Do We Live to Please Man or God?
 

This subject came up in another thread and I thought it would make for a good thread starter.

If someone feels that going to ballgames is okay and their minister doesn't really preach against it, then why do they feel they have to hide it from others?

Or, they feel watching TV is a sin, yet they will watch a TV series on DVD?

God knows all and sees all so they aren't hiding it from God. They are hiding it from others.

Have we so complicated living for God that we make people do things in hiding to just please other people?

Wouldn't it be easier to just try and please God?

The question is fairly complex, but I will give you the Reader's Digest Condensed Version...

We live to please God, but also strive not to offend our brother's conscience with our liberty.

Also, I have complied with things my pastor asked of us because I wanted to cooperate and didn't wish to cause waves. It was always well worth whatever small sacrifice we made.

I am glad enough to limit my liberties in order to expand my opportunities.

Man does make it complicated. God simplified it for us, but until we see with spiritual eyes, and hear with spiritual ears it will be complicated and confusing.

No doubt.

God instructs us not to be a stumblingblock to a weaker conscience.

We please Him when we observe these cautionary things.

very well said!

CS that is a good answer.

But, you are saying you "gave up" those things. Some don't give it up and still do it, but hide it so others won't think bad of them. Who are they kidding?

I believe in some company, Paul would eat meat that had been scarificed to idols; but when he was with believers whose consciences were offended by the practice, he would refrain.

Example--I have been to a couple of music shows in Branson. I have friends who would be opposed to going. If I were in branson with them, I wouldn't go.

It isn't that complicated.

Exactly. I don't care what your standards are, or your reasons for having them, but if you HAVE them, LIVE them.

Like CS said, I do have some things I just don't do strictly because someone else might have trouble with it. But, that's the thing..I don't do them. At all. Not just hide them away.

Personally, I live to please God! I have to look at everything I do and question whether or not it is pleasing to God. There are several things that I do that many preachers would say I was backslidden because I do them. But I have looked at them and I could not see how they would be displeasing to God. But, never the less, I do not want to be a stumbling block to anyone. Also, I would have no problem letting go of some things for the sake of fellowship with others.

I have no problem with someone questioning me about the things I do.... I don't feel like it's sin or even a weight. But things that I know others have a problem with, I don't broadcast it. Am I hiding it? I don't think so. Just don't wanna cause waves!:queen

I don't "hide" things that I do, but I don't announce them, either. We have TV, we go to pro football and baseball games, I wear pants. I've never heard my pastor preach against any of the above, but I know the ladies used in ministry do not wear pants, so I wear skirts if I know I will be seeing anyone from church. I don't do it to please men; I do it so I won't cause problems. Now, if someone happened to see me in pants, well, they can think what they will. Most people have TV and I don't know if anyone cares about ball games around here or not.

This may sound strange to many, but it is BIBLE and it is true in my own EXPERIENCE that pleasing a man of God IS sometimes pleasing GOD TOO.

I do this sort of thing too. I don't try to hide what I do when not with these people though.

Renda you said you wore a skirt when i came to visit only because i was there - remember ?

You have me confused with someone else because I've never met you, but yes if you did visit me, I would wear a skirt. :)

I was just pointing out that Renda did the same thing that you mentioned that you do. when the SAINTS are around, you put on a skirt :happydance

You are correct there. There is a point where you have put yourself under the subjection of a pastor when you choose to attend that assembly. I rambled about this in another thread as rgcraig can attest too:toofunny

There are some good responses here.

Some I agree with.

No, I wore a skirt because we were going to church.

That's a given
but when we went to Jackson??????(or whatever the town was)

We went to church or the convention center first - remember?

And I wore it because of the very reason Coon had mentioned.

Saul's FIL had lost his donkeys. Saul and company was out looking for them. Finally, unable to find them they decided to consult the "man of God." But, the question was asked, "what can we bring him?" They knew a secret that few of us know today. I learned it many years ago and it has paid off very, very handsomly.

They got together the best offering that they could muster. They got their answer from the Prophet Samuel. "Don't look anymore. The donkeys have returned to their stables."

Naaman, probably instructed by his maid, brought Elisha a very good offering. It please the Prophet. He got his healing. Here is a very important principle.

So many are looking for a "WORD." Some people seem to thrive on a "word." But, they don't know how to get one. Thre is something about "the principle" that MOVES GOD...not the man neccesarily, but it MOVES God.

