very confused

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levi85

levi85

Senior Member
#1
Jul 2, 2013
8,578
2,182
113
#1
Friends, the Pastor whose church i was to distribute 150 Bibles called me. I told i am hiring a car and coming.

I told him i need sometime may be 30 minutes or more to speak on the " importance of the Word of God", and than ask them to write their names, and put a signature of those receiving Bible. But the Pastor is saying that no time will be given to me as they have Lord's supper, testimony and a message. He is telling me to stand after the service at the gate of campus or Churcg and the believers will receive the Bible and leave the campus.

I told Pastor to invite on a day even for few minutes where i can speak few lines about the " Word of God" and give Bibles indiidually and make them know really the Word of God" is important, but he is not inviting on other day also not giving me a chance to speak and give Bibles individually but wants that i go to him wait till the service ends and wait at the gate and give the Bibles without keeping record or clicking a pic. On my part i want record and pics to keep with me and pray for them.

I am really confused, shall i say no to him or agree to what he says, like only standing at the gate and give Bibles when they come out of the campus. You know i have these 150 Bibles from march and now was about to hire a car and go but he wants me to be at the gate.

really very confused friends, you can pray, i really donot want to be a stumbling block for the Lord's Work
 
Subhumanoidal

Subhumanoidal

Well-known member
#2
Sep 17, 2018
4,058
3,172
113
#2
I don't blame him. You weren't invited there as a speaker, but for a service you're offering. If, after agreeing, you later state you expect 30 plus minutes to speak, it's not at all confusing that he has denied you. If anything that likely comes across as questionable behavior. I'm not saying you have any bad intentions, but to others it could easily come across that way.
And 30+ mins is a long time. It seems to me you have put a condition on this service that you didn't express up front. And now that you're being denied something you were never promised you now feel as though the people don't deserve access to the bibles.
Quite franky that comes across as blackmail. "If you want these bibles you'll let me speak". So if you don't get to speak the value of the bibles is lessened? Is this service about giving bibles or you getting up on stage?
I'm not speaking of your motives, but from an outside point of view this situation makes you Seem dishonest, demanding and in need of the credit and glory.
Is your focus delivering bibles or speaking? If it's delivering bibles then why must you insert yourself in front of the congregation to do so?
 
stepbystep

stepbystep

Well-known member
#3
Aug 31, 2020
619
496
63
#3
God is greater than that person, who may well be seeking "all glory" for himself; not sure. However, God is greater, and while he may keep you from any recognition of distributing the Bibles, he CAN NOT keep God from being revealed through His Written Word.

It isn't about you or the Pastor: it is about God!

Praying
 
levi85

levi85

Senior Member
#4
Jul 2, 2013
8,578
2,182
113
#4
Subhumanoidal said:
I don't blame him. You weren't invited there as a speaker, but for a service you're offering. If, after agreeing, you later state you expect 30 plus minutes to speak, it's not at all confusing that he has denied you. If anything that likely comes across as questionable behavior. I'm not saying you have any bad intentions, but to others it could easily come across that way.
And 30+ mins is a long time. It seems to me you have put a condition on this service that you didn't express up front. And now that you're being denied something you were never promised you now feel as though the people don't deserve access to the bibles.
Quite franky that comes across as blackmail. "If you want these bibles you'll let me speak". So if you don't get to speak the value of the bibles is lessened? Is this service about giving bibles or you getting up on stage?
I'm not speaking of your motives, but from an outside point of view this situation makes you Seem dishonest, demanding and in need of the credit and glory.
Is your focus delivering bibles or speaking? If it's delivering bibles then why must you insert yourself in front of the congregation to do so?
Click to expand...
Thanks Subhumanoidal, for sharing your thoughts on this
 
levi85

levi85

Senior Member
#5
Jul 2, 2013
8,578
2,182
113
#5
Subhumanoidal said:
I don't blame him. You weren't invited there as a speaker, but for a service you're offering. If, after agreeing, you later state you expect 30 plus minutes to speak, it's not at all confusing that he has denied you. If anything that likely comes across as questionable behavior. I'm not saying you have any bad intentions, but to others it could easily come across that way.
And 30+ mins is a long time. It seems to me you have put a condition on this service that you didn't express up front. And now that you're being denied something you were never promised you now feel as though the people don't deserve access to the bibles.
Quite franky that comes across as blackmail. "If you want these bibles you'll let me speak". So if you don't get to speak the value of the bibles is lessened? Is this service about giving bibles or you getting up on stage?
I'm not speaking of your motives, but from an outside point of view this situation makes you Seem dishonest, demanding and in need of the credit and glory.
Is your focus delivering bibles or speaking? If it's delivering bibles then why must you insert yourself in front of the congregation to do so?
Click to expand...
You know i have a 6 month discipleship and no Theology so no desire to be in stage and to speak 30 minutes. I speak for 5-10 minutes and ask them to write name and put signature and click pic this whole process may take more than 30 minute just because its 150 Bibles. Had it been 20 -30 Bibles, it could have been completed.
If i have their signature and pics, people cannot complain but if i have not their names, signature and pics than it may lead to problem. I need 30 plus minutes for this process and not be be on stage.
Anyways i appreciate your sharing , further discussing on this matter is not good , because you use the word, intentions , focus dishonest, demanding, questionable behaviour, i feel people donot deserve to have access to Bibles , blackmail, value of the Bibles is lessened, insert yourself infront of the congregation.

