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by Bill Fields since 1983 bill@PeaceMakers.net "Maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed... rescue the weak and needy." Psalm 82:3b-4a |
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by Bill Fields since 1983 bill@PeaceMakers.net "Maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed... rescue the weak and needy." Psalm 82:3b-4a |
As
a member of Christ's Body-The
CHURCH, PeaceMakers is empowered by God's Holy Spirit in practicing a
dynamic
witness for Jesus Christ that builds the Body of Christ and attracts
the
attention of a lost world through; Biblical Community, Biblical
Instruction;
Biblical Counseling and Biblical Peacemaking; that invites
reconciliation
of mankind to God, mankind to themselves and mankind to
others...bill@PeaceMakers.net
Please use Biblical
caution- "...they received
the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily,
whether those things were so. "Acts 17:11 Also note:
PeaceMakers
does NOT necessairly endorse all parts of the materials or
individuals
on our sites NOR does a person, publisher, etc. inclusion on our site
in
anyway imply their endorsement of PeaceMakers.
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Gary
Weldon Confessed sexual Child Abuser: First
Evangelical Free Church MN
A word of CAUTION:
Biblical peacemaking is very dangerous
Matthew 5:9-12 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. 10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. Matthew 7:1-6 Matthew 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? 5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye. 6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. Ezekiel 8:6 And He said to me, “Son of man, do you see what they are doing, the great abominations which the house of Israel are committing here, so that I would be far from My sanctuary? But yet you will see still greater abominations.” Ephesians 5:11 -13Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; 12 for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. When God uncovers the heart of mankind they will either Biblically REPENT or they will do all within their power to DESTROY you! e.g. lies, evil speaking, maliciousness, slander, gossip, false witness, deception, and more in an attempt to hide their unrepentant sins while destroying the peacemaker. A Few Examples: A Pastor: As a boy abused by is mother, wet the bed, played with fire, and into adulthood would buy kittens and spend hours maiming, harming, torturing them then drown them to death. While a minister, would buy pornography and frequent public parks to sexually relieve himself. The horror of having "confessed" and seeing these are warning signs of serial killers, was so overwhelming to him it opened the flood gates of theological rage and abuse. A Missionary: His childhood rage grew so intense as an adult, in a secular position as a public authority, he was publicly sanctioned. Later he would take his skills on to the mission field. His rage had devastating effects upon his children. When addressed for his rage and mistreatment of his wife, he became so embittered, he projected his rage upon those who tried to Biblically care for him and his family. A Denominational Leader: As a youth pastor, sexually abused two teenage girls. After the first teen, now an adult confronted him, he supposedly confessed, went for counseling, pledged she was the only one. A few years later the second teenager now an adult, through PeaceMakers, pursued Church Discipline, not knowing there was another. Now as a Minister of one of the largest churches in the denomination, the church and denominational leadership closed ranks, put together a wimpy, generalized "I'm sorry" announcement, sang a song and all is well. Next, on their website was a new service of reporting and recording pastors who sexually abused children. PeaceMakers asked the service if this man was listed, as their page had no indication of his multiple sexual abuse. Quickly the service was removed. Currently listed at the denomination's seminary as faculty. A Para-Church-Peacemaking Ministry: A young lady came to a Bible study and asked for help. She was having emotional and spiritual difficulty responding to her mother who once worked at a “christian publisher,” while having an affair with a local Bible College professor who taught courses on Church Discipline. All attempts to address the couple, who each divorced their spouses and married, met with refusal. A few years later while I was at the national conference of a national ministry for reconciliation I heard a report of a man who was exceptionally “gifted”. Upon seeking to know this person it was discovered it was this same professor and I gave witness to the failure of Biblical Discipline/Reconciliation. I was told by the leadership to be quite or leave the conference. I immediately left. All atempts to address these and other issues with this organization have failed. There are many more example from
every walk of life and every "Christian" organization PeaceMakers has
sought
to bring God's Peace and Reconcilation. Compare
these examples using the "Eight Steps To Complete Forgiveness"
and Thomas Watson's The Beatitudes: Peaceableness; Spurgeon's
Blessed are the Peacemakers (links below)
bill |
Eight Steps To Complete Forgiveness
Thomas Watson: The BEATITUDES: Peaceableness
REV. C. H. SPURGEON :“Blessed are the peacemakers"
Jeremiah:
The call to genuine repentance (4:1-4)
Expositors Bible Commentary: Frank E. Gaebelein
"1-2
The people's cry of anguish (3:24-25) is now
answered by the Lord with
an assurance of blessing when they do return to him. There is a vast
difference between perfunctory repentance and heartfelt restoration to
God. If Judah would truly repent, it must be to God alone (v.1).