Prophets are languising because the PEOPLE are not taught how to EFFECTUATE the gift in the Prophet. After all, it is not the Prophet that is so much moved as it is the GOD that lives in the prophet. His spirit is moved upon by the SPIRIT of God.

I was taught this principle by a precious old Prophet that was schooled by another precious old Prophet before him. Unfortunately, it is becoming a lost knowledge by the most part.

Would you mind spelling out this principle to me.

It sounds like you are espousing that we pay for prophecy but I doubt that is what you mean.

I don't want to put words in Apprehended's mouth, but I believe this is what he is saying in a nutshell:

Sometimes pleasing or being in subjection to the prophet (or pastor in our case) is, in essence, pleasing God. It is not raising the office of the pastor to deity level, but rather honoring God through honoring the pastor. On the flip side, rebellion against the instruction of a pastor whom you have placed yourself under his leadership, in essence, is not rebellion or sin against the pastor, but rather against God.

I faced this many times being a military brat, being station in various locations across the country and oversees. We always chose a church that stood on Oneness, baptism in Jesus name and infilling of the HG with evidence of speaking in tongues. However, many times we were faced with the decision of being part of an assembly that we perhaps didn't see eye to eye with the pastor as it relates to the various degrees of holiness, cultural or generational differences. But in choosing that fellowship, we placed ourselves under the leadership of that pastor, placing ourselves in subjection to his leadership. We honored the pastor by adhering to the principles that he believed in, thus IMO, we honored God. I hope the principle does not get lost in the story.

Pay for prophecy? Never.

We should never reduce spiritual things to the level of carnal precepts.

I hardly know where you might find a true Prophet anymore since Pastors who have taken the oversight of the churches have pretty much cut off the ministry of Prophets, having little understanding of the office of Prophet. The reasons that they have cut them off are many and varied. Since that office is the forefinger (pointing direction) of ministry, we are pretty much left to drift at the whims and winds of ecclesiastical politics.

So, without going into any depth of the subject here, let it be known that Prophets were friends of God. Being a friend of God, God is pleased when the spirit of his friend is pleased. That is why Elisha poured water upon the hands of Elijah...which is to say that he volutarily became Elijah's servant that he might please Elijah. Elijah had something that Elisha wanted. In fact, in the end, he got a double portion of it.

The principle is throughout the bible. Jesus even mentioned a "Prophets reward." There is a way to get a reward from the prophet. Please that prophet in whom the Spirit of the prophet dwells. God is pleased with it. It is not a carnal thing. It's spiritual. You can stir up a favorable spirit in a prophet by you actions and attitude toward him.

One prophet said, "bring me a minstrel." As he played, his spirit was stirred and he prophesied. The spirit of a prophet must be favorably disposed or it will die. Too many churches have neglected this powerful ministry to their own detriment. But, those same churches will remain soooooooo THEOLOGICAL...so much that it will shave your eyebrows in straigtness. So strait but so blind.

This is true... not popular but true.

Personally I don't think they are "hiding" it so much as not flaunting it.

It is odd, I can make a case for pleasing God, and I can also make the case that pleasing man is the thing that pleases God.... to some degree.

I think it is a delicate balance.

The Christian walk is, in and of itself, all about being a servant.

It's supposed to be a selfless thing. That's hard for humans to do. Probably why God asks it.

In all the years of my being in church, I don't think I've ever heard, or looked at it just like this.

I would like to hear more........

You are not alone. These things along with many others are pretty much fading out of sight from the Pentecostal/Apostolic movement. The day is far spent. The night of apostasy is upon us. There must be a remnant somewhere hid away in prayer, waiting for the coming (revival) of the Lord's Christ as did Anna and Simeon in the temple so long ago. If there is not that remnant, all is lost.

Elijah had similar feelings at one time. He thought that he was the only one left in the land that had not bowed his knees to Baal. But God had his eyes on the righteous. I really don't know where they all are, but I know that God has them somewhere.

Someone asked on this forum the other day "Where is that revival?" I responded, "I've been to the top of the mountain praying. I finally saw it over the sea at a distance, about the size of man's hand...and getting smaller and fading further away year by year.

Sister, I really don't know what to tell you except get your bible down and start reading it as though you would die unless you read it as a hungry lion would eat his slaughter. Then pray and ask for answers. God will hear you and he will also answer you, sending his Holy Spirit to teach you in all things.

God bless you in your quest for more of HIm.