[Ferd]

Some time back I found myself at loggerheads with another saint in my church. The issue had to do with certain aspects where our departments overlapped. Both of us were department heads but in this case the area at issue fell under the other person’s area.
As the conflict became one of vision, this ended up with the pastor. I however, knowing that I was right but at the same time understanding how a chain of command is supposed to work, knew that I needed to give way to the other persons view.

What really bothered me was this. It was philosophy issue. My way of doing something and their way were not compatible. Now that is fine by me, I don’t mind giving space, but this wonderful Christian told me they “prayed” about it. And felt this was what “God wanted”.

Folks, God isn’t in the business of telling one person one thing and another person the exact opposite. Nor were we talking about something where one or the other of us was in violation of any scripture or doctrine of the church. They “Prayed about it”? My smelly soc they prayed. They used the term to strengthen a weak argument. That wasn’t God they heard from, it was a case of eating too much pizza too late in the evening.

On point, right now there are a group of men about to decide on Res 4. (We all know what that means). I have one request. Don’t tell me you prayed about it and God spoke to you. I know that might be a bit forward of me to ask that but honestly, that guy sitting right next to you in that meeting is going to vote just opposite of you and he has been pasturing just as long as you and cares about the things of God just as much as you do. He prayed too. God didn’t tell you to vote your way, and God didn’t tell him to take the opposite position.

And don’t tell me about your conviction either. There will be 2000 men in that room all with a conviction. None of them will be exactly the same. So you don’t get points for yours. What did Paul say? Don’t think too highly of yourselves because God has dealt to all of you the same amount of faith? Or something like that?

I’m sorry. I really don’t care what side you fall on, don’t blame it on God or your conviction. You will do what you are doing because that is the side you are on. It really doesn’t have much if anything to do with anything more than that. I may be cynical but honestly this is a man thing. It isn’t anything other than that.

There, I’m done. Thanks for letting get on my soap box.