What We Talked About Christmas Eve

So, these are some of the things we discussed and a few of the truths we arrived at on Chrismas Eve.

• We have the right to read the Bible for ourselves and if what God shows us disagrees with what the pastor says, that does not make us wrong.
• We cannot preach our convictions. As in, God may tell me that it's a sin for ME to eat red meat, but I cannot preach that as a truth. It is my conviction.
• Tithing is not a New Testament command. It is not in the book of Acts, which lays down the pattern for the Church. It is an Old Testament command, and was confined to people who owned land and cattle, to support the Levites and help the Levites take care of the poor. It was meant to be distributed around, not hoarded by the priests. In the New Testament, God tells each and every one of us if we should give to our church or not, and if so, then how much. That is scriptural.
• Malachi 3 should never be used as a weapon against a congregation to extort money from them. Malachi 3 was written to the Levites, who were hoarding wealth and sacrificing blemished sacrifices so they could keep the best offerings for themselves. It is NOT designed for church pastors to milk more money out of their congregation members.
• There is nothing that we can do to mess up our salvation. Jesus did it all. We are not saved by works, by our efforts, by faith in the Law, or any other man-made tradition or legalism. God will not kill us if we cuss, drink, don't tithe, don't go to church, etc. We have to totally reject this and walk away from it.
• The anointed should be touched. As in, the pastor or minister should be approachable, touchable and questioned. He should welcome it. He is a peer of the people, not above them. If the pastor denies someone to touch him, then he denies that person the right to touch the Jesus in the pastor and complete both people.
• No pastor or minister has the right to dictate anything to the congregation. We are all priests and prophets and all have the ability to hear the Holy Spirit for themselves. Who is a pastor or minister to say that only he can interpret the Word of God?
• We all have the five fold ministry inside us -- apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher. So we can function as our own minister.
• Some of the greatest apostasies and false doctrines that have sprung up in recent years are Shepherding, Accountability, Covering, and Armor Bearer. Those are all tyrannies designed to turn people into slaves.

Good stuff! More was said, but those things are of a private nature, addressed by one for one other. What is said of that nature, stays inside NAILS and will not be discussed publicly.

CAVEAT: These are truths that WE arrived at. They are truths for us. Things that work for us. These are places where God has us. They may not be truths for YOU because of where God has you. If they work for you, cool. If not, stay true to where God has you and the truth that He has shown you.