I am a sheep of this pasture. Each of us has our own pasture — our church. Jesus is our Shepherd, but He also gives us visible shepherds here on earth: pastors.
My church is very large, yet at the same time very warm and family-like. The brothers and sisters there are like a big family to me. Even so, there was only one time in my life when I seriously considered moving to another church.
My church had been greatly blessed by God, but because of that, it sometimes became the target of jealousy. For several years, some Christians who had been deceived by Satan caused terrible confusion and division within the church. A fierce storm swept through our congregation.
During that time, I often cried and prayed together with another sister in Christ. Because I loved my church so deeply, those days were painful beyond words. At the same time, I was also struggling personally with serious problems at work and in human relationships. There was a season when I desperately needed to pray in tongues even during my lunch break.
Near my workplace there was a church of another denomination, and for about two weeks they kindly allowed me to use their sanctuary during lunchtime for prayer. I was truly grateful. Even in such a short time, I treasured the joy of being alone with the Lord.
The pastor there would even leave the room while I prayed, so I could worship and pray freely. However, on the day I decided it would be my last visit, something happened.
While I was praying, the pastor happened to hear me praying in tongues. As I was leaving, he asked me,
“Was that speaking in tongues?”
I answered very naturally,
“Yes, it was.”
Then, with a look almost as if he had seen something dirty, he said,
“We do not accept speaking in tongues here.”
I was shocked. I was deeply hurt. I realized for the first time that many churches in the world viewed us this way.
The Bible says that in the last days God will pour out His Spirit upon all people. It also warns us very seriously about speaking against the work of the Holy Spirit. So I could not understand why this pastor refused to acknowledge what he himself had seen and heard.
I wondered: even if he stood in the middle of my church while nearly three hundred people prayed together in the Spirit, would he still refuse to believe it?
Actually, I had been thinking that perhaps I could move to this church. It was stylish, located in a beautiful area, and many foreigners attended there. But at that moment, I clearly understood something.
I am a sheep of another pasture. I have a place where I belong. I have a role there — singing praises in the church choir. My pasture, my place, was not here. Even though a fierce storm was raging around my church, I decided to remain there.
Many years have passed since then. Our church overcame those trials, and today it continues to be blessed and grow even more.
Hallelujah!!
（注）
*other tongue（異言）
五旬節の日が来て、みんなの者が一緒に集まっていると、 突然、激しい風が吹いてきたような音が天から起こってきて、 一同がすわっていた家いっぱいに響きわたった。また、舌のようなものが、炎のように分かれて現れ、 ひとりびとりの上にとどまった。すると、一同は聖霊に満たされ、御霊（みたま）がかたらせるままに、 いろいろの他国の言葉で語り出した。（使徒行伝２章１-４節）
p.s. 今年5/24はペンテコステ（聖霊降臨祭）です。私の教会はペンテコステ派なので、日本語と共に異言のお祈りもする教会です。
------ to be continued -----
にほんブログ村
にほんブログ村
多言語学習ランキング
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