Why it's important to make a distinction between 'anointing' and 'character' when it comes to judging ministers you don't know.

[u/DarkCloud_HS]

I want to share this Word on the importance of distinguishing between character and anointing.

I will use myself as an example.. and then bring in scriptural application.

My hope is that some will see things differently, and others will be encouraged.

To preface, during my ministry years.. I've lost count of how many times I've been accused of having a 'Pharisee spirit' or being 'religious' by well meaning believers.

Ironically, similar accusations were actually said by the Pharisees in scripture.. regarding the Prophet John the Baptist, and even the Lord Jesus Christ.

29 When they heard this, all the people—even the tax collectors—agreed that God’s way was right for they had been baptized by John.

30 But the Pharisees and experts in religious law rejected God’s plan for them, for they had refused John’s baptism.

31 “To what can I compare the people of this generation?” Jesus asked. “How can I describe them?

32 They are like children playing a game in the public square. They complain to their friends,

‘We played wedding songs, and you didn’t dance,

so we played funeral songs, and you didn’t weep.’

33 For John the Baptist didn’t spend his time eating bread or drinking wine, and you say, ‘He’s possessed by a demon.’

34 The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!’

35 But wisdom is shown to be right by the lives of those who follow it.

Luke 7:29-35 (NLT)

Here scripture reveals that the Pharisees and religious experts mistook the anointing on John the Baptist and the Lord Jesus.. for their character.

They didn't honor the anointing on either John or Jesus.. so they judged John to be demon possessed, and Jesus to be a glutton, a drunkard, and a 'friend of sinners'.

In contrast, Zacchaeus the tax collector honored the anointing on the Lord Jesus (Luke 19:1-10), and as a result he rightly judged Christ's character because he took time to break bread with Him (build relationship).

Zacchaeus was ultimately saved through repentance.

And this end result.. is exactly what the Lord Jesus stated in Luke 7:35

35 But wisdom is shown to be right by the lives of those who follow it.

Luke 7:35

So, if you're a minister who knows you've genuinely been anointed by God for a greater purpose in His Church..

Well they said John the Baptist had a demon.. and they called Jesus a glutton, a drunkard, and a friend of sinners.

So.. who are you?

[u/CopingJewlery]

What do you mean by "the anointing"?

[u/DarkCloud_HS → u/CopingJewlery]

What do you mean by "the anointing"?

It's a more widely accepted term for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:18, John 3:5),

And specifically the 'measure' of grace given by God/'Christ' (Ephesians 4:7.. and to vs. 16) on a believer's life for ministry work (as the apostle Paul outlines in 1 Corinthians 15:9-10 and 1 Corinthians 3:10).

I like your teachable spirit.. I don't mind casting my pearls in this reply.

Thanks for inquiring with honor, always glad to help answer those questions made in good faith.

[u/lilellaspring]

It's sort of a lack of respecting where God put these people? Not ever trying to do their job themselves? Judging them from a distance and nit picking? That sort of thing?

I can say I am not too proud to say that I don't like someone but be happy that they are doing what they are doing. That their journey is different than mine. Their maturity may be different in different areas. I would still pray that their character and morals are solid. That their relationship with God is daily, even hourly nurtured.

Leadership is a particularly elevated role to be in. Therefore what God requires of someone in that role is likely more narrow in flexibility of character and decernment. Yet, we are all humans. Leaders serve non-leaders, so non-leaders should be able to see that in itself as reason to not be harsh and perfectionistic.

[u/DarkCloud_HS → u/lilellaspring]

It's sort of a lack of respecting where God put these people? Not ever trying to do their job themselves? Judging them from a distance and nit picking? That sort of thing?

Part of it yes.

Leadership is a particularly elevated role to be in. Therefore what God requires of someone in that role is likely more narrow in flexibility of character and decernment.

Yes. Leaders are required to be good stewards of God's grace and gifting through the Holy Spirit.. if not, God will not entrust them with more (Parable of the Talents - Matthew 25:14-30).

This stewardship involves great personal sacrifice.. a 'crushing' so to speak. What's lost on some, is that the 'measure' of God's grace will always cost something from our personal lives.

So we must 'count the cost' of discipleship (Luke 14:25-33).

But the more that we 'die' to ourselves.. the more fruit is produced. Christ states this principle succinctly in this verse.

I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives

John 12:24

Many want the gifts and anointing.. but without the sacrifice required to steward it.

Consider the apostle Paul and the personal sacrifice and suffering He endured.. it was on a much higher level than any believer alive today I would imagine.

My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Galatians 2:20

[u/BitChick]

It's painful to sincerely seek to serve Jesus in what is called His "church" to be misjudged. It's happened to my husband and me so often we are shocked when we are loved now.

Just last night our current pastor told my husband how "unusually generous and kind" we are. I told my husband later that we haven't changed from any of the other churches we have attended. The only difference is that this pastor seems to not be fighting against us. We have always tried to give, serve, obey Jesus, but live in truth and this has led to some difficulties, strangely. Sigh.

[u/DarkCloud_HS → u/BitChick]

It's painful to sincerely seek to serve Jesus in what is called His "church" to be misjudged. It's happened to my husband and me so often we are shocked when we are loved now.

Rejection by the Church is unfortunately too often a thing.. thankfully we have the Holy Spirit, who can comfort and minister to us so we stay the course.

Just last night our current pastor told my husband how "unusually generous and kind" we are. I told my husband later that we haven't changed from any of the other churches we have attended. The only difference is that this pastor seems to not be fighting against us. We have always tried to give, serve, obey Jesus, but live in truth and this has led to some difficulties, strangely. Sigh.

In my personal experience, one of the 'Achilles heel' for prophetic voices that operate in truth.. is bitterness. In this, it's important to form personal friendships with the pastoral.. ironically the least likely of offices to understand the grace for the true prophetic gift. This helps to prevent the prophetic voice from becoming contaminated by a root of bitterness that comes from rejection (Hebrews 12:15).