ATTITUDE
The Bible (Numbers 22) talks about a man from Moab named Balaam who had amazing prophetic powers. Whatever he said happened. If he cursed people, bad things happened; if he blessed them, good things happened. His powers were renowned.
In all likelihood, he was a prophet for Moab, in the tradition of Biblical prophets. In other words, as Israel had their prophets like Elijah, Samual and Nathan, Moab had their's. Israel's good prophets served the spiritual interests of Israel, which meant that they sought God's favor for Israel through fasting, supplication, and warnings. They also communicated God's messages and direction for Israel, helping them to serve God and thereby to prosper.
As Israel had their prophets who sought to help with Israel's interests, Moab had theirs, who sought the wellbeing of Moab and her spiritual interests. We don't hear about them in the Bible, because they are of little concern for Israel. But we do hear about Balaam because he was called by their king (Balak) to bring a curse upon Israel. Balaam's word was powerful; whatever Balaam pronounced came to be. If he pronounced cursing, disaster came about; if he pronounced blessing, good times came. If Balaam could curse Israel, Israel could only face certain doom.
One thinks that it should not be that hard. Isreal struggled in the wilderness with idolatry, fornication and rebellion. They were every leader / every pastor's worse nightmare. There were divisions in Israel, as well as constant complaining about God's provisions and his leaders; they wanted to set up other gods to lead them back into Egypt to become slaves again. Israel even complained about Moses' second wife because she was black. All of these should have made Balaam's job easy. On one occasion, God ran out of patience and sought to let Israel perish in the wilderness giving Moses the honor of becoming the father of a nation. But Moses would have nothing of it. He prayed for Israel, seeking God's forgiveness and longsuffering. He convinced God to back off from destruction, he convinced God to let the people live.
So what happened when Balaam went to curse Israel? He could only bless the people of God, he could say nothing evil.
From the inside, the Church looks like a mess; but from God's point of view, it is blessed.
HOW SHOULD WE RESPOND?
Who accuses the people of God? The Bible tells us that Satan does.
Who prays for, supports and loves the Church, giving his life for the Bride of Christ? Jesus.
We stand at a crossroad. We can accuse, complain, and point out the faults of fellow Christians (there are many); or we can love the Church, pray for the people of God, and seek to protect it, warn the Church and encourage it, knowing that it is the Bride of Christ, bought with the blood of Jesus, the Body of Christ, called out of the world and presented before a holy God.
Before we can get into Jesus' teachings on right and wrong behavior within the community of God, it is important to begin with this: Love the Church, love the people of God.
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