Furthermore, they must really rid themselves of their detestable
things, their idols. Evidently they had not yet done this. Moreover, if
the people will remain steadfast (on their oath in the name of the
Lord) in the essential qualities of truth, justice, and righteousness,
then their example will profoundly affect the nations (v.2). Judah's
conversion will herald blessing for the nations. To swear by God's name
involves recognition of him as Lord. Oaths in the name of other gods
were not to be sworn by them. When the nations are being blessed, the
Abrahamic blessing is being realized (cf. Gen 12:3; 18:18; 22:18; 26:4;
28:14; see also Isa 2:3; Zech 8:20-23). The very name of Israel will
become a formula of blessing.
3-4 Jeremiah now uses two
figures to show the nation's need of spiritual renewal: one from
agriculture and the other from physiology. He exhorts the people of
Judah to break up their neglected and untilled hearts, which had become
as hard as an uncultivated field (v.3). No farmer will sow seed on
unplowed ground. So the plow of repentance and obedience was needed to
remove the outer layer of weeds and thorns that had resulted from
idolatry. Otherwise, thorns would choke the newly sown seed (Hos
10:12). The very foundations of the nation's spiritual life needed
tending, even restructuring.
Again, Jeremiah calls for
repentance—this time under the figure of circumcision (v.4).
The hard
encrustation on their hearts must be cut away. Nothing less than
removal of all natural obstacles to the will of God would suffice.
Outward ritual must be replaced by inward reality (cf. Deut 10:16; Rom
2:28-29). The heart was involved because outward worship was valueless
unless the inner life was given over to God. Their hearts must be
spiritually receptive. The only other alternative to obedience was to
experience the fitting wrath of God. Jeremiah everywhere underscores
the necessity for the new heart as in the prophecy of the new covenant
(ch. 31).
Page 408... Amazingly enough, even at that late hour there was still opportunity for repentance. Prophecies of judgment are conditional; obedience to God reverses the threat of judgment. But there must be inner cleansing, even of the thought life, if disaster is to be averted."
Page 411 "Judah's
total corruption (5:1-31)
This chapter reveals
Jerusalem under
moral investigation. It may be viewed as a theodicy. A superficial
reading of the earlier chapters of the prophecy might lead one to
conclude that the nation has been charged with all it has been guilty
of. But the depths of her sin against the Lord must be reviewed at
length. The nation must come to a much fuller realization of her
ingrained sin. The desperately low spiritual state of the nation must
be brought under the searchlight of God's scrutiny. Moreover, her sin
must be judged in view of her continued refusal to heed the Lord's
gracious calls to repent and so avert disaster. What a telling
portrayal of unrelieved apostasy the chapter gives us! "
The
Reproaches of the Wicked:
Peacemaking
& Persecution: by Arthur Pink
"Throughout this Gospel dispensation, we are to go into all nations as heralds of the cross, seeking the reconciliation of those who by nature are at enmity with our Master. Second, this grace of peacemaking supplements the six graces mentioned in the previous verses. Perhaps the fact that this is the seventh Beatitude indicates that it was our Lord’s intent to teach that it is this attribute that gives completeness or wholeness to Christian character. We must certainly conclude that it is an unspeakable privilege to be sent forth as ambassadors of peace. Furthermore, those who fancy themselves to be Christians, yet have no interest in the salvation of fellow sinners, are self-deceived. They-possess a defective Christianity, and have no right to expect to share in the blessed inheritance of the children of God. Third, there is a definite link between this matter of our being peacemakers and the persecution to which our Master alludes in verses 10-12. By mentioning these two aspects of Christian character and experience side by side in His discourse, Christ is teaching that the opposition encountered by His disciples in the path of duty is the result of their faithfulness in the service to which they have been called. Thus we may be certain that the peacemaking of our text refers primarily to our being instruments in God’s hands for the purpose of reconciling to Him those who are actively engaged in warfare against Him (cf.John 15:17-27)....
