How Ironic!!!

James 3:1

Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.

Yeah, that's pretty much why I became a Pastor.... Cause I want "stricter" judgment.

ARE YOU FLIPPIN' KIDDING ME???!!!

But yet that's what this verse is saying. That those of us that choose to be teachers of the word are held to a much stricter standard and judgment.

BUT HERE'S THE CATCH....NOT BY YOU; but by God.

This past Sunday I got my very first "nasty gram" from a woman who claimed to be a believer who wrote that my "testimony was empty" and that my sermon was "nothing but a show" and that my "type of Christianity does nothing for the Kingdom of God". (OUCH!!)

To top things off, she handed this note to one of the ushers, who in turn passed it along to me. (In Philly we call that being Chicken ______ , but I digress.)

Anyway, what hurt me the most is that this woman (who didn't have the Christian decency to at least give me the note herself) has NO IDEA how much pressure a Pastor is under and that I am already being judged more strictly by the God of the universe whose standard is impossible to reach.

And yet, because I LOVE HIM so much....I try to study His word, and try to uphold it to the highest standard it deserves....and YES most times fall short, and yet still serve Him with ALL I AM.

Ma am' I know you won't read this, but if for some odd "Chance" you do let me say that if you REALLY knew me, then you certainly wouldn't have judged my heart and passion for my Lord as nothing but an empty show, but of someone who loves their Lord and wants to PASSIONATELY make sure that everyone hears the truth that the God of the universe loves them and sent His Son to die for them.

And IF I DON'T tell them....then I'M THE ONE who gets judged more strictly...and I really don't need anymore judgment from God when there's people like you out there trying to do it for Him.

P.S. I FORGIVE YOU!!!

P Biddy