Something that's different...

[Mr.Dude]

I'm not so sure that I worded what my problem was very well... My problem isn't seeing/discerning what's right and wrong, it's what I do about it. I always feel like I gotta help, which is a good thing, but I always feel like I gotta help whether they want my help or not, which is a VERY bad thing. I've got this fire and brimstone preaching thing, where all it is is just bashing what other people are doing and very little in the way of trying to actually help their relationship with God grow. I get that from the church I go to. All they do is bash what other people are doing, and justifying themselves. Which I know to be something that's DEAD wrong. It's this stupid prophet personality that makes me look over a crowd and feel like Jonah did when he looked over Ninevah... you know, ohhhh they're gonna get it!! or, GOSH they're so stupid and ignorant, they need to burn, those sinners! Stuff like that. It's not Christ-like, it's stupid, and it's beginning to ruin my life and other's lives. It needs to GO. I'm NOT going to tolerate it, it's going one way or another. I hope I worded it better there...

[ThenThereWasRED]

Mr. Dude just pray for wisdom and discernment. Put yourself in another person's shoes and think first how you would like to be approached. The majority of the time when a person is confronted, they ALREADY know what they are doing and the consequences of it.

Any confrontation should be done first Biblically in private and also in a humble, loving & caring way. ....*there by the grace of God, go I* There's been tooo many in your face, wagging the finger in another person's face, telling them how wrong they are when a person is either not right themselves like they should be OR think they are above falling in the same type sins.

I'm sure there's prolly some good books out there even websites that will help you. Before confronting I would try to learn the best ways to do it. Too many people have hurt others by confronting another in the wrong way which only pushed them farther away, and that's not what you want.

I will look around and see what kind of books or websites I can find.

[DMcKay]

Originally Posted by Mr.Dude

I need to change. I have what is called a prophet personality and all it does is get in the way. It's encouraged in the church I'm now forced to go to, and that's NOT good. It always comes crashing down. What I mean by prophet personality is that I'm extremely conscience of other's sins and such and want to tell them about it. It also comes with Fire and Brimstone preaching. I know it's all about love, but this stupid 'prophet personality' gets in the way. It needs to go. It's doing wayyyy more harm than good to me and to others. Sad thing is, I don't know how to get rid of it. I wanted out of the church that I'm going to, to go to a church that emphasizes love more--like they should, but my dad forces me to go to the "independant fundamental baptist" church I go to now. Sad thing is, I'm very much so opposed to denominations. As Paul said,"Is Christ divided??" So basically, I don't know how to get rid of this... any suggestions?

Wade, Brother,

If you figure out how to get rid of it before God does what he put me through to stop that character quality in me, let me know. The book would make a mint. I have had people in my church's tell me that I am more of an Elijah in my personality than I am a Paul. I believe this was their polite way of saying the same thing. My problem was being saved and it being from out of the depths of sin. I was overly conscious of the debt that I owed, which Christ paid. When I started studying for the ministry I was appalled by the lackadaisical of the "Christians" with me in Bible College who had grown up in the church as Pastor's kids or Missionary kids or just strong Christian families. Many of them were less moral than many of the guys I knew in the Rangers. And these guys had the motto: "If you kill for pleasure, you're a sadist. If you kill for money, you're a mercenary. If you kill for both, you're a Ranger.

Taking my first Pastorate when I was still a sophomore in Bible College didn't help matters. I figured that God had put me through all the things I had gone through up until then to make me strong enough to stand up to the deacons and accuse them of their sins and worldly practices. I didn't believe in what I would call today Christian tact, I applied Military tact, which is defined as, "Being able to tell someone to go to Hell and have them be happy to be on their way." Not exactly the example of Christ, I know. You need to get a handle on this as soon as you can or your ministry will die on the vine before it is even planted.

One thing I would suggest is to stop before you say something and think about how you would react if someone said to you what you are about to say in the manner you were going to say it in. If that doesn't work ask yourself is this how Christ would have handled it? Now I'm not talking WWJD here. Jesus knew when righteous anger was not only called for, but He used it as well. But then, He was righteous in all things including His anger.

I had to tell a Pastor that I had once respected, and who was also the President of a local Seminary that he was sinning in the way he was running his church. I laid it out for him chapter and verse from the Scriptures what he was doing and encouraging that was sin. When he answered me and replied, "I'm the Pastor of one of the largest ministries in the area. We have over a million dollar a year budget. I would say that this is proof enough to show that I am doing what God wants me to do. You only have a ministry here because I let you." I quoted James 3:1 "Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment." to him and told him that as the Senior Pastor he would answer to God for all the error he was allowing into the church, and that because he was egotistical enough to insist that the Pastoral Studies program be run as his example did, that God's judgment on him was going to be swift and a terrible thing.

Within 3 months I got word that he had been diagnosed as having brain cancer. The first symptom was that he lost his ability to speak. He was a popular man because he was such a charismatic speaker, so God took that first. At this point I was pressed in my spirit to go and see him in the Hospital and remind him that God could stay the judgment if he would repent. Till the day I die I will regret that I disobeyed that clear leading of the Holy Spirit because I was too proud and took offense at what he had said about me. That comes to mind every time I feel like I need to speak to someone about their problem with sin. I haven't been called an Elijah since that day, but the Lord has increased my ministry above and beyond what I ever thought it could be. This Forum is just icing on a cake I can't eat.

Don't let the same thing have to happen to you, brother. Remember the words, "Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord and He will. . ."