You can encourage me Subhumanoidal, but your words and thoughts are not encouraging.
 
K

kaylagrl

Guest
#6
#6
levi85 said:
Friends, the Pastor whose church i was to distribute 150 Bibles called me. I told i am hiring a car and coming.

I told him i need sometime may be 30 minutes or more to speak on the " importance of the Word of God", and than ask them to write their names, and put a signature of those receiving Bible. But the Pastor is saying that no time will be given to me as they have Lord's supper, testimony and a message. He is telling me to stand after the service at the gate of campus or Churcg and the believers will receive the Bible and leave the campus.

I told Pastor to invite on a day even for few minutes where i can speak few lines about the " Word of God" and give Bibles indiidually and make them know really the Word of God" is important, but he is not inviting on other day also not giving me a chance to speak and give Bibles individually but wants that i go to him wait till the service ends and wait at the gate and give the Bibles without keeping record or clicking a pic. On my part i want record and pics to keep with me and pray for them.

I am really confused, shall i say no to him or agree to what he says, like only standing at the gate and give Bibles when they come out of the campus. You know i have these 150 Bibles from march and now was about to hire a car and go but he wants me to be at the gate.

really very confused friends, you can pray, i really donot want to be a stumbling block for the Lord's Work
Click to expand...

Brother, I saw your post and had to comment. I was in ministry many years and there are pastors who refuse to give up their pulpit. Some pastors are very jealous of, or very worried over, their pulpit. You are taking the cost of going to his church, I believe you said you were, to give Bibles to his people. In my opinion he is wrong. If you are bringing in a guest, who is paying their own way, the least he could do is give you time to speak. I believe I would call him back and negotiate an amount of time he would be ok with. Explain your reason you want to speak and tell him exactly what you will say so he can be confident in letting you speak from his pulpit. Remind him you are will to come at your own expense. If he still refuses, you need to pray and decide if it is better to go anyway or just refuse. God will give you peace with the right answer.
 
levi85

levi85

Senior Member
#7
Jul 2, 2013
8,578
2,182
113
#7
kaylagrl said:
Brother, I saw your post and had to comment. I was in ministry many years and there are pastors who refuse to give up their pulpit. Some pastors are very jealous of, or very worried over, their pulpit. You are taking the cost of going to his church, I believe you said you were, to give Bibles to his people. In my opinion he is wrong. If you are bringing in a guest, who is paying their own way, the least he could do is give you time to speak. I believe I would call him back and negotiate an amount of time he would be ok with. Explain your reason you want to speak and tell him exactly what you will say so he can be confident in letting you speak from his pulpit. Remind him you are will to come at your own expense. If he still refuses, you need to pray and decide if it is better to go anyway or just refuse. God will give you peace with the right answer.
Click to expand...


Thanks kaylagrl
 
P

Poinsetta

Well-known member
#8
Nov 24, 2018
10,646
6,217
113
34
#8
So its still a blessing if the people get their bibles and then later you can pray to God to give you a chance and opportunity to speak to those people in church. You can also pray for them receiving the bibles beforehand so the seed is planted and they will not reject the word of God. You will also feel fullfilled in that way. Prayer over the whole church until you feel peace about it. God bless!
 
Blain

Blain

The Word Weaver
#9
Aug 28, 2012
19,212
2,547
113
#9
levi85 said:
Friends, the Pastor whose church i was to distribute 150 Bibles called me. I told i am hiring a car and coming.

I told him i need sometime may be 30 minutes or more to speak on the " importance of the Word of God", and than ask them to write their names, and put a signature of those receiving Bible. But the Pastor is saying that no time will be given to me as they have Lord's supper, testimony and a message. He is telling me to stand after the service at the gate of campus or Churcg and the believers will receive the Bible and leave the campus.

I told Pastor to invite on a day even for few minutes where i can speak few lines about the " Word of God" and give Bibles indiidually and make them know really the Word of God" is important, but he is not inviting on other day also not giving me a chance to speak and give Bibles individually but wants that i go to him wait till the service ends and wait at the gate and give the Bibles without keeping record or clicking a pic. On my part i want record and pics to keep with me and pray for them.

