Snooping on a WPF church
 

I was walking my dog tonight, we went to one service only on Sunday at our church, and passed the new WPF church right down the street from my house during there night service.

Curiosity got the best of me. I peeked in the window and noticed that the Piano player was one of our lower tier, fourth string piano players from our church.

It was telegraph, telephone, tell a woman time. I struggled with the urge to call my Pastor and eventually caved into the pressure to spill the beans. I asked him if it would be gossip to tell him who the piano player was down at the new WPF church and he replied in the affirmative. Well, I got around that one by texting him the name of the piano player and asking for forgiveness.

He texted my back and said it spoke more of the scruples of the Pastor of the church prosyletizing from other local churches. Especially this pastor, pastored here 20 years ago and was contacting old saints without even talking to the two local UPC pastors.

If this would have happened to the WPF pastor when he was UPC there would have been uh uh uh to pay.

Anyways, I am wondering what I look like in this deal. Am I a total jerk and gossip? Did I do the right or wrong thing? Should I just let God take care of the situation?

I feel like I should have just kept my mouth shut. But two things motivated me to tell. I am very loyal to whatever church I happen to be going to and I also always thought that this piano player was somewhat of a snob.

So theres the scenario, somebody analyze me.

Re: Snooping on a WPF church
 

Sometimes my head just hurts trying to figure everything out. I think I don't hardly care any more what anyone is doing to be honest.

Re: Snooping on a WPF church
 

I think you shouldn't have called your pastor. If the woman is leaving your church, she should tell your pastor, but it shouldn't come from another saint who happened to be looking in the window of the church across town. JMHO.

Re: Snooping on a WPF church
 

It is actually only a block away from my house and she still attends our church.

Re: Snooping on a WPF church
 

I can't say I wouldn't do the same thing... But then again, I'm cool with the WPF (to some extent, I'm still anti-denominational), so if it didn't conflict with service at this person's home assembly, I guess it'd be fine. The pastor should know what his saints are up to though... he shouldn't be that out of touch with the piano player... btw, most piano players are stuck up, cut 'em some slack :lol

-Bro. Alex

Re: Snooping on a WPF church
 

Pressing on - In a way I am getting that way too. But I get tired of all the church splits and divisions. If all the schisms in my city were together as one we could probably have reached many more souls. Instead, we have struggling Pastors throughout the county reaching hardly any.

It seems to me that bigger solid churches reach more together than a struggling church of 30.

Our church went from the largest in WA state to 80 members because everyone thought they were a Pastor. I dream of how many more we could have reached if everyone could have just ministered within our church instead of wanting to lead the show.

But yes... for sanity sake I could care less anymore. But I still deal with that evil member the tongue sometimes.

Re: Snooping on a WPF church
 

What *if* I planted a couple of video camera's in your bedroom. Would I be compelled to *reveal* to your pastor anything I found that went against his teaching?

Re: Snooping on a WPF church
 

I'm not saying you intentionally went there to snoop. I'm just saying that there may have been a legitimate reason she/he was there playing that you don't know about. If you weren't having church at your church, maybe he just asked her to come play for a service. In that case, I don't know why it was a huge deal. We have people in our church who go speak or do music at other church's functions and they don't have to clear it with us if they don't choose to.

Re: Snooping on a WPF church
 

Sure, we all deal with our carnality.

A boy we taught in Children's Church a few years ago, he would be 24 now, shot himself the day before Thanksgiving. The viewing is this Wednesday night. I guess there are some things way more important. That's why I just don't care what anyone is doing. I haven't cared for a while, but today, I really don't care.

I guess I used your thread to express that. Hope you don't mind.

Re: Snooping on a WPF church
 

Well, I don't know how my wife would feel about that. lol And believe me at my age it wouldn't make for very compelling video.

But I guess your saying "have I sinned". Yes I have failed numerous times and most of the time I call my Pastor and tell him. Confess your faults and all that stuff.

Re: Snooping on a WPF church
 

This passage comes to my mind 1Thess. 4:11.

Re: Snooping on a WPF church
 

Yes Elder, I think that would aptly apply. Almost everytime I open my mouth and wish that I hadn't, I think just shutting up and minding my own business would have been the best course.

Re: Snooping on a WPF church
 

Huh?

I don't worry my Pastor with that stuff-- that's what an accountability partner is for. Could you imagine the Pastor of a large congregation with all of the saints call him for confession?

Re: Snooping on a WPF church
 

Well, we do a lot of things together and have for many years. Plus I know he will keep it to himself.

Re: Snooping on a WPF church
 

Kinda off base don't you think, comparing what someone does to bring some division into a church vs the freedom of what someone does in the bedroom.

Re: Snooping on a WPF church
 

Well it may have been a good thing that you made your Pastor aware of this.

You may have been tempted later on to tell someone else and that would cause more confusion.


The "moonlighting" piano mistress should tell the Pastor herself. I'd be interested in knowing how the Pastor handles this situation with her.