Don M

[Annie]

Originally Posted by Mr.Dude

I'm not so sure that I worded what my problem was very well... My problem isn't seeing/discerning what's right and wrong, it's what I do about it. I always feel like I gotta help, which is a good thing, but I always feel like I gotta help whether they want my help or not, which is a VERY bad thing. I've got this fire and brimstone preaching thing, where all it is is just bashing what other people are doing and very little in the way of trying to actually help their relationship with God grow. I get that from the church I go to. All they do is bash what other people are doing, and justifying themselves. Which I know to be something that's DEAD wrong. It's this stupid prophet personality that makes me look over a crowd and feel like Jonah did when he looked over Ninevah... you know, ohhhh they're gonna get it!! or, GOSH they're so stupid and ignorant, they need to burn, those sinners! Stuff like that. It's not Christ-like, it's stupid, and it's beginning to ruin my life and other's lives. It needs to GO. I'm NOT going to tolerate it, it's going one way or another. I hope I worded it better there...

i think the fact that you're aware of this attitude is a good thing though. You know you need to double check yourself before you speak and you know you need to be in prayer constantly that your words and your attitude will be tempered by the Holy Spirit.

You're human so expect to slip up and sin sometimes. Thats not to be taken as a condonement or anything but you do need to realize that you're never going to get it right 100% of the time. But its in our weaknesses that God is glorified. This is obviously an area you need help in and thats where you need God to be your strength. So like I said before, when your patience is running low and you're just ready to tell the world around you to go to hell because they're sinners then you need to step back and humble yourself and ask Him to be your strength where you are weak and be a blessing to those around you instead.

[Jenniewren]

This is all excellent advice. I will pray that you find the right leadership to help you develop the skills you know you need in disciplining this gift.
I know how frustrating it is to be in a church that is not right for you, but hang in there, In a few years you willl be able to make your own choice and God Bless you for being obedient to your parent's wishes.

[3grands]

It's the Holy Spirit's "job" to prompt believers to change - He's got it covered, you know. Many times "sin awareness" is for intercession. Right?

You can look at them and say - They're a saint! because they are and ask Yahweh to bless them.

[stargirl]

I know I mess up whenever I try to "go it alone" and take my eyes off the cross. It's a constant battle--but our God attaches wings to the butterfly--He can certainly take care of all our needs.

[Annie]

Originally Posted by stargirl

I know I mess up whenever I try to "go it alone" and take my eyes off the cross. It's a constant battle--but our God attaches wings to the butterfly--He can certainly take care of all our needs.

yup

all God asks is for our hearts in faithfulness to Him and His Word. And so long as we're open to the Spirit working in His He will continually transform us into the image of Christ.

Its actually a beautiful picture. We seek after Him daily and He receives us with open arms as the husband receives His bride

[Bud]

Have empathy. Walk a mile in their shoes.

I've found that those who have that kind of "prophet" personality are trying hard to hide deep, dark secrets of their own.

[Dansey]

Hi,

I think there is a difference between a critical spirit and what you are calling a "prophet's personality." I have definitely had a critical spirit numerous times and have been extremely judgmental toward people, but there is also a part of me that I think might be considered righteous judgement. I'll explain below

A critical spirit is judgmental and has with it a comparative attitude - it looks at people and thinks, these people are better in God's eyes, because they do this, this and this. These people are worse because they don't do this, this and this AND they do THIS. That is a wrong perspective - it is pride - pride makes one judge in the wrong way. Christ, when He looks at his kids sees every one of them on the same level - seated in Heavenly Places, regardless of what they do. I was deep into this at one point in my life and it is called religious pride - it is not prophetic in the least bit - it is just my Religious Pride being exersized on both my self and others. I you feel this is your situation then perhaps you should ask the Lord to teach you humility. That is the best cure for Pride. In my case, he took me to the edge of Religious Pride to show me what its nature (and then crashed my world) - it was about manipulation, control and the opposite of Christ. You have to examine your heart and ask the Lord about it.

Being prophetic means "speaking for God." God hatred for sin stems out of his pure love for his people - he knows that every sin that we commit is not only going to harm us (He loves us He wants the best for us) but is evidence that we are not walking according to the Spirit but according to the flesh - which is death and corruption. Is the motive to point out their inadequacies or to bring them into a closer relationship with Christ?
Example: I have a friend who is caught in fornication, when I have talked with her, rather than say - you are wrong and God is angry the Holy Spirit led me to say:
1. Fornication is evidence that your relationship with Christ is broken - when you draw near to him, Christ will change your heart.
2. God says no to Fornication because he wants what is best for us and though the world lies and says it does not hurt you, it does. His way is better.

I would consider my Dad to be anointed as a prophet and in His early years he also had a critical spirit that the Lord has been beating out of Him. There has been such a change. I don't think it was right - I think it was a result of tradition and religious pride. Judgement is a serious thing. When a prophet speaks for God, he speaks not because he wants to change the other person (thats manipulation and control) but out of obedience to the Holy Spirit to correct a person in love. The whole process is directed by the Holy Spirit.

As for your dad making you go to this church - I am sorry - I pray that the Lord will give you grace to be there and that he will show you what he needs to while you are there. I pray that Christ will minister to you in this time and teach you what he can, and give you patience! I also pray that he will free up your father's heart and break him of any legalism.

I pray for myself for him to break me of a critical spirit - it sounds like you feel the conviction, like something's not right - don't expect to cure it on your own - you can't - just invite the Lord to and wait and believe He will do it. Thats what he wants from us - not striving but asking, seeking knocking, and trusting and waiting in faith for God to through the Holy Spirit do the work in us.

I know that's what has helped me with my judgement anyway.