We all have people in our churches, I'm sure, who have aspirations that you might really question. Sort of like the people on "American Idol" who are among the thousands who try out, but they really have no gifting with singing, but they are "convinced" they do.
What do you do with those people in the church? In my opinion, today's "Christian TV land" and also just the way some ministries make things look or operate has given a lot of people stars in their eyes so to speak...it has caused them to want to be something, IMHO, usually for all the wrong reasons.
Case in point...some time ago, there was a person in our church who was doing some manual type labor that Larry and I had given them to do. While they were doing it, they remarked to me, "You know Pastor Deanna, it's very humbling for me to be doing this, but I am. The reason it's hard is because I know God has called me to greatness. I have been given a vision of me standing in crowds laying hands on thousands of people who are being touched by the power of God. So it's very humbling for me to have to stand here and do this kind of stuff, but I'm willing to do it for now." Well, I knew right there that it was the beginning of that person's downfall (can you say..... "pride"???) Several months later not only were they not headed for the evangelistic field they dreamed of, but they were backslidden completely.
There are cases that are not as severe as that, that's just a really blatant example. But you all have them -- singers/worship leaders who are convinced it's God's will that they be the next Darlene from Hillsongs, or Lindell Cooley. You have ladies who think they are the next Joyce Meyer...they will even tell you that. As much as they might grow, you can't imagine that because you do not see that to be among their set of gifts.
I realize that with all of us, somebody may have not thought we were going to be doing what we're doing...all of us at some point have probably surprised a lot of people with what Gopd has done in our lives. I realize that...but at the same time, don't you think there are people who are misdirected because they have stars in their eyes...have the wrong motivations, etc.?
I notice everytime we have revival with an evangelist who really mo ves in many gifts, and we see many people healed, or many prophecies come forth, you have a slew of people in the church who suddenly feel God wants them to quit their job, and run out and do that the rest of their lives.
A few years ago I mentioned this to our staff and we were just talking about, "how do you deal with that?" Everybody agreed, it is a problem, we do see this. But one of our staff felt, "you never squelch, redirect, etc. someone's dream even if you know it's completely the wrong direction...you never discourage them from attempting something."
I don't know how I feel. I just know I get a very uncomfortable feeling when this happens. What do you think? You don't want to hurt their feelings, OBVIOUSLY. But do you give re-direction or gently tell them you see something different?
I honestly believe that the strangest thing I have ever seen is someone who says they have been "called by God to do something special" and then completely leave the church. I had a friend who said she felt like it was her calling for many things 1) She wanted to be a Pastor's wife- ( I started sticking a little closer to my Dh) 2) She was called to work with children She is now not even going to church because she needs a break (from WHAT??!)
I think in order to help them you don't .Let God deal with it. I just tell them I'll be praying for you about it. Then I pray a very direct prayer with them that more or less says "if you Lord are calling so and so to such and such show them directly. if not shut the door!" One other example A couple came to the church that all the young people fell in love with because they were fun . They clapped their hands and praised God like I had never seen ( I grew up Independant Baptist we didn't do that LOL) all of a sudden they were just gone! My dad told me later that they had went to the Pastor and said " God told us to take this church from you because you are no longer needed here" The deacons rebuked them and sent them on their way. I heard they had done that at several churches and so they finally started their own but it folded. I guess God will use whom he will.
It is scary though when people act they way. Isn't it? Ralinda
I was just curious as to your opinion. We don't really have any of those people right now, I have just seen them over the years and I was wondering what you thought of it.
Living in Florida, it's "conference country" and there are always flakes abounding...
My friend pastors in Lakeland, FL...she says they call it, "Flakeland"! Ha!
You ain't kidding Deanna! But to make you feel a little better- it's more of a "southern" thing- probably to do with the "Bible Belt" deal, a conference every other week, church on every corner, televangelists and Christian tv on almost EVERY channel (I am NOT kidding about this).... we call 'em Granola Bars- fruity, nutty and flakey! I'll bet we all have some stories that would be "interesting...."
We have a lot of flake's around here too. I have only had 1 or 2 that I have had to deal with. I pretty much handled it like Ralinda. I just pray that God make his will clear to them.
I have seen many others like this when I was growing up. We had them up north too. I grew up in Ohio and there was no shortage. I dated a guy in high school and his mother was a total flake. She was too weird. She had a twin sister who was their pastor's wife. Sometimes it seemed like she forgot which twin she was, yet she would get "spiritual" on you in a second. I was almost scared to go over to their house because I had no idea how to react to her.
