Do you know someone who used to come to church, but somewhere along the line they became discouraged, even angry at God? Maybe He didn’t answer their prayers or work the way they thought He should. Or, perhaps, they suffered some tragedy.
Maybe that’s you! If you have walked away from God because of something He has allowed in your life or because you’ve been hurt or disillusioned by someone or something in the church, could it be you had a wrong understanding of who God is or how He works?
Today we’ll, also, talk about prayer, obedience, godly friends, requirements for church leadership, and the importance of good doctrine.
Today’s Readings:
Jeremiah 33 & 34
Psalm 119.57-64
Proverbs 27.21
1 Timothy 3.1-16
Are You Disappointed or Angry at God?
1 Timothy 3.1-16:
What Should Church Leaders Look Like?
Before we talk about the reasons we become disappointed or angry at God, I want to mention a few other verses.
This chapter lists the characteristics we should look for in a man’s life before he is considered for leadership in the church. The first list is for elders, pastors, bishops, or overseers (vv. 1-7). The words are used interchangeably.
The second list is for deacons (vv. 8-13). Deacons serve in various other areas of the church, under the leadership of the pastors and elders. Both are extremely important.
Paul emphasizes the fact that we should not be quick to put people in leadership positions (“not a novice” v. 6), but should wait to see the fruit of the Spirit manifested in their lives over time. Placing someone in leadership before they are spiritually mature enough to handle it can lead to pride and a fall (v. 6-7).
All of us should be familiar with these lists so I hope you will take the time to read them carefully. They will equip us to pray for our leaders and help us make wise decisions about the leaders we choose to place ourselves under.
Good Doctrine Matters
Verse 15 says that the church is to be “the pillar and ground of the truth.” The church is to support and teach the truth, that is sound or good doctrine.
Good doctrine comes from one place, God’s Word.
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Tim. 3.16-17).
It’s profitable for doctrine (teaching us what is right), for reproof (showing us when we’re wrong), for correction (teaching us how to get it right), and for instruction in righteousness (helping us live a godly lifestyle).
But good doctrine also helps us in another important area.
Good Doctrine & Our Circumstances
Good doctrine helps us see the circumstances of our lives through the lens of Scripture. It helps us know God for who He is, not as a God of our own making. Good doctrine grows our faith and trust in Him and prevents disappointment when He doesn’t work the way we think He should.
Bad doctrine, however, can lead us into all kinds of error, including a false assurance of salvation (Matt. 7.21-23), and can lead to anger toward God (Jas. 1.13).
Bad Doctrine & Anger toward God
One of the most widespread and pernicious of bad doctrines is “the faith and prosperity teaching.” If you’ve been taught there’s a miracle in your mouth and told that if you have enough faith, God promises you will be healthy and wealthy … yet you’re not, over time many become angry at God.
Perhaps, you have had hands laid on you over and over and have declared “I’m healed by the stripes of Jesus,” yet you’re still sick. Or you believe your problem is a demon of lust, alcohol, or pornography and you’ve tried binding that demon, yet the lust, desire for alcohol, or pull of pornography is still there. Or maybe you have given generously expecting a promised bounty of financial blessings, but you’re still broke.
I have met many people who believe they did their part and God failed to keep His end of the bargain. And I’ve known others who are just confused because what they were taught didn’t pan out.
God is a God of Miracles
Don’t misunderstand me. God is still a God of miracles. I believe He can and does do them every day. But the greatest miracle is the miracle that takes place when we are born again and become new creations in Christ (Jn. 3; 1 Cor. 5.17).
I believe in prayer and the laying on of hands. I believe God heals, redeems, and delivers us from all kinds of sin and bondage. Physically, He can heal instantly or through modern medicine. But there are times when, for our good and His glory, He doesn’t heal this side of heaven.
And God can deliver someone from the desire for drugs or alcohol instantly, but more often He gives us the power to walk by the Spirit day by day (Gal. 5.16-24).
I believe in giving our tithes and offerings in faith and that God blesses faithfulness in giving. But I don’t believe God will make us all rich or that we should give with a give-to-get heart attitude.
