Do you hafta go through the pastor?

[Rico]

Originally Posted by Coonskinner

There are people who call me pastor and attend our church who do not live in compliance with some of the things that I teach.

I love them. I pray for them. I visit them when they are sick. I'll dedicate their babies, marry their kids, and bury their dead. As long as they don't try to foment division and convince others to agree with them rather than their pastor, they are welcome.

But they cannot be in any kind of leadership.

I am not at all nonplussed just because someone disagrees with me, as long as their spirit is right and they don't try and bring disunity in the church.

Why should I run them off? If they keep hanging around, I am apt to convince them.

The bolded part is the only thing that doesn't sit well with me. Why would you let personal differences stand in the way of someone fulfilling their call? I mean, I know the "why" of your reasoning-pastors like a united front line and worry that anyone who doesn't line up with what they believe will ultimately end up being trouble. However, ultimately, the church is God's, and He knows how to deal with people who are trouble makers.