What do you think of this?

[SDG]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

I don't view it any differently, DA. I'm smart enough to understand the concept that the church is bigger than a single assembly.

However, to pretend that the IDEAL does away with the practical issues at hand is either obtuse or naive.

My father pastored for 25 years. When people left he was heartbroken, and NOT over money. Even when people had good, valid reasons, he still hated to see them go. More often than not, the reasons weren't personal, but sometimes they were. It didn't matter. I've seen him agonize over folks because he was afraid another pastor wouldn't understand them or spend enough time with them or even cater to their needs--and sometimes he was right. There have been people backslide because they were led (selfishly) into a church that only wanted to use them for their money or talents, and had no real interest in their eternal good.

Many pastors ROB others of their saints BECAUSE of the resulting increase in their own tithes. THAT'S so much more noble, right? LOL!!!!

My dad pastored just as many years, Miss B.... we had divisions internally and he too adjudicated over these type of messes as a district presbyter and leader in the Spanish minsitry ...

The meetings, the witnesses ... the phone calls, the letters, the whining, boohoing, BACKBITING, etc ... wasted a lot of his VALUABLE time ... and, I believe, the time and energy of others ...

because it usually was based on he said, she said.

Usually it resulted in hurt feelings all around ... someone being disfellowshipped ... and fueds that may last for decades ....

ALL FOR WHAT ????

It's time we move on ... and stop being territorial ...

someone goes ... LET IT BE. It hurts, sure ... We're supposded to be big SEASONED boys and girls.

But too much time has been wasted on sorting these issues and USUALLY it results in HIGHLY CHARGED OPINIONS ... not FACTS.

Any pastor who thinks that their sheep have been stolen ... needs to re-evaluate the mission.

AND YES ... LOVE MONEY ... IS THE ROOT OF EVIL ... and does play a role in a lot of this .... some way or another.