Granted there is a psychological element to this, an element that describes why I’m so concerned about the collective gathering we call Church, but it’s not the Church, rather, those with authority in the Church…

After reading back over my ESSAY 1 feel convicted to clarify ‘…collective gathering we call Church,…’ not to mean the negative connotation it can have; I guess the emotion I was experiencing when writing that was an annoyance at the idea of us—the Christian Church—as a “collective gathering” when we’re obviously a ‘divided gathering’ in the worst sense of division; so to call us ‘Church’ while divided in such a way makes zero sense to me. I don’t think it’s impossible to find us reconciled as a kingdom unit here on earth. Anyway…

MY CONCERN

The psychological element to my concern for the Church as a fellow member of the Body in the Bride of Christ partly stems from the scars of my past: series of divorces, there was physical and sexual abuse from a pastor and family members, the list feels like it gets darker and darker. I could make the case I was brought up by the devil’s schemes, and [ashamedly] have the arrogance to prove it. Does that pastor think himself justified; there is still no sign of sorrow or remorse that comes with conviction for repentance when guilty as sin. Will there be?

However, my experience to faith in God, although cultivated in a field of weeds…

“²⁴ Jesus gave them another parable [to consider], saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. ²⁵ But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed ^[c]weeds [resembling wheat] among the wheat, and went away. ²⁶ So when the plants sprouted and formed grain, the weeds appeared also. ²⁷ The servants of the owner came to him and said, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? Then how does it have weeds in it?’ ²⁸ He replied to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants asked him, ‘Then do you want us to go and pull them out?’ ²⁹ But he said, ‘No; because as you pull out the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. ³⁰ Let them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “First gather the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”

_{^{Matthew 13 (AMP)}}

…is not governed by evil, because someone had come into our field during the day to sow the good seed of wheat!

Oh if I didn’t know any better, how easy it is to paint the victim. Let my sin be obvious and exposed. Where is my sorrow and remorse? Am I repenting from sin or do I embrace the chains? My war is not against flesh and blood, “…but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places.” (Eph. 6:12). My aim will not miss the mark as long as my faith is in Jesus Christ; He is the authority and power! He is the Psychologist to my Psyche, the Foundation to my Structure, and Guide to my Compass!

What can sin do if it’s power be death when death was defeated at the cross of Christ? My concern for the members of the Christian Church is this idea that we’re not free from the chains the apostle Paul was chained in:

²⁸ Then Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time [and with so little effort] you [almost] persuade me to become a Christian.” ²⁹ And Paul replied, “Whether in a short time or long, I wish to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become such as I am, except for these chains.”

_{^{Acts 26 (AMP)}}

WE ARE FREE

I keep hearing pastors preach this idea that we can’t do anything about the sin we’ve been set free from, which is false. We’ve been set free by the salvation we have in Christ, and equipped upon belief with conversion to transformation—a gift given within Who convicts us of sin (the Holy Spirit of God). I am free to repent of my sin or not to, to respond to the Holy Spirit or not to; there is consequence and reward to right and wrong behavior, but it’s my faith, words and actions that reveal the nature about me. Do I have fruit that bears unbelief, or belief? My fruits will tell you everything about the condition of my body, psyche, and spirit. There are two distinct spirits…

DISCLAIMER:
Nathan Psychology: The study of oneself for righteous behavior, and my written perspective on the experiential process of edification to sanctification. What does it mean to be born of God, overcome the world, and be made new through faith in believing Jesus Christ is the way of my salvation? I’m discovering the path through spiritual discipline—