I am really confused, shall i say no to him or agree to what he says, like only standing at the gate and give Bibles when they come out of the campus. You know i have these 150 Bibles from march and now was about to hire a car and go but he wants me to be at the gate.

really very confused friends, you can pray, i really donot want to be a stumbling block for the Lord's Work
Click to expand...
Well lets see what fruits were brought when he spoke to you all of this confusion and who is not the author of confusion? You had it in your heart how you wanted to do this and I can tell it was spirit lead
This pastor sounds suspect to me you would think he would encourage you do this but it sounds like he just wants to speak his sermon and for you to be silent and not involved and just hand out bibles it seems like he is just wanting his voice to be heard and you are just a hand out to people
 
S

Scribe

Guest
#10
#10
I would not be interested in having you take names and pictures of each person who get's a bible. Why would you need to do that? It seems suspicious. Why can't people receive bibles anonymously? If I was the pastor I would turn down your service. If you want pass them out, that would be ok I suppose but I am not really sure why you need to do it personally. It seems sort of unnecessary. Why can't the church's own ushers pass them out. Are you concerned that they are not going to go to people who really need them? My guess is that very few will be taken unless needed or they know someone who needs one.

Taking names and pictures sounds like something the communists would do to identify "christians" who should be 'dissappeared' :sneaky::sneaky:
 
SoulWeaver

SoulWeaver

Senior Member
#11
Oct 25, 2014
4,889
2,534
113
#11
Scribe said:
I would not be interested in having you take names and pictures of each person who get's a bible. Why would you need to do that? It seems suspicious. Why can't people receive bibles anonymously? If I was the pastor I would turn down your service. If you want pass them out, that would be ok I suppose but I am not really sure why you need to do it personally. It seems sort of unnecessary. Why can't the church's own ushers pass them out. Are you concerned that they are not going to go to people who really need them? My guess is that very few will be taken unless needed or they know someone who needs one.

Taking names and pictures sounds like something the communists would do to identify "christians" who should be 'dissappeared' :sneaky::sneaky:
Click to expand...
He wrote in the OP that he wanted to pray for them. And people might indeed be afraid of the list ending up in wrong hands, not even by Levi's intent; and he wrote about persecution before on the forums. I suppose you pointed out one very likely reason for resistance by the pastor. Maybe first names only would be sufficient, they can sign a paper with their first names or say their name as they receive their Bibles. And that would be quick. Hopefully, there will be coming to an agreement...
 
S

Scribe

Guest
#12
#12
SoulWeaver said:
He wrote in the OP that he wanted to pray for them. And people might indeed be afraid of the list ending up in wrong hands, not even by Levi's intent; and he wrote about persecution before on the forums. I suppose you pointed out one very likely reason for resistance by the pastor. Maybe first names only would be sufficient, they can sign a paper with their first names or say their name as they receive their Bibles. And that would be quick. Hopefully, there will be coming to an agreement...
Click to expand...
SoulWeaver said:
He wrote in the OP that he wanted to pray for them. And people might indeed be afraid of the list ending up in wrong hands, not even by Levi's intent; and he wrote about persecution before on the forums. I suppose you pointed out one very likely reason for resistance by the pastor. Maybe first names only would be sufficient, they can sign a paper with their first names or say their name as they receive their Bibles. And that would be quick. Hopefully, there will be coming to an agreement...
Click to expand...
levi85: "Please write your name and let me take a picture of you so that I can pray for you."
me: "...ahmmm. No thank you."
 
SoulWeaver

SoulWeaver

Senior Member
#13
Oct 25, 2014
4,889
2,534
113
#13
Scribe said:
levi85: "Please write your name and let me take a picture of you so that I can pray for you."
me: "...ahmmm. No thank you."
Click to expand...
Yes, I understand what you're saying. Knowing Levi for years on the forum, I am suspecting he might be also recording this not only for prayers but to be able to give account if needed, for the donations, if other church members helped him buy the Bibles, which is likely. If this is the case, I think he should just say that openly to the pastor, and just snap one big picture together with the congregation and the Bibles in front of them. This is sufficient proof that alms were spent honorably, imo, and isn't a strange request. Collecting individual full name and picture seems extreme only for the purpose of prayer, to me as well. I think knowing first name is enough (or chosen nickname if online) simply some name as an identifier.

Even though I agree with you that it would come across as weird, I also understand where he's coming from. There was a member here that would post prayer requests from time to time to pray for multiple people. They would always just give a bunch of names. "Pray for Robbie, Susan, Mark, Tom, Paul, Mary, to be saved" etc. And I found it really difficult to pray, because there was ZERO personal about this, I'd repeat the list in myself for them to know Jesus but it was names without any character and I didn't feel like I really prayed with real intensity. I don't know if I'm understood... But normally, even if people don't give their real data here, you have some kind of idea of them, so you can really feel it's a living person behind the keyboard, if that makes sense. So I do understand the OP, although I also agree how it will be perceived. I believe the OP will have to make some compromise with the pastor where it's acceptable and comfortable to the congregation.
 
Billyd

Billyd

Senior Member
#14
May 8, 2014
5,217
1,620
113
#14
The Bibles accomplish nothing while they are in the box. The pastor is giving you an opportunity to distribute them to those in need. Please take advantage of it. Stand at the gate and give one to anyone who wants it. God will bless your efforts, and his word will be multiplied.
 
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