Wednesday, May 16, 2007
On Being Former
It has been widely discussed, but MMI linked to a post entitled The People formerly known as The Congregation followed the next day by a link to a post called The People Formerly Known as "The Pastor" It is rare I can read two posts that so closely mirror so much of what I think and feel. I cannot take pull quotes because I would simply quote all of them - PLEASE GO READ IT ALL RIGHT NOW - this post will wait a moment.
There are three brief points I want to make. The opening to "the Congregation" post contains this phrase:
I don't think I have ever considered it before but it may just be that one of the reasons genuine Christian disciplship does not take off in the church is because those in authority would feel their authority threatened by it. What must run through a preacher's mind when he discovers a parishioner that preaches better than he does? I think that depends on what the preacher thinks his job is. If it is to preach, then warning alarms will go off, but if it is to equip and spread the good news, then he will see an opportunity. I am not sure many preachers see the opportunity.
Ex-pastors, please do not give up ministry. Sadly, I know about this more than most. All of you formerly known as "The Pastor" please hold firm to the fact that having given up your professional Christian vocation, you have not given up your call. I know many of these people and too often they come to church and work diligently to remain "low profile." They wish not to "threaten" the pastor. That is just a shame. Having given up the profession, you are now free to exercise the gifts that lead you there to begin with. Do so with gusto. If the pastor feels threatened, that is his problem, not yours. You are not asking for his office or job, all you are doing is ministry, which is what the church is supposed to do.
All of this points out how easy it is to make the institution the idol. To those still known as the pastor and to your ruling boards, please place yourselves into acocuntability particularly to those formerly known. They can guide you in ways that will absolutely transform you and the church.
Related Tags: pastors, former, idolatry, ministry
There are three brief points I want to make. The opening to "the Congregation" post contains this phrase:
...no longer content to be content consumers - but have become content creators ourselves.What wonderful words, because after all isn't that the idea? Is not the ideal of Christian leadership to build new Christian leaders?
I don't think I have ever considered it before but it may just be that one of the reasons genuine Christian disciplship does not take off in the church is because those in authority would feel their authority threatened by it. What must run through a preacher's mind when he discovers a parishioner that preaches better than he does? I think that depends on what the preacher thinks his job is. If it is to preach, then warning alarms will go off, but if it is to equip and spread the good news, then he will see an opportunity. I am not sure many preachers see the opportunity.
Ex-pastors, please do not give up ministry. Sadly, I know about this more than most. All of you formerly known as "The Pastor" please hold firm to the fact that having given up your professional Christian vocation, you have not given up your call. I know many of these people and too often they come to church and work diligently to remain "low profile." They wish not to "threaten" the pastor. That is just a shame. Having given up the profession, you are now free to exercise the gifts that lead you there to begin with. Do so with gusto. If the pastor feels threatened, that is his problem, not yours. You are not asking for his office or job, all you are doing is ministry, which is what the church is supposed to do.
All of this points out how easy it is to make the institution the idol. To those still known as the pastor and to your ruling boards, please place yourselves into acocuntability particularly to those formerly known. They can guide you in ways that will absolutely transform you and the church.
Related Tags: pastors, former, idolatry, ministry
