I have two questions for your consideration today.
First, let me contribute more to yesterday's discussion. I just read an article titled "Pastor Burnout: Combating a Church wide Epidemic" published by the Christian Broadcasting Network. It says, "What might be called a spiritual virus is stalking the homes and pulpits of America's pastors. Each year, thousands of clergy walk away from their ministries, suffering from burnout brought on by frantic schedules and unrealistic expectations ... The clergy is like the Titanic - it is sinking fast. Fifteen hundred ministers every month drop out of the ministry. That's an epidemic. Even more sobering is that nearly 6000 Southern Baptist ministers fall victim to burnout, depression, marital problems, and even suicide."
Obviously something is definitely wrong and it is not just with those in professional ministry. We need an overhaul and it must occur in our organizations. Somehow we need to reconcile the "Good News" with the current "bad news." The good news that God is in the business of healing broken people. The bad news: participating in sharing the good news is creating broken people. How crazy is that?
I guess we can conclude that we (the organized church in America) is not doing the work God's way. What needs to be transformed? Where are our values, priorities and the way we do business wrong? That's question number one... what say you?
Question number two, I am conducting another poll. This time I am asking you to think like the Devil...(ironic, don't you think?). No seriously, imagine you could look into hell and observe Satan and his demons plotting the the destruction of your local church. What kind of things do you think you would hear? I have received several suggestions so far and would really like to hear from you!
Thanks for stopping by!
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Adrian
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#1. I believe these Pastors problems begin with the average attendee believing that to ‘hear from’ or ‘stay in’ Jesus they need the Pastor. The solution being to evangelize and disciple the believer into the state of being Jesus asked the Father to provide for us in his prayer for us;
ReplyDeleteJohn 17:19-21 “For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”
As professional ministers of the gospel, do Pastors function from a standpoint that their goal would be that their followers would no longer need them? Is the church attendee being led to a more complete understanding of the total sufficiency of Jesus? Are they hearing about and learning about everything Jesus said He came to do for us as believers?
# 2 As far as how the devil would divide WHFC, the answer is found in Jesus’ same prayer; that we function ‘not as one’. That we would divide ourselves from selfish motives and not lay down our life for the community. (of course I believe we need to receive this life from Christ before we are capable of laying it down see #1).
#1- Part time Pastoral calls. That leaves less time for the "flock" to become co-depedant on the Pastor. Also gives the Pastor time away in a careeer of his choosing. Less structure and more freedom within the walls of the church. Double the number of staff, reducing the hours by 40%. Offer outstanding benefits packages, i.e. retirement, health, life, disability insurances, perhaps a vehicle and wages, maybe twice the minumum wage.
ReplyDeleteThere's more if anyone is truly interested in a new vision, frankly it seems people want what they've been used to getting and are reluctant to accept change. Sad.
#2- Satan really doesn't have to do much of anything significant, I think he just sits back and laughs while we self destruct.
The wheels were set in motion long ago, it's up to us take a stand and say, "Enough! It stops here and now, with me, the abuse and destructive behavior that rules my life ends today! Jesus I refuse to live this life another moment, take away the sinful nature that has enslaved me, I die to that old man. I've tried to be someone I'm not, I've tried to be you. Forgive me, I repent.
You must give me yourself. Please take away this part of me that I can't give you. Send me to hell or call me home, I care not, this life must end."
Until the way of absolute surrender to the Person of Jesus, not mental acceptance of an idealogical figure, but the Person, is embraced
the crazy church cycle will continue.
Carry on!
A comment to your first question is concerning the term, "people seekers." I do not like this term nor do I believe that a church should be seeking people. I believe that a church should be seeking Christ and ways to please "The One and Only". I believe that God will bring those people into a place of worship that He wants there.
ReplyDeleteTo the second question, I believe that Satan finds ways to divide a congregation. I have witnessed first hand how one person's words are completely twisted as they traveled to the ears of the or hearers. It is somewhat amazing to see because it is very hard to believe. Satan deceives and so what looks like truth may not become evident as a lie until the destruction has be done.
These are just a couple of thoughts on this subject.
To help answer the first question better I will start with the second.
ReplyDelete#2 Gen 11:6 And the Lord said, "Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing they propose to do will be withheld from them." I am getting at UNITY. If satan can keep God's people from being united as Christ's bride, it would help in preventing the church from being as functional as it should.
#1 As a shepard over the flock, a pastor receives several different attacks. As Pastor Adrian stated in his blog yesterday; disrespect, not being appreciated for pouring their life into obeying God's plan for His people.
God anoints a shepard over his flock with His plan for them. Satan causes friction within the church. People in the church are divided with the promtings of satan. The shepard tries to clarify what The Lord desires, but then satan continues to counter collapse his efforts. This is probably repeated many times over but you can get the picture. The shepard gets frustrated. Not to mention, most of the shepards have families who need their time and love also.
Prevented solution: pray for unity and play your role in not stopping God's plan for us.
Psalm 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant, it is For brethren to dwell together in unity!
I don't know , but I think I like sharing this human experience shining through my friend and pastor. I like that you can say what you need from others, what makes you encouraged! I think attenders of a church need to take responsibility for their own state of being. Quit blaming others for their own discontentment. I don't love EVERYTHING about organized church, but I don't waste my time bitching about what does not agree with me. I focus on what does. That is where I plug in, with what does. And let others be. We don't all have the same robotic communication with God. We do it differently, each and every one of us. I think the devil would be planning ways to attack ones way of walking in the kingdom against another..as if there were a right and wrong way. Then , yes....watch us self destruct...he would need to do very little. I think the questions are directly related. I thank you Adrian for your honesty , openness, and transparency....thats what we all need more of each other!
ReplyDelete