Pastors, Please Quit Doing This
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my pastor has countless times expressed his wish that we could afford to get rid of all the pews/seats and fill the space with plush recliners. it's #1 on my list if i should win the lottery or something.
he considers it his role to give the congregation rest
and he typically cancels his lecture on super-ba'al day. he says he knows he just can't compete and then he'll have to catch everyone up the next week, anyway.
he considers it his role to give the congregation rest
and he typically cancels his lecture on super-ba'al day. he says he knows he just can't compete and then he'll have to catch everyone up the next week, anyway.
well, i'll tell you, my sweet elder sister -- i grew up in a strong, closely knit congregation too, where the Spirit was always moving, and the pastor was busy trying to build everyone up in Christ & knowledge of God. but i moved away as i grew older, and have had a very hard time finding another one like it. since then, i've heard a lot of different preachers and teachers - i've replaced listening to the radio or music with making a dent in the millions of archived audio files on sermonaudio, for years, a dozen a week, every day at least one. so that's where i'm speaking from: i can't say i know their whole situations, or what goes on in their congregations, but i have heard a thousand people behind pulpits: in that sense i think i have learned some things about what is profitable preaching/teaching and what is not. at least what is profitable to my soul and what offends or fails to feed it.
overall, i am very dissatisfied with the majority of what i hear, seeing things lacking. the word isn't preached. the Lord isn't praised. there's error abounding and lack of wisdom everywhere!
even saying that, i know that there is a people of God, and He is always at work, and His remnant is there. it's not all miserable - and the Lord put misery and joy alongside each other, for our sake. so i'm really glad, in my heart, reading what you told me - i'm encouraged; thank you
overall, i am very dissatisfied with the majority of what i hear, seeing things lacking. the word isn't preached. the Lord isn't praised. there's error abounding and lack of wisdom everywhere!
even saying that, i know that there is a people of God, and He is always at work, and His remnant is there. it's not all miserable - and the Lord put misery and joy alongside each other, for our sake. so i'm really glad, in my heart, reading what you told me - i'm encouraged; thank you
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K
well, i'll tell you, my sweet elder sister -- i grew up in a strong, closely knit congregation too, where the Spirit was always moving, and the pastor was busy trying to build everyone up in Christ & knowledge of God. but i moved away as i grew older, and have had a very hard time finding another one like it. since then, i've heard a lot of different preachers and teachers - i've replaced listening to the radio or music with making a dent in the millions of archived audio files on sermonaudio, for years, a dozen a week, every day at least one. so that's where i'm speaking from: i can't say i know their whole situations, or what goes on in their congregations, but i have heard a thousand people behind pulpits: in that sense i think i have learned some things about what is profitable preaching/teaching and what is not. at least what is profitable to my soul and what offends or fails to feed it.
overall, i am very dissatisfied with the majority of what i hear, seeing things lacking. the word isn't preached. the Lord isn't praised. there's error abounding and lack of wisdom everywhere!
even saying that, i know that there is a people of God, and He is always at work, and His remnant is there. it's not all miserable - and the Lord put misery and joy alongside each other, for our sake. so i'm really glad, in my heart, reading what you told me - i'm encouraged; thank you
overall, i am very dissatisfied with the majority of what i hear, seeing things lacking. the word isn't preached. the Lord isn't praised. there's error abounding and lack of wisdom everywhere!
even saying that, i know that there is a people of God, and He is always at work, and His remnant is there. it's not all miserable - and the Lord put misery and joy alongside each other, for our sake. so i'm really glad, in my heart, reading what you told me - i'm encouraged; thank you
Our pastor is a friend, he had us in to minister in different churches he was pastor of. He told hubby and I one time that if he felt the congregation didn't want him, he would leave. He said he didn't understand these pastors that fought to stay in the church. He said if his ministry wasn't meeting the peoples needs, it was time for him to move on. Maybe if more pastors had that attitude we'd be in a better place.
I'm not saying that everything is peaches and cream in the churches. But what bothers me is when a person comes on with a specific issue that happened to them, then pastors are all in it for the money, churches are useless and they're just against everything. We heard it time and time again at CC. I'm going to post a song that is a beautiful song that my father use to sing when we traveled. I can't tell you how many pastors and wives would literally sob over this song. Are pastors doing everything right? No. Are there pastors that are in it for the paycheck, sure. Does that mean paint everyone the same? No. For the record I don't believe you are doing that at all. You know I respect you as a brother in the Lord and I appreciate your posts and your tone in those posts. Here is the song, I hope it blesses some one, it makes me cry just reading it.
Faces
I dreamed my life was done
I stood before God's son
It was time to see what my reward would be
With love he reviewed my life
To count what was done for Christ
For that is what will last eternally
See I'd done my best to share
That Jesus really cares
And he would save if they would just believe
Oh, but seldom did harvest come
And so few did I see won
Until the lord said, "turn around and see."