"The world may
despise them as fanatics, professors of
religion may
regard them as narrow-minded sectarians, and their relatives may look
upon
them as fools. But the great God owns them as His children even now,
distinguishing
them by tokens of His peculiar regard and causing His Spirit within
them
to witness to them that they are sons of God. But in the Day to come,
He
will publicly avow His relationship to them in the presence of an
assembled
universe. However humble their present situation in life may be,
however
despised and misrepresented by their fellow men, they shall yet
“shine
forth as the sun in the Kingdom of their Father” (Matthew
13:43).
Then shall transpire the glorious and long-awaited
“manifestation of the
sons of God” (Romans 8:19)."
"The
Great Gain of Godliness" Banner of Truth Trust
info@banneroftruth.org
Thomas Watson's exposition of Mal. 3:16-18. In it he aims
"to encourage solid piety and confute the atheists of the world,
Who imagine there is no gain in godliness." C.H.S. Spurgeon
(PM:Solid
Biblical Truth for Ted Haggard and us all-Walking in the fear of God)
“It
is being said that the chief
need of the Church today is to repent because of its ‘lack of
unity’…
we
would suggest that before she
repents of her disunity, she must repent of her apostasy.
She
must repent of her perversion
of, and substitutes for, ‘the faith once delivered to the
saints.’
She
must repent of setting up her
own thinking and methods over against the divine revelation in Holy
Scripture.
Here
lies the reason for her lack
of spiritual power and inability to deliver a living message in the
power
of the Holy Ghost
to
a
world ready to perish.”
Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones given at the annual meeting of the
Inter-Varsity
Fellowship in 1954
Malachi 1:6-10 "A son honors
his father, and a servant his master. If I am a father, where is the
honor
due me?
If
I am
a master, where is the
respect due me?" says the LORD Almighty. "It is you, O priests, who
show
contempt for my name.
"But
you ask, 'How have we shown
contempt for your name?' 7 "You place defiled food on my
altar. "But
you ask, 'How have we defiled you?' "By saying that the LORD's table is
contemptible. 8 When you bring blind animals for sacrifice,
is that
not wrong?
When
you sacrifice crippled or
diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your
governor! Would
he be pleased with you? Would
he accept you?" says the LORD Almighty. 9 "Now implore God to
be
gracious to us. With such offerings from your hands, will he accept
you?"--
says the LORD Almighty. 10
"Oh, that one of you would shut
the temple doors, so that you would not light useless fires on my
altar!
I am not pleased with you," says the LORD Almighty, "and I will accept
no offering from your hands.
C. H. SPURGEON: Ezekiel 9:8 THE PERSONS WHO ESCAPED, who could each say, “And I was left.” We are told that those were marked for mercy who did “sigh and cry for the abominations that were done in the midst thereof.” Now, we must be very particular about this. It is no word of mine, remember: it is God's word, and therefore I beg you to hear and weigh it for yourselves.
We
do not read that the devouring
sword passed by those quiet people who never did anybody any harm: no
mention
is made of such an exemption. Neither does the record say that the Lord
saved those professors who were judicious, and maintained a fair name
and
repute until death. No; the only people that were saved were those who
were exercised in heart, and that heart-work was of a painful kind:
they
sighed and cried because of abounding sin. They saw it, protested
against
it, avoided it, and, last of .all, wept over it continually. Where
testimony
failed, it remained for them to mourn; retiring from public labors,
they
sat them down and sighed their hearts away because of the evils which
they
could not cure; and when they felt that sighing alone would do no good,
they took to crying in prayer to God that he would come and put an end
to the dreadful ills which brooded over the land. Click
Here to Read Full Sermon
Here's what others are reading on PeaceMakers.net,
Divorce and Remarriage
Divorce
and the Prophets
The
Gospel of Matthew as a Manual of Discipleship Pre Published
John
Commentary Pre
Published
Proverbs
Commentary Pre Published
by
William Greenhill -Banner of Truth
E-mail: info@banneroftruth.org
Ezekiel
Chapter 34: True Shepherds Vs. False: 21 Pages in picture form each
about
300K
Ezekiel
Chapter 36: True Believer Vs. False: 19 Pages in picture form each
about
200K
CLICK HERE TO READ CASE EXAMPLES
CHURCH
DISCIPLINE-JUSTICE-RIGHTEOUSNESS AND EXCOMMUNICATION
The materials on this site are
historical Church doctrines
and sermons defining a true Christian from the false; defining the
Godliness of true Christians from
the ungodly in order
to evangelize the lost, build up the believer and reclaim/restore the
fallen and remove the
leaven. Here are
some of the materials available...
