Do you automatically trust a man called Preacher?

[TalkLady]

Originally Posted by JTULLOCK

I would think that this is the time when someone is the most honest. I say that cause they have been honest with God in order to repent. The act of repentance is a powerful thing. It makes you be honest.

All I've ever known and was taught was to be honest....My parents didn't go to church but they were honest and moral people. They witnessed "church folks" who were deadbeats and unethical all around them. ...Not bashing "church folks" just stating how I grew up.

[Jack Shephard]

Originally Posted by TalkLady

All I've ever known and was taught was to be honest....My parents didn't go to church but they were honest and moral people. They witnessed "church folks" who were deadbeats and unethical all around them. ...Not bashing "church folks" just stating how I grew up.

I understand that you are not 'bashing' church folk you are just stating the fact of your up-bringing. That is well and good. But do you think that they also saw non-church people that were deadbeats and unethical? I know that the church people or saints are always under the microscope by those outside the body of Christ. Is it fair to say that no one is perfect, but I have seen people outside the body of Christ point at those in it and pick out very bad examples on why they should not join. There are, IMO, many more good ones in this body than there are bad. The reason I used to term body is because we all fit together to be the entire body of Christ. Some people have bad feet and hands, but they do not cut them off because they are hurtful or even useless in some cases. They deal with it cause it is part of the body. There are very bad people in the body, but there are more 'real' people in this thing than there are 'fakes'. It just seems that to bad apples stink more than the good fruit fragrance.

[TalkLady]

Originally Posted by JTULLOCK

I understand that you are not 'bashing' church folk you are just stating the fact of your up-bringing. That is well and good. But do you think that they also saw non-church people that were deadbeats and unethical? I know that the church people or saints are always under the microscope by those outside the body of Christ. Is it fair to say that no one is perfect, but I have seen people outside the body of Christ point at those in it and pick out very bad examples on why they should not join. There are, IMO, many more good ones in this body than there are bad. The reason I used to term body is because we all fit together to be the entire body of Christ. Some people have bad feet and hands, but they do not cut them off because they are hurtful or even useless in some cases. They deal with it cause it is part of the body. There are very bad people in the body, but there are more 'real' people in this thing than there are 'fakes'. It just seems that to bad apples stink more than the good fruit fragrance.

In my neck of the woods, I'd say the "church folks" were on the scoundrel list much more than the unchurched in my little community where a relative owned a small business. More is expected from those who call themselves preachers and believers than those who make no such claim. As a child it was rather disheartening to see that those who were supposed to be more were those who were less ....and it's even harder to deal with it as an adult. I know there are many good preachers out there. I'm dwelling on the negative here. So, let's just move on. Thank God for all of the good ministers out there who are ethical, honest and trustworthy!...God's gonna judge all of those who are the "aints"...LOL

[Jack Shephard]

Originally Posted by TalkLady

In my neck of the woods, I'd say the "church folks" were on the scoundrel list much more than the unchurched in my little community where a relative owned a small business. More is expected from those who call themselves preachers and believers than those who make no such claim.

Cause someone does not belong to the body of Christ they get a pass or something? I understand that there are very horrible people in the body. But there are more real people in here than real bad ones. I understand your area growing up was different and gave you this disposition about preachers and such. I agree that more is expected from ministers cause they should live at a higher level. Many do. How come they are perceved as everything but human? I think that to get mercy you must first show mercy. That is something lacking in the world today is mercy towards one another. I am not singleing you out at all please do not take it that way. I do not automatically trust every minister, but I do respect the office and until they let me down my trust builds. In a perfect world everyone trust 'men of God' but there have been too many bad stories and things that have happened.

It is not an easy thing to move passed. Once you or I develop an idea or ideal about something it is tough to produce a change. I promise you that if you would become willing to trust again that God will give you someone that you can trust explictly. I know that God can also restore trust, but first we must submit to forgiving and trying to trust. That is how I see it.

[TalkLady]

Originally Posted by JTULLOCK

Cause someone does not belong to the body of Christ they get a pass or something? I understand that there are very horrible people in the body. But there are more real people in here than real bad ones. I understand your area growing up was different and gave you this disposition about preachers and such. I agree that more is expected from ministers cause they should live at a higher level. Many do. How come they are perceved as everything but human? I think that to get mercy you must first show mercy. That is something lacking in the world today is mercy towards one another. I am not singleing you out at all please do not take it that way. I do not automatically trust every minister, but I do respect the office and until they let me down my trust builds. In a perfect world everyone trust 'men of God' but there have been too many bad stories and things that have happened.

It is not an easy thing to move passed. Once you or I develop an idea or ideal about something it is tough to produce a change. I promise you that if you would become willing to trust again that God will give you someone that you can trust explictly. I know that God can also restore trust, but first we must submit to forgiving and trying to trust. That is how I see it.

I'll give anyone grace and mercy. I'd help anyone who's stabbed me in the back or been unethical to me. I pray that they have asked God for forgiveness but they haven't asked me for forgiveness. That's when it's hurts - when a person sees no need for repentance and they conduct themselves as though no wrong has been done. Preachers sometimes need to repent just like saints...I think if we saw more repentance from those in the Church, we'd see more of the Spirit working in our churches and more people's lives touched and transformed. People can shout over wrongs and that's when I believe someone's conscience is seared. I'm just a lowly person trying to obey what God's Word tells me to obey. I'm no leader. I have no desire to be a leader but I would love to see leaders being true to what God called a preacher to be - a servant. That's when I can call a person "preacher" and know that the person is proclaiming the Word of God because that person is living the Word of God as Jesus Christ did.

[Jack Shephard]

Originally Posted by TalkLady

I'll give anyone grace and mercy. I'd help anyone who's stabbed me in the back or been unethical to me. I pray that they have asked God for forgiveness but they haven't asked me for forgiveness. That's when it's hurts - when a person sees no need for repentance and they conduct themselves as though no wrong has been done. Preachers sometimes need to repent just like saints...I think if we saw more repentance from those in the Church, we'd see more of the Spirit working in our churches and more people's lives touched and transformed. People can shout over wrongs and that's when I believe someone's conscience is seared. I'm just a lowly person trying to obey what God's Word tells me to obey. I'm no leader. I have no desire to be a leader but I would love to see leaders being true to what God called a preacher to be - a servant. That's when I can call a person "preacher" and know that the person is proclaiming the Word of God because that person is living the Word of God as Jesus Christ did.

Understand completely. I agree with you 100%. I think in the OP churches there is this understanding that is nonverbalized that the leaders are above question. Sad fact is many people follow this belief. But the truth is for every story we have about a Pastor from TX covering sin and it coming out there is others that still seem untouchable. It is very unfortunate that innocent people get trampled by the big expensive shoes of leadership.

You say that you will give mercy to anyone, but if there is no repentance by them then mercy is not coming from you. That is my understanding of what you are saying. If that is the case maybe God is wanting you to give mercy when giving mercy is the last thing you want to give. It is easily said than done. I am convienced that God wants us uncomfortable at times inorder to settle into the place He wants us. Sometime you gotta let it go.