Then he showed me the faces of the ones who'd come because of me
So many faces that my life had led to Calvary
All those years I thought nobody saw as I labored in lowly places
That's when Jesus smiled and showed me all the faces.
He said though you did not see the yield,
You were faithful to plow the field
At other times you helped me plant the seed
No matter how small the task, you did just as I asked
And thanks to you these souls have been set free.
Then he showed me the faces of the ones who'd come because of me
So many faces that my life had led to calvary
All those years I thought nobody saw as I labored in lowly places
That's when jesus smiled and showed me all the faces.
And for those years you thought
Nobody saw as you labored in lowly places
One day he'll smile and show you all the faces.
... the faces... you'll see their faces.
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No, this is a recurring phenomenon I have noticed, especially in the past ten years. However, some pastors/preachers are more subtle than others.
Jesus preached, also. However, in the three years of his ministry, he only delivered five major sermons to the multitudes. The rest of the time, he did this:
Fair enough. And while you're at it, pass over the keys to the church so us "hands and feet" can finally turn it into something God can use.
Jesus preached, also. However, in the three years of his ministry, he only delivered five major sermons to the multitudes. The rest of the time, he did this:
- Healed the sick
- Drove out demons
- Fed the poor and hungry
- Performed miracles
- Confronted the Pharisees in person
- Spread the Good News from place to place
- A website
- Contact forms
- Office staff
- Large building
- Lighted stage
- Phony prayer request forms used as gatekeepers to keep people away from the pastor
Fair enough. And while you're at it, pass over the keys to the church so us "hands and feet" can finally turn it into something God can use.
I agree, but all good shepherds chastise a wayward sheep in private, and definitely not in front of their wives. If there was true discipleship going on in the church, we would have more men taking their roles seriously.
But as long as we have church leaders, elders, and pastors hiding behind websites like a bunch of corporate hacks, nothing will ever change.
But as long as we have church leaders, elders, and pastors hiding behind websites like a bunch of corporate hacks, nothing will ever change.
Sorry, it took so long to reply. I think I may have started a conversation here.
Maybe it's time for all of us, not just the pastors, to "disturb" each other. After all, that's what we do as a family of God.
For example, I called my sister yesterday and she told me she was still at work. So, I was clearly disturbing her. She called me back an hour later and we had a great conversation. So, clearly, your half-time illustration is a good one.
Maybe it's time for all of us, not just the pastors, to "disturb" each other. After all, that's what we do as a family of God.
For example, I called my sister yesterday and she told me she was still at work. So, I was clearly disturbing her. She called me back an hour later and we had a great conversation. So, clearly, your half-time illustration is a good one.
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I read your entire reply. I get it. You put a ton of work into these events and people don't appreciate it.
Although I wasn't there with you, I have been in similar situations. It stinks when people don't appreciate the hard work you put into something that is supposed to benefit them.
But this kinda goes to my point a little bit. As Christians, we're supposed to be looking for the dirt. Jesus didn't call on the sinless to follow him. He called the sinners.
Those unempathetic souls who came merely for the food were the harvest that our Lord was speaking of. The dirty rotten scoundrels of the world, and yes, even the guy neglecting his wife, are the ones we are to show grace and mercy to.
I'm not sure how it works from there. I think maybe the Holy Spirit just shocks them into submission after that.
Although I wasn't there with you, I have been in similar situations. It stinks when people don't appreciate the hard work you put into something that is supposed to benefit them.
But this kinda goes to my point a little bit. As Christians, we're supposed to be looking for the dirt. Jesus didn't call on the sinless to follow him. He called the sinners.
Those unempathetic souls who came merely for the food were the harvest that our Lord was speaking of. The dirty rotten scoundrels of the world, and yes, even the guy neglecting his wife, are the ones we are to show grace and mercy to.
I'm not sure how it works from there. I think maybe the Holy Spirit just shocks them into submission after that.
I hate to use your words against you, but didn't you say in a previous reply that no one should be praised from the pulpit? Or am I misunderstanding you? I think part of building up fathers is to show you value them. If that isn't praise, then I don't know what is.
I personally believe that it is not a sin to tell someone when they are doing something right. I would think that would build someone up spiritually a lot better than berating them all the time.
For example:
From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, to Timothy, my genuine child in the faith. Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord! 1 Tim. 1:1-2
My point is: Give reverence, receive reverence.
I personally believe that it is not a sin to tell someone when they are doing something right. I would think that would build someone up spiritually a lot better than berating them all the time.
For example:
From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, to Timothy, my genuine child in the faith. Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord! 1 Tim. 1:1-2
My point is: Give reverence, receive reverence.
K
Stick around, you see I mean what I say literally. People do not believe that miracles, healing or driving out demons is for today. But you'll find that out for yourself. Yes, Jesus did things besides preach but Jesus had a limited time on this earth. He didn't have a wife and family to worry about. He didn't have bills to worry about or a job. Jesus was free to do the ministry he needed to because He knew His time was short. He didn't have the constraints pastors have.
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