Authors, Sermons and Resources:
Tom Ascol
Louis Berkhof Dietrich Bonhoeffer Thomas Brooks# Psychology Of Redemption by Oswald Chambers
Larry Christenson
Adam Clarke A.R. Copeland Jonathan Edwards
Gene A. Getz
Matthew Henry
Rev. James
G. K. McClure
Andrew Murray
Samuel Richardson
Leonard Ravenhill
L. R. Shelton
Richard Sibbs
Charles H.
Spurgeon
Alexander Strauch
"Against
an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses. Them
that sin rebuke before all, that
others also may fear.
I charge {thee}
before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe
these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by
partiality."
"Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican." Matthew 18:15-17
Rev. Paul Crouch, Trinity Broadcast Network:
It was disturbing to read the homosexual accusation against Rev. Paul Crouch of Trinity Broadcasting Network! What I find even more troublesome is that TBN paid about $425,000 contributor's gifts-God's money-to the accuser rather than bringing the matter before a Church council or even the secular courts. TBN used the weapons of this world and did not trusts God for HIS justice. Even more disquieting are the number of people-mostly religious leaders, who, without a Biblical judgment from a Biblical forum, e.g. Church Discipline, came to Rev. Crouch's defense, as though Rev. Jim Bakker, Rev. Jimmy Swaggart, among others, haven't fooled them before. Evangelical Christians need to realize we are to exercise God's principles of dealing with these issues in a Godly, holy process, and render a Godly judgment according to Matthew 18. Stop defrauding! Stop the Stealing! Stop the gossiping! Stop circling the wagons and get back to God's righteousness and faithful living. What arrogance we have when we take these matters into our own hands, leaving God's ways and HIS will.
Bill Fields-steward
PeaceMakers.net
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founded by Bill Fields in 1983 Recent Cases Jireh Bible Church Conflict, Houston TX: To Mr. Bill Fields, I am currently struggling with a dispute among brothers in my church; one that I never would have thought would come to pass. It breaks my heart to see two men who were once so close break ties and go separate ways. I believe that two brothers in Christ who claim the Word of God as the ultimate authority can be reconciled. I have heard of Peacemaker Ministries before but really know nothing about it, so I decided to search for it on the internet. In the process, I came across your site, as it is currently the second hit in the Google search engine I read through your "rebuke" of Ken Sande and it only further discouraged me in my hope for reconciliation in my church! You are choosing to be divisive and a horrible witness to non-believers displaying all the communication you have had with the other group openly on the internet along your discontentment with their answer. What a stumbling block you are to people like me who have never dealt with conflict before and are looking for help! I started my search in hope of finding answers, but only found more confusion and disorders order. The only things I know about your dispute are from the information you posted. What you have posted does show me love or compassion for him, but a drive to make your point and show the world that you're right. Do you honestly believe that you are honoring God by being publicly divisive? Am I to follow your example and make a website showing where I disagree with my brothers and believe that they are dishonoring God by not reconciling? If following your example is what God would want me to do, then please show me. I want to honor God and help my brothers. All I see on your website is an example of how to futher divide the body of Christ, and in a way for all non-believers to see. Sincerely, Bryan Mosher " bill... As a self identified novice who displays a serious lack of Biblical understanding I suggest the following: 1 Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2and he began to teach them saying: 3"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. 10Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. bill.. Consider this...why does God include so many examples in the Bible, that you seem to refute posting current examples of the same issues. bill Bryan Mosher:
In your posting, you accuse Mr. Sande of failing to properly carry out church discipline in line with Matthew 18, while at the same time, you yourself fail to properly do so. Instead of taking the matter to the church, you have taken it to the whole world, including non-believers, by posting it on the internet. You have put the matter into the hands of non-believers for judgement. If I, having no prior knowledge of the situation, can come across it by simply searching the internet, so can any non-believer. Taking the matter to non-believers to judge also stands in opposition to the principles of 1 Cor. 6:1-8. bill...