Knowing God
Our God is good and He is a God of love and mercy and grace, but we must get to know Him as He really is. Jesus told a Samaritan woman:
But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth (Jn. 4.23-24).
If you have walked away from God because of something He has allowed in your life or because you’ve been hurt or disillusioned by someone or something in the church, turn back to Him. Get to know Him for who He is … a loving Father who works all things for our good (Rom. 8.28-29). But He is God and we are not. He sees the big picture and we must learn to trust Him.
Two excellent books that can help us grow in our ability to trust God and understand His character are: Trusting God Even When Life Hurts by Jerry Bridges and It’s Not Fair!: Finding Hope When Times Are Tough by Wayne Mack.
Other Forms of Bad Doctrine
Of course, there are other flavors of bad doctrine, including various forms of legalism. Legalism can cause us to see God as a harsh taskmaster just waiting for us to make a mistake. Or it can cause us to falsely believe, we are doing all the right things and that God owes us a comfortable, easy life.
Bad doctrine no matter what shape it takes is just that … bad. It’s bad for our walks with God and can deprive us of peace and trust in God.
How about you, have you had any experience with bad doctrine? Share your thoughts in the comments section at the bottom.
Today’s Other Readings:
Jeremiah 33 & 34:
Call to Me, and I will Answer
Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know (33.3).
What an incredible invitation from our Mighty God! He promises to not only hear and answer but to show us incredible things. The only reason not to pray is that we don’t take Him at His Word.
Psalm 119.57-64:
Obedience, Godly Friends, and a Hunger for Truth
I love this psalm. It is rich in wisdom and truth and this passage is no exception. Verses 60-64:
I made haste, and did not delay
To keep Your commandments (v. 60).
Do you obey the Lord, quickly, or do you hem and haw and try to find some loophole?
The cords of the wicked have bound me,
But I have not forgotten Your law (v. 61).
Are you willing to live for Christ no matter what the cost?
At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You,
Because of Your righteous judgments.
I am a companion of all who fear You,
And of those who keep Your precepts (v. 62-63).
With whom do you hang out? Do you spend time with people who challenge you to grow or people who pull you away from the things of God?
The earth, O LORD, is full of Your mercy;
Teach me Your statutes (v. 64).
Are you hungry to know God more? Do you spend time reading His Word and talking to Him regularly? If not, why not pray and ask God to help you be more faithful in those areas?
Proverbs 27.21:
Do You Reflect Christ?
The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, and a man is valued by what others say of him (v. 21).
We are warned repeatedly in Scripture not to get caught up in the “fear of man,” meaning a sinful concern about what people think of us, rather than what God thinks.
So, this is not about a prideful concern about the opinions of others. Rather, about focusing on how well our lives reflect Christ and giving others a right opinion of our God!
Your Thoughts:
How has God spoken to you today? Perhaps you saw a passage in a new light or an area where you need to grow and change. Did you find a promise to hold on to? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Coming Up:
In the next few days, we’ll talk about whether our faith is genuine, the veracity of the Scriptures, widows, laziness, the link between guilt and paranoia, and more.
I hope you’ll sign up so you don’t miss any of them. You might also like to check out our YouTube channel.
If this post spoke to you, I would love it if you would share it on your favorite social media platform.
Blessings as you grow in Christ,
Donna ♥
Note about this post:
I began blogging through the Bible in 2012 and have done so every year since then. These posts are the product of many edits and additions throughout those years. Some days I make major changes, other days fewer.
A while ago, I read Jen Wilkin’s book None Like Him about the attributes of God. One is His incomprehensibility. In it, she says, “God is incomprehensible. This does not mean that he is unknowable, but that he is unable to be fully known.”
I have found that to be true each year as I’ve gone back through the Bible. Sometimes I find myself feeling as if a passage just appeared there for the first time. I’m reminded that no matter how many times we read through the Bible, we have only scratched the surface. I hope you feel the same.
Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways,
And how small a whisper we hear of Him!
But the thunder of His power who can understand?” (Job 26.14)
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