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Posts Tagged ‘critical people

The Broken Finger Syndrome

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The Broken Finger Syndrome

A young brunette goes into the doctor’s office and says to the doctor that her body hurts wherever she touches it.

“That’s impossible,” the doctor says. “Show me.”

She takes her finger and pushes her on elbow and screams in pain. She pushes her knee and screams; she pushes her ankle and screams again. She touches her ear lobe and yells in pain.

The doctor sat there a minute observing his patients behavior and says, “Are you a natural blonde?”

“Why yes, she says, “I just recently died my hair brown.”

“I thought so,” the doctor says. “You have a broken finger.”

My good friend, Brother Kenneth Bow shared that joke with me. We both had a good laugh. He shared the fact with me too, that there are a lot of people with broken fingers. With apologies to him, let me explore this line of thinking a bit more.

Most Politicians Have “The Broken Finger Syndrome”

It seems that every administration blames the previous administration for all of its woes.

  • High taxes
  • The poor economy
  • Unemployment

The “Broken Finger Syndrome” Is Found In Every Community And Also In Every Church.

Those with this affliction find pain everywhere. Everything they touch seems to hurt them. They find pain in all of their relationships. They are easily recognized by their constant exclamations of pain.

We all have met those that stay upset about things in their local church. They constantly yell in pain about the leadership in the church.

 

The Pastor Hurts Me!

  • He’s always preaching right at me.
  • He doesn’t like me.
  • He offended me.
  • He corrected my child.
  • He hurt me.
  • I’m not being fed
  • I’m not being used here.
  • I’m leaving.
  •  (They constantly yell in pain about the pastor.)

 

The Worship Leader Hurts Me!

  • The music style offends me.
  • I can’t worship to the songs they use.
  • It’s not my style
  • I plug my ears because of the sound.
  • (They constantly yell in pain about the worship leader.)

 

The Church Members Hurt Me!

  • I don’t belong here!
  • You’ll never believe what they did to me!
  • I’m hurt because of them!
  • They offended me!
  • They’re bringing people into our church from the “Projects”.
  • I don’t fit in!
  • I have no friends here.
  • I have more friends in the world than I do in church.
  • They all hate me!
  • They are all so critical.
  • They are all so self righteous.
  • Someone always keeps sitting in my pew.
  • There is nothing here but cliques in this church.
  • My children don’t get invited to the young people’s parties.
  • I’m changing churches and getting away from all these hypocrites.
  • (They constantly yell in pain about the members of their church.)

My In-laws Hurt Me!

  • They never have loved me.
  • They’re trying to control my life.
  • They’re nosey.
  • I can’t stand them.
  • (They constantly yell in pain about their in-laws.)

 

My “Ex” Hurts Me!

  • My “Ex” destroyed my life.
  • My “Ex” tore down my self-esteem.
  • My “Ex” is a psychopathic.
  • He’s hiding money from me.
  • (The constantly yell in pain about their “Ex”.)

 

My Parents Hurt Me!

  • They physically abused me.
  • They emotionally abused me.
  • They were very controlling.
  • (They constantly yell in pain about their parents.)

 

My Children Hurt Me

  • My children drive me up a wall.
  • I can’t stand them.
  • (They constantly yell in pain about their children.)

The List Goes On And On…

If You Thought There Was A Problem Before…

Just Wait Till You Tell That Person They Have A Broken Finger!

 ___________________________________________________

As Sunday School children in the 1950’s ,we sang a little song that went like this:

 

It’s Me Oh Lord Standing In The Need Of Prayer

Author Unknown

1. Not my father, not my mother, but it’s me, O Lord,

Standing in the need of prayer.

Not my sister, not my brother, but it’s me, O Lord,

Standing in the need of prayer.

2. Not the people that are shouting, but it’s me, O Lord,

Standing in the need of prayer.

Not the members I’ve been doubting, but it’s me, O Lord,

Standing in the need of prayer.

3. Not the preacher, not the sinner, but it’s me, O Lord,

Standing in the need of prayer.

Not the deacon, not the teacher, but it’s me, O Lord,

Standing in the need of prayer.

Chorus:

It’s me, it’s me, it’s me, O Lord,

Standing in the need of prayer.

It’s me, it’s me, it’s me, O Lord,

Standing in the need of prayer.

Written by Martyn Ballestero

September 30, 2011 at 12:18 am

Posted in Bitterness, Critics, God's House

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Results of a Critical Spirit

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Results of a Critical Spirit

(Guest article by Pastor Mark McKinney, Indianapolis, Indiana.)

Pro. 21:23-24

23  Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.

24 Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath.

Tongue: law-shone; fig. (speech, an ingot, a fork of flame): — + babbler, bay, + evil speaker, language, talker.

Scorner: Mocker

  • Keepeth his mouth.
  • He who is without sin.*
  • You can’t whitewash yourself, by blackening others.

When a sinner is converted they enjoy:

  • Bible Study
  • Revivals
  • Prayer Meetings
  • Worship
  • Church in general
  • Thinks everybody loves one another
  • All seems to be wonderful

Then Critical Spirit Develops:

  • Pastor doesn’t seem capable anymore
  • His decisions not as sound as before
  • He stands smaller in esteem
  • Sermons don’t seem to have effect anymore
  • Saints are hypocrites
  • Bad feelings causes divisions

A Critical Spirit Denotes:

  • A deficient Prayer life. (Pro. 28:9)
  • A bitter spirit. (He. 12:15-17) *

Bitterness: Painful to the mind or body; Unpleasant to accept, hard to bear, distressful.  Harsh as cutting words, cruel, characterized by intense animosity

Results of Bitter Spirit:

  • God won’t bless over the mess
  • Feelings of others will get involved
  • Valuable ground has been lost, may never be regained.
  • Spirit like a virus (highly contagious)
  • Revival hindered (repentance and confession in order)

*Where it all Leads*

Pro. 6:16‑19

  • Rumors ‑ Tale bearing
  • Backbiting
  • False accusations (the devil is the accuser of the brethren)
  • Evil imagination (second guessing) *
  • Slander: A false tale or report maliciously uttered and tending to injure the reputation of another
  • Critical spirit will not accept council.
  • (Pr.9:8‑10, 15:32‑33, 19:20‑23)
  • Guilty of self‑justification
  • (f) Raising a generation of cursed children
  1. Cursed by their own parents spirit
  2. Faith in church gone
  3. Lack of confidence in Pastor’s life
  4. Ministry, and prayers
  5. Loss of love for Saints and church.

* Charity *

I Co. 13:1‑7

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

~ Bro M. S. McKinney

Written by Martyn Ballestero

January 20, 2011 at 1:00 am

Posted in Critics

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