Again I note the Bible, God's exposure of the believers wrongs before the world. God does not present it before for the world for them to be judge, but to be warned. Biblical presentation warns the non-believers, God's Body, those who are "christian" pretenders in danger of hell fire. bill Bryan Mosher:
What are you seeking by posting it on the internet? Are you not seeking that others come to agree with your position? Do you desire that I as well as others see that God's Word was not honored in the situation? What about non-believers who read your posting? Non-believers will read it. Will they not tend to see Mr. Sande in a negative light as a result of what you wrote? Non-believers will pass judgement on him, even if it is only in their minds. Will that draw them closer to God or drive them away? What will non-believers then think about the manner in which Christians deal with conflict? In unity, or in disorder? The message the posting sends is that not even the Christian "peacemakers" can "get along." This is a terrible way to represent God to the non-believing world. This only adds more support to the claim "Christians are no different than the rest of the world." This may not be your intent for posting the information, but that is what it does. bill... Bryan ...Yes, God did expose and judge people before the whole world in the Bible. Is not He the only one with the authority to do so? Where in the Bible does God give us such authority? In Acts, God also judged and put Ananias and Sapphira to death for lying. Should we follow His example in that as well if we encounter an identical situation? bill... It's beyond time to invite your elders and those in conflict as a part of these communications. There are many spiritual dimensions involved that those mature in the faith will recognize and know how they should respond. Hebrews 13: bill Bryan...
I apologize for that, and ask your forgiveness. I want to honor God first, and criticizing and accusing do not accomplish that. Thank you for taking the time to talk with me about this issue. Bryan I offer forgiveness, because I am nothing more than one whose sins past, present and future are deserving of death and God's gracious love forgives me such a great debt. Matthew 18. bill http://www.peacemakers.net/peace/eight.htm Bryan...
Thank you for your
time and your willingness to
talk to me. Then I strongly suggest your first error was seeking outside your Church Elders training that is your first responsibility to seek from your Elders. And if I understand this correctly, YOU have taken an internal issue to the public and exposed your church's internal affairs before others. You need to repent publicly to the Elders, those in conflict, and I would say you are required to confess this sin as a matter of both confession and training before the whole congregation. Only when the Elders/leadership have steadfastly failed their God given responsibilities should you have sought outside help either personally or on behalf of your home church. This is a very important understanding-you have done exactly what you first accused me of doing! This is a serious breech of faith and responsibility. You now need to have that Elder contact me and affirm you have made such a confession and that the matter is rightly under their God given authority. So you know, if I do not hear from that Elder I will contact your churches Spiritual Leadership for their exercise of their proper Biblical responsibilities. You and your Church continue in my prayers. bill Bill, I allowed my sorrow to lead me into a sinful attitude that resulted in my initial email to you, and our resulting discussion of your posting. I will speak with the same elder I spoke with previously and ask to him to help me resolve this matter. I will also ask him to contact you to let you know how the matter was resolved. Bryan Bryan....
