How often does this happen to you: you’re minding your
own business, and suddenly God points out someone’s fault to you? Sometimes,
it’s a dream or a vision; sometimes it’s suddenly becoming aware of what’s
going on around you.
I’m hearing of how God is speaking to people – regular
people, people without position or influence – about how individual believers
are experiencing trouble or lack from pastors and church leaders.
Clearly, sometimes this is just disgruntled people speaking out. People do that. Why would God point out the failure of
pastors and other leaders of local congregations? And so many people dismiss
this phenomenon as “not of God,” as if this disgruntlement is the only motivation here. And so people who talk about unlovely things that God has showed them
are often labeled as gossips and malcontents or fleshly believers.
Have you read Ezekiel 34 recently? Why don't you read it
again, keeping this trend in mind. It’s not a lovely conversation. God himself
is calling pastors and leaders to task about how they’re treating the sheep,
the believers that they’re called to care for! And he’s not doing it gently.
This is obviously a matter that God cares very deeply. But Is God actually gossiping?
Some people – generally people who are enamored with the
prophetic or who aspire to be a prophet – read this passage, or hear this
complaint from God, and then feel the need to go prophesy it. I understand how “prophesying” what God said is a defense against being labeled (yet again) as a gossip or a malcontent.
But think about it: God tells them
something in private, and they feel the need to shout it from the mountain
tops. I’d like to suggest that this is not the smartest thing to do.
Actually, I recommend starting with a question, not an
action, and this is where it becomes a little tricky; not just any question will do.
We very often are used to beginning with a question from
our souls:
■ Our emotions are part of our souls, and so when we see,
hear or feel something harsh or unflattering, it’s easy to let our emotions
flare up, and ask questions like, “How could they DO that?” or “That’s icky,
why would God show me icky stuff; this must be demons talking to me!” and so
it’s easy for the enemy (or my own flesh) to turn it toward accusation of one
sort or another.
■ Our minds are also part of our souls, and so when we
see, hear or feel something harsh or unflattering, it’s easy to let our
thoughts flare up, and ask questions like, “Where is this in Scripture?” “How
does this line up with other principles I live by?” “How do I think I should
deal with this?” and so it’s easy for the enemy (or my own flesh) to turn it
toward confusion.
■ Our will is also part of our souls, and so when we see,
hear or feel something harsh or unflattering, it’s easy to let our choices
flare up, and we make choices like, “I must tell someone!” or “I must warn
them!” and so it’s easy for the enemy (or my own flesh) to turn it toward
manipulation and self-importance.
I’d like to suggest that when God shows us uncomfortable
things by the Spirit, that we respond to him with our spirit. In fact, I
suggest – and I encourage this as a regular practice – that we ask the question
of Acts 16:30: "What must I do?" God, you’re showing me this for a
reason. What do you want me to do with it?
Talking about someone’s sin without working toward a
solution is pretty much the definition of gossip, and I’m pretty sure that God’s
not actually a gossiper. If he’s sharing it with you, he expects you to do
something with it. If we stop listening before we get to the application, then
we’ve left God in an awkward place, leaving both him and ourselves open to the
accusation of gossiping. He’s trying to partner with us, but we run off before
there’s been any real partnership.
In fact, it’s not unusual for God to bring up a problem
with you specifically so you can help him solve the problem. Ezekiel 22:30 (in
context) talks about how God sometimes tells people about icky stuff
specifically so that they can “stand in the gap” before Him on their behalf.
That’s very often the primary role of intercessors: hear what’s weighing
heavily on God’s heart, ask how he wants us to respond, and then respond that
way.
I’d suggest that the vast majority of the time, when God
shows us something un-lovely, he’s asking for us to bring the thing back to him
and ask him to do something in that place. He’s bringing it up so we can pray.
Why does he invite us to get involved? Why doesn’t he
just go do it himself? He can’t, not without going back on his own word. Psalm
115:16 says, “The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD’s; But the earth He
has given to the children of men.” Stuff in the realm of Heaven is his
responsibility; stuff on earth is our responsibility.
This responsibility started back in Genesis, chapter 1;
that’s pretty early. In v28 he assigned rulership of physical creation to Adam
& Eve. If he steps in and does things without consulting with the delegated
rulers of the planet (the race of Adam & Eve), then he’s stepped outside of
the way He himself set things up to be done. Who can trust a leader – divine or
human – that gives us responsibility for something, but keeps the authority for
doing it to themselves? That’s not smart.
The ministry of intercession is a very important
ministry. When God shows you a problem, begin by asking him for the solution to
the problem. “What must I do?” is a really good starting place.
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http://www.pilgrimgram.com/2014/03/the-god-who-gossips.html
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