Comments for Russ on Encouraging Pastors at http://www.biblearchive.com/mambo4_5 , comment 1 to 5 out of 5 comments http://www.biblearchive.com/mambo4_5 Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:06:33 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.biblearchive.com/mambo4_5/index.php/the-bride/russ-on-encouraging-pastors.html#comment-47 Shane - all churches do this at some level, so the typical answer of going someplace else will only prolong your struggles someplace else. If you find a place where you have no tension with leadership, you have found a church with VERY narrow doctrine. Scripture itself presents tension in just about every teaching, thus, we should expect to find that in the church. When I was a parishioner and struggled with this (no, I wasn\\\'t always a pastor :) ), David came to mind - far be it from me to cut off the corner of the robe of God\\\'s chosen one. Unless the pastor is clearly in sin, my recommendation is to do your best to follow the shepherd that God has placed over you (understand that I work in a multi-staff church, so this statement applies to me as much as you since I need to follow the direction of the senior pastor that is over me...). - Pastor Russ Sat, 25 Jun 2005 16:24:56 +0100 http://www.biblearchive.com/mambo4_5/index.php/the-bride/russ-on-encouraging-pastors.html#comment-46 I have a question. What happens when your Pastor feels he has the best interest of the church in mind but you feel he is on the wrong path? (When you feel his interests are protecting doctrine over God\\\'s Word?) Shalom. - Shane Sat, 25 Jun 2005 16:24:02 +0100 http://www.biblearchive.com/mambo4_5/index.php/the-bride/russ-on-encouraging-pastors.html#comment-45 That is rough. It\\\'s like there\\\'s one part of a person that thinks \\\ - Rey Sat, 25 Jun 2005 16:23:17 +0100 http://www.biblearchive.com/mambo4_5/index.php/the-bride/russ-on-encouraging-pastors.html#comment-44 Doug - good question. Here\\\'s where the fishbowl paranoia gets really freaky :grin Let\\\'s imagine a hypothetical situation (and if anyone is reading from my church, NO, this is not me!! ;) ). To be good friends, you need to open up, be honest and vulnerable with others. You find a way to do this with your pastor. In the midst of a lot of good times together, he shares with you that he used to have a sinful stronghold in his life of stealing. He mentions to you how he has remained free of it for years, but that especially in the last several years, the temptations to fall back into this sin have been strong. This pastor is shepherding the small church you are part of and although he has always exhibited integrity, you realize that there are a hundred different ways for him to skim finances along the way. What do you do with all this not only with him but with the other leadership of the church? Now, to make it all harder, realize that you could place ANY sin into the above equation and come up with the same difficult situation. Everyone realizes that spiritual leaders sin and struggle with sin (Romans 7). Yet, often times, sharing their deeper struggles, the things that would really deepen a friendship, puts the pastor (and the parishioner) into a very awkward relationship. I think most pastors realize this. That\\\'s why so many of them have a hard time making friends. Understand, this has been my own experience, so, you might find a better answer from someone a little more socially and spiritually adept. But for me, all except for one of my closest friends (I can name 6 or 7 that immediately come to mind as my closest friends) fall into a similar category: missionary or vocational ministry people and all except for one are outside the state that I live in.... Probably not the answer you wanted, but the most honest one I can give... :sigh - Pastor Russ Sat, 25 Jun 2005 16:22:24 +0100 http://www.biblearchive.com/mambo4_5/index.php/the-bride/russ-on-encouraging-pastors.html#comment-43 Excellent post, Russ! I have begun to do several of those things in the last month or two, and thank you for the other ideas. Quick question: With the paranoia of the fishbowl in mind, what would be your suggestion for making that initial attempt to open the conversation to produce friendship? - Doug Sat, 25 Jun 2005 16:21:36 +0100