In Good Standing

 My family and I went to a church one Sunday morning, and after the worship music, the preacher came up front and started the sermon. The preacher introduced herself as Pastor So and So (do not remember her name), and I wanted to take the family out of the service and leave. But why would I want to take my family out of the service and leave? The answer is that good Bible study deflects the denomination's influence toward Christian teaching.  

The woman's message was "The Heart of the Issue," developed from Joshua 22:10-34. In this passage, three tribes of Israel that were living on the other side of the Jordan River in the fringes of Israel's borders were afraid of one day being kicked out of Israel's congregation of worship because the Lord's alter was too far away for them to go to on a regular basis. Therefore, the three tribes built an altar to worship God, and the other tribes of Israel went out to war with the three tribes. After hearing of the matter, all of Israel was satisfied with the three tribes' willingness to worship God, and war was avoided. 

Now, the woman pastor turned this passage into "learning the heart of the matter" in aspects of Christian judgment. There was a big emphasis on not judging others in their relationship with the Lord. She then proceeded to inform the audience that she, too, knows that people judge her for being a woman pastor and that people do not know her heart in the matter. She said she knew what the Bible says about only men being pastors, but she spent 9 hours fasting and praying for what she should do. Her outcome was that God told her she could be a pastor.

The main problem with her Bible study/sermon is that her actions are louder than her words because her actions are saying that God really does not mean what He writes. God says only a married man of one wife can be a pastor (1 Tim. 3:1-7 and Titus 1:6-9). 

Second, she is saying that prayer can overrule God's Word.

Third, people don't need God's Word; they can hear directly from God to receive their guidance. God's Word is the only assured revelation in a Christian life; this is why a Christian should pray the Word. This woman should pray that the Word of God would change her desires in order to be obedient to its revelation. 

Fourth, Christians are to judge the fruit of other Christian's trees. However, before judging others there must take place a self-judgment in order to make things right with God personally; then one can judge another, but only for one reason- TO CORRECT THE OTHER PERSON's BEHAVIOR SO THEY CAN BE RIGHT WITH GOD (Matt. 7:3-5). Notice the point is that you must be seeing clearly in order to help your brother/sister in Christ. Jesus wants us to help our neighbor, but we also must be willing to help ourselves first. 

Fifth, not only was the woman pastor wrong about praying for guidance, but she clearly did not take her plank out of her eye to be able to see her neighbor's eye. She just wanted everyone to know not to look (judge) at the plank in her eye about being a woman pastor. We must not try to hide our planks with false doctrine.  

Lastly, there is more going on in Joshua 22:10:34 than just "the heart of the matter." Before you reach Joshua 22, you have already read what has happened to the people of Israel. They had to totally wipe out a sinful culture practicing child sacrifice, false worship, and resistance to the true Lord (Deut. 9:5; Josh. 11:5). Also, there was a situation with Achan that caused Israel to lose a war and not be in right standing, as a Nation, to God (Josh. 7). This caused huge concern and Israel had to rectify the situation in order to win the next set of battles. So when one reads chapter 22, it is no wonder that Israel is concerned with the three tribes building an altar for worship. When confronted on the matter, Israel was concerned that the three tribes were doing something like false worship (22:18-19) and also wanted to know if the three tribes were up to something like Achan was (22:20). Once a reader makes it to 22:20 and sees the name of Achan, a flag should go up and realize we are dealing with the same context as chapter 7. The three tribes reassured Israel that the altar was not for false worship (22:26), nor for rebellion (22:22, 29), but in order to remember the true God. Thus, Israel was happy to hear that the three tribes were not doing anything in rebellion but rather remembering the Lord who delivered Israel (22:31). 

Joshua 22 is about making sure the three tribes were not rebelling against the true God of Israel so Israel could be in good standing with God and be delivered from their enemies (22:31). It had nothing to do with not judging people. Yes, we should not judge and punish without hearing what someone has to say. But we should judge so we can ask the right questions. This story was about Israel as a whole being in good standing before God.  I would question the woman pastor; are you in good standing with God? Because it seems that you did rebel from His word and did something contrary to it like Achan did. I would tell her to repent. If not, that whole church will suffer under her wrong teachings like Israel did under the Achan rebellion. Also, this is time for all of us to reflect if we are in rebellion against God and His word. Take time to reflect and repent of any sins (1 John 1:9); we must remain in good standing with God (Col. 2:6).