Monday, December 02, 2013
Neither Bird Nor Plane
Christian Post reports on a Tyler Jones presentation a a conference:
But that presentation is still based on the paradigm that the pastor is in charge of the church. It is still based on the paradigm that it is up to the pastor to make room for ministry from others.
Pastors constantly complain about lazy congregations, but how many congregations feel oppressed by pastors. When a church is set up on the consumer model it is pretty hard to move from consumer to clerk, let alone something significant in the organization. Besides, who want to to work the counter?
church discipleship
"Lead Pastor of Vintage Church in Raleigh, N.C., Tyler Jones urged a packed auditorium of church leaders on Tuesday to give up the "Superman complex" and start empowering members of their congregations to fulfill the ministry God has given to them.Uh, duh?!
[...]
Are you belittling or demeaning the ministry of other people?" asked Jones in his presentation. "As leaders we must empower every member of our churches to do the ministry that God has given them."
He explained to the audience that pastors are responsible for setting the environment of the church and when they behave in ways that overlook the power of God in the lives of church members, they are effectively limiting the scope of discipleship.
"You're going to have to be humble men and women as you lead. If you are a teacher it's not your word that persuades people. It's the spirit of God that transforms people," said Jones. "If God can use you to teach, He can use anybody to teach," he added.
He warned that when pastors remove the focus of their ministry from God to their own talents they move into the realm of idolatry which is not God's desire for His church.
But that presentation is still based on the paradigm that the pastor is in charge of the church. It is still based on the paradigm that it is up to the pastor to make room for ministry from others.
Pastors constantly complain about lazy congregations, but how many congregations feel oppressed by pastors. When a church is set up on the consumer model it is pretty hard to move from consumer to clerk, let alone something significant in the organization. Besides, who want to to work the counter?
church discipleship
