Maybe if our religious leaders didn't have to worry about financial support they would take firmer stands on things. Biblically, and in our day, religious leaders have sent millions astray because they need financial support and they are willing to say whatever they need to to keep the money rolling in. Even the biggest issues of legalism in America are about keeping a person productive. Most of the reasons people are kicked out of church is because they practice sin that makes them unproductive. But if you practice a sin that makes you have more money to contribute to the church, then everyone looks the other way. In essence, I think that are many "Almighty Dollar" worshippers out there. They also worship God too, but they may have the "Almighty Dollar" before God.
Another thing that makes religious leaders go astray is that suddenly, through their religious leading, they've accumulated wealth. Then suddently, if they were to love their neighbor as themselves, that would mean they would have to share their wealth--as in spend it on their neighbor like they spend it on themselves--but they don't want to do that--so then they make up all these new rules that discriminate between which neighbor is worthy of love. You'll notice the least productive neighbors are the least worthy of their fellowship--sometimes it's just in deed and not in word, but mostly, it's actually in their teachings to discriminate against this neighbor or that. What it boils down to is the religious leader doesn't want to part with their money that they've collected. We shouldn't be shocked to hear this though. That's what the religious leaders in Jesus day did too. They've been doing it down through all ages. Even back in Isaiah's day and even now, false prophets and false teachers. They'll say anything they need to say just to keep an extra buck or two.
I have a small rule of thumb--"I can tell by your house and your car who your gods really are . . . " A religious leader should be the first person to see to it that there are no starving people in the world.
But also, we have to consider the Pastor knows the people he's pastoring. She or he may be trying to work things out with the people they are pastoring. Becoming perfect takes time--all the time we are on earth we will be sinners and the good pastors know this. The key is to get them in the worship of God enough that the Holy Spirit does the convicting. If a person attends church with loads and loads of sin, either the Holy Spirit is just no there or the Holy Spirit is moving at the pace of the purchased Bride of Christ's heart, the body is Christ is the Bride of Christ and she was purchased with a price--can anyone imagine our Lord forcing Himself on her?
? Nix legalism! The Lord gives us choices and we can give him this part of our lives and that part of our lives. The pastor has to teach right and wrong yes, but it's not so much the pastor's job to stand around and convict people. That's the job of the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit knows when.
Another thing is that some sinner will jump all over another sinner because of someone else's sin, and then turn around and ignore their own sin--that person that may have just as much sinning going on. We have to pray for wisdom of the pastors.
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Well, I say you did just fine. Personally, I'm too self-concious --I'm not sure about that spelling--to fall all over the floor. I've seen people do it too. I just stand by and I think that's just fine.
You GO Heidi! I personally detest the worship of men to the point where I get steam blowing out of my ears at the mere insinuation that a man might be accepting worship. If I were God,