Quote:
Originally Posted by missourimary
GP, there are several perspectives on what you actually may be discussing, and we are all coming from different angles. I have been to churches where everything was "my way or the highway", and you were considered backslid if you disagreed. Problem: a saint can do everything the pastor says and yet if in his/her heart she is rebelling, if the attitude is "ok, if I have to," is this really pleasing to God? Especially if they could be directed or led to do right but in being forced they become rebellious? Perhaps people should be taught to seek personal convictions more than just "doing what the pastor says" and blindly following.
As far as pastoral authority, in most churches, the pastor only has as much authority as the saints give him by respecting and honoring him because he pastors in love.
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I'm appreciative to the different perspectives. As far as if there are some things we should obey without understanding -- well yes, we all compromise some things for the sake of unity. You won't find a church, a political candidate, a best friend that sees everything just like you. We won't. So, there is a point where we just chalk it up. If it's false doctrine, or rendering poor interpretation, that's another matter.
I'm just leery of the backlash of acknowledging some of our standards are poorly explained, and lack scriptural support -- and so instead of acknowledging that, there are whole groups of people that are changing the role of the pastor. The man of God should
sometimes confront us, as Priscilla and Aquilla were, as David was, etc... I 100% agree we should not be ruled by fear, and that shouldn't be the MO for pastors. But let's not emasculate them either.
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