Discovered, Called Out, Kicked In The Face

The one thing I love about the World Race is the freedom
that we have. The leadership understands
that we are all adults and have the right to make some of our own decisions;
however, there are a few things that the leadership will not tolerate, and I
have been so thankful for their steadfast loyalty to a specific issue. It’s
called defilement; In-other-words, Gossip. Often this happens when you are
offended by someone, and tell everyone about it, except the person who offended
you. Or it is just talking negative about someone just because. I think we are
all really familiar with the nasty thing that we all have done, and enjoyed
doing it while feeling better about ourselves.  

About a week ago, I was starting to get a churning feeling
in my stomach followed by an anxious and heavy feeling in my chest. I asked God
what was going on and he loudly spoke to me; “Defilement.”

I asked God why I felt so heavy about it because I had
never had a powerful personal struggle with it.

“Exactly,” he said. “You HATE it.”

Yes I hate it. I hate it so much. I soon made it to
worship and during the songs I just started to weep because I hated defilement
so much. The heaviness in my chest got heavier and I felt it hard to breath.

Why so much God?

“Because YOU will not tolerate it and YOU will break the
cycle in the church.”

Okay, Okay. But the bad feeling is still not going away.

“Yes, because you and people close to you have been defiled
and you are still bitter. You need to forgive those who have hurt you.”

The bible does say not to allow a root of bitterness to
spring up. It can lead to vicious strongholds and a crappy attack from the
enemy ready to cling onto you with a lie of un-forgiveness if you give it
permission. And the enemy will cling to
you until you don’t give it permission to be there anymore. It’s a dark and negative place while he is
there until it’s time to forgive and he cowardly leaves you, defeated.

Throughout that day I slowly allowed my heart to forgive
those who have hurt and defiled me and those close to me. Jesus forgave the people who were crucifying
him on the cross. “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” I
have no right to hold a piece of bitterness towards anyone.

I was able to forgive, but it doesn’t mean I should ignore
the issue at hand. Defilement, I believe, is the major cause of division and
brokenness within the body of Christ; the church. Satan knows that when he tried to persecute
the church with physical attack from the outside, the Christians only became
stronger and grew closer to Christ. I believe he decided a new strategy. He
decided to join the church and tear it apart from the inside. He loves showing
up in the form of gossip. He decided to cling to anyone who allowed gossip to
enter their mouths and he refuses to leave until he is knocked on his face by a
church or a person that will refuse such an offer of lies. These lies turn to
broken hearts and words and acts of hate. His little scheme has worked for a
while. But he has been discovered, called out, and it is time for the church to
take a stand and fight it off, no matter how hard it hurts at first. Why will
it hurt and what will it take to kick the devil out? It will mean for many to
fall on their faces in humility and to face those that have been attacked by
their words. It calls for repentance but only to end with healed hearts and
unity again.

I believe that by letting go of defilement, there can be a
great revival in the church. It calls for an act of bravery, courage, and unity
by all who decide to take part. Gossip
is division, a coward, and very weak.

Defilement is no joke and not tolerated here on the World
Race. There are many practical ways we face it head on. We first like to keep
each other in check. We like to call it the 24 hour rule. For example; if
Lindsay decided to come and tell me how annoying it is when David laughs for 2
hours straight during church (we actually fully enjoy when David laughs for 2
hours straight during church), my response is. “Okay! You have 24 hours to go
and tell him that. And if you do not go to him I will bring him to you and you
WILL tell him how you feel.”  So Lindsay
tells David with nerves and hesitation. David tells Lindsay that he can’t help
it. The joy of the Lord over takes his body. Lindsay understands. She is happy
to know there will be that much laughter in heaven. Gossip went no further. Gossip is done and
kicked hard in the face. Lindsay laughs with David at the next worship. The joy
of the Lord is their strength. Good-bye you old and cheap gossip. I bet you
could imagine the twist it would take if she never went to David. 

I believe that the church can defeat gossip. It just takes a
few people to make the example and not back down to the weakness of gossip. Here
are just a few things to remember.

• I
  believe defilement can still happen in the heart. We may decide not to
  gossip about someone, but it’s still easy not to go to the person when we
  are offended by them. Even if we don’t talk about them, we still feel
  offended in our hearts and hold something against them; therefore; until
  we go to that person and make it right with them we are still holding
  something against them without them knowing. It’s time to GET RIGHT with
  your brother or sister.
• When
  we go to confront someone, it should always be for the good of the person
  who is being confronted. It’s just not right to go to a person out of your
  own personal anger, frustration, or gain. It should always be brought in a
  way to help better the other person. We are told to speak the truth in
  love.
• When
  we go to bring something tough to a person it should always be sandwiched
  between two compliments. We should always build each other up.
• Apologize
  to people you have defiled. It will be really hard, but it is one of the
  most humble actions you could take.
• If
  possible, confront those you that have defiled you, in love and
  forgiveness. Get to the root of the issue.
• Talk
  to your pastor about ways to go at this whole thing. He holds authority in
  the church and he can make some strong actions. Remember, your pastor has
  probably been defiled more than anybody you know.
• GRACE:
  Remember, we all make mistakes and no one is perfect. We HAVE to have
  grace with each other.

Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in
every way into him who is the head, into Christ. Ephesians 4:15

Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you
speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Ephesians 4:25

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only
such as is good for building up, as fist the occasion, that it may give grace
to those who hear. Ephesians 4:25

To speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be
gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. Titus 3:2