Re: Pastoral Authority....where did it come from?
 

I'd weigh in on this, but this issue gets me so fired up that it might not be productive! LOL


Maybe later. :D

Re: Pastoral Authority....where did it come from?
 

I would stand up as the prophet Nathan and say thou are the man.

Chances are the guy is hiding something of his own.

So many times these hardliners have major issues themselves.

Best thing would be to move on.....

Or stop giving any money to the church.

Force the lights to get turned out.

It is the only way the light will go one in his head...

Re: Pastoral Authority....where did it come from?
 

Legalism shifts the focus from God's work to man's work. Many conservatives seem conservative because they are holding to old paths or man made rules or traditions that change with time. The ideas themselves don't seem wrong and are logical from man's point of view.

The word of God is consistent and true and doesn't change. Sin was sin 2000 years ago and is still sin today. Some conservatives feel that they have to uphold righteousness or have extra laws to help people along. This would fall into the category of legalism.

You can be very conservative personally and have a heart towards God and not be legalistic. Conservatism usually means holding to the traditional values and there is nothing wrong with this as long as it doesn't become a person's object of faith or a distraction or doctrine.

Colossians 2:20-23 says, "You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as, 21 “Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!”? 22 Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them. 23 These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires."

Re: Pastoral Authority....where did it come from?
 

I think many people feel safe when they let someone else have control. Yes, they let the pastor decide whether they should buy that car or not, but the pastor also provides a very tangible object of respect. A figurehead to stand in the gap for concrete thinkers who may have trouble (or may just not want to) deal with the subjectivitivy of interpreting scriptures to set their own rules. For every "dominant" out there, there will be "submissives".

Re: Pastoral Authority....where did it come from?
 

Watchman or Shepard does not translate into Brigadier General.

One keeps the woves away the other commands you to go into battle even if it means death.

I am tired of the Brigadier General pastor's.

Give me "Liberty or give me death".

To me as so many look to criticize saints.

I think it is high time for ministers to put down the commands and start picking up the staff.

It is not about a watered down gospel.

Just preach the gospel.

Let's get this straight King David moved on from his "Slingshot".

It worked for a day.

He moved on to leadership and the people followed...

You can pull out your "Slingshot to sley the enemy".

Just stop hurling rocks at the pew and the good folks that have to put up with you!

No ill feelings just observation of 44 years.

Re: Pastoral Authority....where did it come from?
 

On the same note I do not see a lot of pastors who are truly "called". Why do we see so many multi-generational pastors then? Granddaddy was a pastor, so was daddy, now I am, and soon my son will be. It is a line of work.

Re: Pastoral Authority....where did it come from?
 

This is the catch-all scripture used to support any and all extra biblical rules and regulations. "It isn't specifically in the bible, but the BIBLE says to "obey them", so it is now!", is the reasoning.

Re: Pastoral Authority....where did it come from?
 

WOW - this is all pretty good stuff. The question is "Where does the Pastoral authority come from?" Unfortuanately, it is a carry over from the Catholic Church when the church came through the Reformation. We are doing the same thing with our Pastors as the Catholic Church has done with thier Priests - so someone tell me what is the difference?

More than not they become dictators of their own ideas, and if you don't do things the way they say then you are branded as rebellious or not right with God. Believe me I have been down that road several times in the 30+ years I have been involved in Pentecost.

RV

Re: Pastoral Authority....where did it come from?
 

This is something that has always bothered me about authoritarian preachers. They set rules according to their own opinions and preferences.

I don't like rock music - no one can listen to Christian Rock. I don't like Six Flags - no one can go there. I don't like purple pantyhose - no one can wear them.

I just can't feel that this is what God intended.

Re: Pastoral Authority....where did it come from?
 

You forgot, "I like black gospel, so everyone can, and should, listen to that".