Integrity or the Bishop

[elijah23]

Is it better to be a person of integrity (that is, a person devoted to loving the Lord with all his heart, mind, and soul, and loving his neighbor as himself), or is it better to please your bishop, pastor, priest, lay leader, etc.?

 

[handy]

I would say if there is a conflict between the two, you need to prayerfully consider your spiritual leadership.

No spiritual leader should ask a person to decide between being devoted to loving the Lord with all his heart, mind, and soul, and loving his neighbor as himself and pleasing the leader.

 

[Jesusfreak97]

Okkaaayyyy...somethin' sounds fishy here...I would say have a little chat with God about this and ask Him what to do. Aren't church leaders and God supposed to be on the same side?

 

[childeye]

Is it better to be a person of integrity (that is, a person devoted to loving the Lord with all his heart, mind, and soul, and loving his neighbor as himself), or is it better to please your bishop, pastor, priest, lay leader, etc.?

Great question Elijah 23. Should we trade God for religion? I've faced this question before in my life. The High priests killed Jesus. The body of Christ is orchestrated by the Holy Spirit of Truth. I am wary of men who think they are the authority of God over men. Some times they tell us how to act, how to vote, while their fruits are thorns when examined.

 

[Sparrowhawk1161]

No matter if you are Catholic, Protestant or non-denominational church, The Lord is the one who can anwer your prayers. To make a church official happy, for the sake of only making the human being satisfied is going to a worldly source. Even church officials have original sin... and, even they have to go to the source, which means they are not perfect, either.

If in doubt, seek the one who can answer your prayers... and that is God. I'd recommend in this instance to go to Jesus himself.

As far as your Bishop? When you answer to him, what fruits does he bare? Does he have your relationship with Jesus and your faith in mind? If any doubt at all, trust only in the Lord? Bishops are human. They have emotions and original sin, just like all of us have and this must be known.

If in doubt, go straight to the Lord. You are doing nothing wrong at all. You have the right to do this. Then, look at the fruits he bares.

I was once Lutheran. When the pastor of the church had a call to another church, he took it. Yet, it took him forever to get to this new church, because he wanted a house that was nicer than all the rest specifying that he was a senior pastor and deserved... yes, deserved a very nice home. This is an example of fruits that someone bares. Where is the pastors faith and where is it for all those people who depend on him for worship and even understanding of Christian principles? When he is thinking about money and status?

It's best to go to the Lord direct for anything you need... if you have any doubts with any Christian lal person... hope this helps

 

[Pizzaguy]

Aren't church leaders and God supposed to be on the same side?

You'd think so, wouldn't you? But I have repeatedly seen this to NOT be the case, in my 38 years in the church.