Make sure you are aware of your spirit in your thoughts towards her. You wouldn't want any of your actions to have been motivated by the wrong reasons, like any bad feelings you may have towards her.

If she has been snotty towards you, maybe you should confront her about it. What if she doesn't realize her nose is running?

You could be the Saint that hands her a Kleenex. :)

Re: Snooping on a WPF church
 

Sometimes I pretend like I'm praying for her in the prayer room "out loud". So in a sense I egg on her snottiness because how could she being so spiritual need prayer from a lowly saint as myself.

See I'm confessing my faults.

But yes, if I didn't tell the Pastor I might have told someone else. So that made me feel a little better about it.

Re: Snooping on a WPF church
 

This is a whole nuther can of worms. Those who wish to reveal to the world their holiness while living another lifestyle.

It is also the reason I completely and utterly refuse to pray in "prayer rooms".

Re: Snooping on a WPF church
 

I've got a sermon by Bishop Jakes where he spends a considerable amount of time talking about, "Doing the Right Thing for the Wrong Reason."

I should listen to it again so that when I am tested I don't make the same mistakes you do.

:) :) :) :)

Re: Snooping on a WPF church
 

Are you implying me or her? I'm always goofing around. If you knew me you'd know I don't put on any spiritual airs. I am about as real as you can get. I like to tease people that think of themselves too highly.

Your not like that are ya? You could even put a camera in my prayer room.

Re: Snooping on a WPF church
 

You ain't right.

Re: Snooping on a WPF church
 

Re: Snooping on a WPF church
 

I know. Thankful for the blood.

Re: Snooping on a WPF church
 

Yeah, cause you know God probably still feels like just smacking some upside the head.

Re: Snooping on a WPF church
 

Yes I am all for it. I'll pray it works out.

Re: Snooping on a WPF church
 

You are hilarious and so is your situation and the fact that you pray out loud for the "super spiritual" folks!

Re: Snooping on a WPF church
 

You ain't right either.

Re: Snooping on a WPF church
 

I've found that if it feels like we're gossiping, its usually because... we are.

Just my 2 cents.

Re: Snooping on a WPF church
 

lol!

:)

Re: Snooping on a WPF church
 

I hope your pastor isn't mad about one of his regular members being a blessing in another building other than yours. We are all the church and we all belong to God. Hopefully your pastor will use this to bridge the gap between your congregations and not make it wider!

Re: Snooping on a WPF church
 

I don't see anything wrong with a saint wanting to play the piano for another "apostolic" church on one of her church nights off.

I do see alot wrong with someone spying and peeking in windows to find something to gossip about.

Re: Snooping on a WPF church
 

I think Ihave been had.:christmoose

Re: Snooping on a WPF church
 

I'm not saying whether you did the right or wrong thing in this situation...BECAUSE you probably did what you have been trained to do.

I grew up UPC...the general rule is you don't go to another man's church and do anything for them UNLESS your pastor knows about it in advance.

I know, I know...I'm not for or against UPC, but it is the general rule. My father used to spit nails practically if someone did that. He worried about his saint wanting to go to the other man's church because it was better over there and etc.

Should you have called??? Personally I think no...

JMHO

Re: Snooping on a WPF church
 

I think this has been brought to us by the originators of Holinesswoman and Hubert!:christmoose

Re: Snooping on a WPF church
 

To play the piano at the church down the street on an off night of ones own church does not a problem make.

Your pastor clearly stated that this would be gossip but somehow felt that texting the information would be different. I am not wanting to be harsh on this but if I were to call it like you see it...

You were suffering from Don Francisco syndrome. (Remember his song... Got To Tell Somebody).

You wanted to tell and nothing was going to deny you from doing it. Not even a clear statement from the pastor that this would be gossip for you to share that information.

What may have been a simple case of someone visiting another church on an off night might now turn into a situation where the pastor asks questions and an uncomfortable situation develops and the person ends up leaving because of the uncomfortable situation.

At which time all of the folks back at the home church can all make themselves feel better by talking about his heart was over there anyway.

But... that's just me. :)

Re: Snooping on a WPF church
 

This kind of thinking is ridiculous. This woman has a choice of where to go to church. It's not like this pastor is forcing her to go to his church and not the other.

As for you telling who was playing the piano. It is hardly gossip. She was in a public place.

Re: Snooping on a WPF church
 

This woman was in a public place for all to see. There is no shame in going to church and playing the piano!! The bedroom is not a public place!

Re: Snooping on a WPF church
 

sorry. my devious mind is in hyper drive this morning.


I would have waited until the piano player and your pastor were together and I would have then said to your pastor with the lady right there:

"I think it is wonderful that you are letting Sis. ________ help Rev. ________ with his new church!

Sister ______ I was walking my dog last sunday night and heard you playing piano, you did a wonderful job!


Thats what I would have done.

Re: Snooping on a WPF church
 

I wasn't aware that if you tell things other people do that it was only gossip if it happened in a private place.

You learn something new every day.

Re: Snooping on a WPF church
 

Wow... such malice