10 Things Christians Should Never Say Part 1

By Jeff Arnette   1. “The preacher/elders are not meeting my needs.”     Believe it or not he’s not there to meet your needs. Jesus does that. They are there as a shepherd to watch over the entire flock and to see that healthy food is available and safe procedures are in place. They are there to help you be holy, not happy.   2. “I’m not being spiritually fed.”     Babies must be spoon-fed. Adults should be able to feed themselves. Since I’ve been able to read and study God’s Word independently, I’ve not depended on anyone to feed or burp me.   3. “I have a right…”     The Christian faith is about the grace and mercy of God. Daily we thank God, He does not give us what we deserve. Faithful believers show the same kind of dedication and love to one another. But at no point is a child of God to insist on his rights. If we got what we deserve, we would all be in hell.   4. “I’m not one to gossip, but…”     That’s always the prelude to gossip. When I was a young preacher, one lady in the church would confide, “Now, I know you would want to know….” It was her way of passing along gossip. Stifling the urge to pass along the latest trash on someone in the church is one of the hardest skills to acquire. Only the mature Christian can pull it off.   5. “Now, I’m not saying who, but some people are unhappy about…”       Anonymous criticism is one of the most cowardly things ever concocted in hell.  When the preacher or elders asks, “Who exactly is this you say is unhappy?” his critic answers, “Well, I’m not at liberty to say.” (At that point, the conversation should be over and shown to the door. “This conversation is over, friend.” And if they don’t leave, then you should.) Everyone has a responsibility to teach the membership never ever to bring anonymous criticism to them or to their ministers. I suspect that one of the greatest tests of maturity and faithfulness in the Kingdom is the ability to receive correction from the Word of God, even to the point of giving up cherished beliefs and doctrines we have held dear but now see as mistaken.       Let us bring every area of our lives under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

- Jeff Arnette preaches for the Central Haywood church of Christ, Clyde, NC.  He may be contacted through the congregation's website: https://centralhaywoodcoc.com/