bill... email sent via Jireh
Bible Church's, Houston TX
website: http://www.jirehbiblechurch.org There has been no
further communication. The
Spiritually Self-Seeking Church . . . till we all come . . . to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ . . . —Ephesians 4:13 Reconciliation means the restoring of the relationship between the entire human race and God, putting it back to what God designed it to be. This is what Jesus Christ did in redemption. The church ceases to be spiritual when it becomes self-seeking, only interested in the development of its own organization. The reconciliation of the human race according to His plan means realizing Him not only in our lives individually, but also in our lives collectively. Jesus Christ sent apostles and teachers for this very purpose— that the corporate Person of Christ and His church, made up of many members, might be brought into being and made known. We are not here to develop a spiritual life of our own, or to enjoy a quiet spiritual retreat. We are here to have the full realization of Jesus Christ, for the purpose of building His body. Am I building up the body of Christ, or am I only concerned about my own personal development? The essential thing is my personal relationship with Jesus Christ— ". . . that I may know Him. . ." ( Philippians 3:10 ). To fulfill God’s perfect design for me requires my total surrender— complete abandonment of myself to Him. Whenever I only want things for myself, the relationship is distorted. And I will suffer great humiliation once I come to acknowledge and understand that I have not really been concerned about realizing Jesus Christ Himself, but only concerned with knowing what He has done for me. My goal is God Himself, not joy nor peace, Nor even blessing, but Himself, my God. Am I measuring my life by this standard or by something less? Bill, on your page:
http://peacemakers.net/TedHaggard.html#leaders,
the following sentence caught my eye. Can you provide any reference to
material that evidences this? My fellowship is not really involved in
church
growth "Years ago the "church growth movement taught that "Pastors" should refer sheep needing intense Pastoral care to the "Christian psychololgy Professionals". It is/was a basic tenet in "Church Growth" movement like Willow Creek to the point they brought 12 step programs into their buildings and programs. The man who was
called Bill W. the first alcholic
to be ministered to by Reverend Frank N. D. Buchman, the person behind
what was later called The Oxford Group. The Oxford Group lost it's way
when they omitted Jesus Christ The first generation of these leaders of these "churches" were/are mostly men using the ideas of the world to entice the "lost" into the church to win them. When in my experiences God says 2 Thessalonians 2:10-13 "10 and with all the deceit of unrighteousness in those who perish, because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie, 12 that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." Lord, Lord have mercy...bill Hi, I am involved in an on-going reproof of all the leaders in my local church, hoping that they can repent of setting aside the Truth of God. Steven. Hi Steven...you are in my prayers and before we go any farther I would need to read your repentance and confessions that have brought you to these spiritual truths and application in your own heart. As you may know there are many who yell and denouce from a heart filled with the same on going sins they attack in others. Peacemaking is filled with those who lash out at sinners from a heart of denouncing rather than an invitation to repentance. Peacemaking is filled with those who can teach the words but have not the spiritural insights to apply in their own heart nor walk in God's Light regardless of cost to themselves by those who persecute the truth carried by the faithful. It has been my experience and from the witnesses who've gone before that Biblical Peacemaking uncovers far more enemies of God's Truth than wins converts to walking in Christ. The place of Peacemaking in the sermon on the mount is no accident, one must begin in their own spiritual journey and progress through each beattitude in spiritual growth to be a brother in Christ who can endure the reality that severe persecution awaits them. I have no doubt that organizations who are quite popular "peacemaking" teachers and leaders are more likely corrupt leading many astray of God's Blessings, and dine with the unrepentant sinner as a friend and brother. I was in near the very beginning of the modern attempt titled Christian Conflict Resolution that led to many calling themselves "peacemakers". And when the Holy Spirit uncovered their sin, they became vicious dogs cloaked in scripture. You do not want to mess with God in this domain-HE will reveal your heart to the world as HE has no tolerance for those who profess spiritual maturity and leadership that have no heart to feed HIS sheep. I have not read your material yet and will wait until I can hear your heart directly from you. ......Bill, in addition to being truly amazed at your requiring response, I am very thankful for it. Such a response is precious and rare. Others have been after me for some time now to put my testimony down on paper yet I have pretty much ignored them. Your speaking has allowed the Lord to draw the line for me, and I thank you for it. It will take some time to put my history of repentance and confession down on paper. It is clear to me now that I must begin work on it. I appreciate your prayer in that regard. I have also copied others on this reply to whom I have been trying to hold myself accountable. This sentence of yours is on my heart each day: HE has no tolerance for those who profess spiritual maturity and leadership that have no heart to feed HIS sheep. Expect to hear back from me in the near future. A fellow soldier of Christ Jesus.
