Tom E. Snyder

Tom E. Snyder — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 16:14:41 +0000

Scott R says:
Bottom Line: Would a person who is full of the fruit of the spirit and inspired by the Spirit of God EVER (publicly) say anything negative about another part of the body of Christ?

My answer: YES. The apostle Paul did and the apostle John did (Revelation 2-3). I realize that the statements were directed to the churches but the fact that we know about them means they are public. Jesus said some pretty harsh words to the leaders of the church in His day. According to Matthew Jesus also lays out a discipline procedure that leads to publicly exposing a non-repentant Christian.

That being said, most, if not all, of the comments we are talking about or thinking of are not Spirit led.

Good post, Craig.

By: Norbert

Norbert — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 16:14:18 +0000

Having had a similiar experience over Christmas I could not have said it any better. We need to build each other up and encourage a diversity of preaching, teaching and ministry. A Churches ethos boils down in a disciples life as he/she strives to love the Lord their God with all of their heart, mind, soul, and strength and love your neighbour as yourself. All of our messages must submit to this summary of the law. And their are many ways of doing that.
This come with an appreciation “that to reach people no one else is reaching you have to do what no one else is doing”(CG). Happy New Year everyone

By: Keith Williams

Keith Williams — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 15:55:06 +0000

Thanks for these thoughts, Craig. It’s a slightly different thing, but the same wisdom applies to discussion about Bible translations as well.

It’s easy to criticize, but the reality is that all the major translations are earnest attempts to help people understand and engage with God’s Word. In that light, what does it say about a person who is being harshly critical?