Jeff Miller LEAD
PASTOR Pastor Miller I regret to inform you that PeaceMakers has been made aware that a person saying they are a part of your congregation has made a serious statement that there is/are women in your midst that have bared their breast and have held other women's breast as a greeting or show of some group identity. We are seeking the identity of the person making those statements but since there is now a police report of sexual assualt/harassment and/or sexual abuse against that person, we may not be able to identify and report the person(s) needing your Elders help. Please help us understand your procedures should the person the subject of the attack we willing to give witness to the person's identity and behaviors, as to how to proceed. You are all in our
prayers There was no
response: A police report
was filed for sexual violation in which Clearview Church of Bloomington
IL was identified by the assaliant as their church and is now public
record. Biblical Repentance v. More of the same sin I have just read
through your "8 Steps" article It involves a single
woman in her mid-thirties
living on her own that has She told me that
because she has confessed her
sin to God and some people I'm unclear, based
upon your "8 steps", whether
or not if she still needs Also, I'm not clear
on the process of restititution
is or what should be Your Biblical counsel is much needed and prayerfully sought. Thanks, -------------------------------- Blessings ______, you are walking the often lonely foot steps of Christ... Here are the Biblical principles and resultant steps of faith for the True Christian. Every person within a local church is to be in submission to the oversight and biblical teachings and accounting of that Church's Elders. Heb. 13. for added emphasis Hebrews 13:17 Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you. NIV Therefore each party either voluntarily goes with your witness and confesses before their authority or you go without them. 2 Corinthians 7: for added emphasis 2 Corinthians 7:9-12 9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. 10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. 11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter. True repentance is very clear and easy to see and willing to do all possible to not sin again, not cast clouds on Christ, His Body the Church, etc. A degree of reluctance can be normal but will be quickly overcome (the same session) with clear Biblical instruction on this passage. Any further reluctance is grounds to proceed without them. Crossing state lines, city limits, other congregations does not alter the Biblical truths, on the contrary, it must assure such a confession is made, to all in Biblical authority; therefore her father, her elders, her pastor, his pastor. I don't care what she/he said or says, if it's not in line with the Scriptures it's a continuation of the heart/flesh sins that led to their abomination. Paul is very clear Godly Sorrow leads to a full clearing of the matter and opens the gates for those in Spiritual authority to assist and keep watch that it's not repeated and brings repute upon Christ's name nor grieves the Holy Spirit. OK that was the easy part:sigh The real test for you will likely come upon you by those who profess Christ and sit in the seat of authority who don't know these principles, nor practice them, don't know how to disciple and don't have the time to walk with her/him in their daily walk and keep close watch over them-if that's true then they will turn on you in all manner of ways that upbraids you and your actions. Here's the test of true Godly Leadership-they will first weep at their failure to know and care for these two. They will bless you for following in Christ's instructions. They will repent to he/him of their failure as those who must give an account. They will gird their loins for spiritual battle and ask for your help and prayers.They will confess their own sins before the congregation in their failure of spiritual leadership. They will preach sermons that set forth these spiritual truths and how they will be excercised within their congregation. If she/he is unrepentant they will announce a period of shunning with instrurutions in hopes she/he will repent. Upon Biblical repentance with Godly sorrow they will celebrate the lost sheep's return and make promise to walk worthy of God's calling in their life. I will tell you, I've never seen this happen. If her father is a Christian he will follow the above pattern set forth in Scripture. If he is not a Christian, you may explain these teachings and your Christian love and responsibility for her. You all are in our
prayers, remembering our confessions
of failure and thanking God for Christ's witness and the discipline
that
hurt for a while that increased our love for our Heavenly Father and
gave
new light in to redemption, mercy, grace, to sinners such as
we.
Amen and Amen
BUSINESS VS MINISTRY/CHURCH First Contact Email: I got one email address from your website, the other from Dave Treadwell’s email below. Here is an outline of the issue. Hopefully it will help a potential facilitator understand before s/he calls me. XYZ has been on Light of Life’s staff for XX years. He’s held many positions and was an important steadying influence in the midst of some chaotic times. When I arrived in YYYY, he was serving as XXXXX and held that position until YYYY, when I hired a new BBBBB and XYZ moved to a newly created position of RRRRRRR.. At that time, we both understood that it was a temporary position, though neither of us set any dates. Last summer I started to share with XYZ that the work assigned him was winding down, and that we had to start talking about his transition out of Light of Life. Last YYYY we agreed that he would resign on YY/YY/YY, but that he would not have to work after YY/YY/YY (he would be paid for YY, YY and YY without showing up). This agreement took the form of a letter of resignation from him requesting the 3 months of pay without work and my letter to him agreeing to the request. Now his wife is pressing him to demand 9 month’s severance (to start YY/YY/YY) because he is being pushed out. QUE (a former staff member herself) is telling him they (both of them) have sacrificed too much for too long. I asked XYZ if we would be having this conversation if he already had a job lined up. He said we absolutely would. For QUE, it is a matter of principle, though I’m sure it’s also a matter of security. I’ve told him he has put me in a difficult position. This should have been dealt with last YY when we negotiated the separation. If there are any changes, we now have to write legal documents that speak of “full and final agreement”. I could simply say no—we have an agreement in writing. I did not lay him off, saying there was no longer a need for a XXXXX, because I wanted to offer him the chance to leave “on his own terms”. The risk of saying no is the problems we could have with other long-term staff, some of whom still feel I’m cleaning house…and they will be next. I could agree to the request. But I could have sent him on his way with a one year severance when I found a new BBBB. It would have cost the Mission less if it had been handled that way. But, I didn’t do so to save XYZ the embarrassment of being let go harshly after all those years of service. Furthermore, I’m concerned about setting precedence—negotiating twice at separation—or other long term staff members offering to resign in exchange for severance. I want to do the “right thing” and let God handle the consequences. But I’m not sure what the right thing is. David G.
Bugher I am the Light of the
world... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: David
Treadwell Greetings.
Our sister mission in Pittsburg,
Light of Life Mission, is looking for assistance with a Christian
conciliation
effort in the personnel/employment field. Could you please recommend
one
or more facilitators they can contact for assistance?
I’ve shared
our positive experiences with Ron Zabel and believe this is a situation
where conciliation has a great opportunity for the parties to honor the
Lord. The contact is Executive Director David Bugher, email above, (412) 258-6150. Thanks and blessings, Dave David O. Treadwell
PMI: Response Please forward XYZ's full name, email address and phone number..thank you, steward@peacemakers.net Contact information XYZ was received:
PMI: I have not heard back from XYZ...so I will speak to you in terms of what came to mind in the values I hear in your information and desire. Only God knows what you are saying, I'm sharing from who I've been and heard in all my years of ministry, corporate turn around professional, managing ministries and secular business. I can not speak to the details specific to your immediate situation. 1. You are a ministry
NOT a business. Your question
is a business choice. you are all in my
prayers, bill fields Bill, Rather than continue one-way communication by responding to your email, I would like to talk. Would you be willing to call my cell (xxx-xxx-xxxx) or give me a number I can call? Two-way communication is always better…especially in this case. David
PMI: If we talk one to one the rules are I will only talk about you and the Biblical application to you. Otherwise it's with witnesses. Please let me know if this is acceptable, bill
i agree not to talk about the specific case. I may have read a lot into your last email that you did not intend. It seemed to me that you drew many conclusions based on many assumptions. You said you “could not speak to the details specific to our immediate situation”, but then did exactly that. Maybe I misunderstood your intentions. My concern, based on the above, is whether Peacemakers would be of any help in this circumstance. David G.
Bugher Yes, that's why we have witnesses. As to whether I'm able to help you, it seems the answer is no. My intention was to state to you what is very common in what calls itself "ministry." Your presentation is classic. I presented God's Word and the heart of Godly ministry and you didn't seem to hear it. If XYZ ever contacts me I will do the same with his side of the table. Let me explain the Biblical definition of Peacemaking, it's the establishment or re-establishment of Godliness. I'm not interviewing for a job-I don't care if you hire me or not-I care I present Godliness and how God expects Christians to behave-how did you miss that? How did you possibly read into my response anything more? And remember, I spoke to the details you presented on your side of the table-how does that raise your concerns? This last email confirms that I will not talk with you nor anyone else without witnesses, you're in my prayers, bill
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