Would You Ever Challenge Your Pastor?

[diakonos]

Originally Posted by jonnie

First of all, lets get Biblical on the term and status [if any] of pastor.
1. Where in THE WORD is any epistle addressed to a pastor ?
2. Given that pastor is but one of the GIFTS GIVEN it is not a title or position it is a functioning gift that "whoever" could function in.
3. Check out THE WORD as see what GOD has said about "pastors"

Can I please get BIBLICAL FEEDBACK not denominational perspectives.
Thanking you
Roy

Were you able to set an appointment with your pastor between November 2, 2013 and now?

[Scott Pitta]

The terminology is different. The structure is different. But I do not get hung up over the differences.

Acts is full of leadership figures in different settings. I do not recall much said about pastors in Acts.

The same is that way with the rest of the NT literature. A variety of titles are used.

One thing is certain. There is leadership in local churches. That leadership has a leader. We usually call that leader a pastor.

[jonnie]

Hi Scott,

IF we offer our OPINIONS they will be many and varied that's why the rule book [BIBLE] ought to be the source of authority, not what we would feel or like to be.
To whom were the epistles addressed ? certainly not pastor.
Leadership [for want of a phrase] rests in the ELDERS plural.
Pastors now, come in many forms [though not BIBLICAL]
We have SENIOR pastors, World pastors, junior pastors, worship pastors, kids pastors, and any other position you'd like to place the tag of pastor on.
PASTOR is a gift given, not a position earned or payed for.
Sooooo what's this big deal about pastors and would they pastor without pay ?
After all, the bulk of the ministry by "lesser"ministry does it for free.

[Evang.Benincasa]

Is a rule book really rules if it is only interpreted through opinion?

[Ehud]

Originally Posted by jonnie

First of all, lets get Biblical on the term and status [if any] of pastor.
1. Where in THE WORD is any epistle addressed to a pastor ?
2. Given that pastor is but one of the GIFTS GIVEN it is not a title or position it is a functioning gift that "whoever" could function in.
3. Check out THE WORD as see what GOD has said about "pastors"

Can I please get BIBLICAL FEEDBACK not denominational perspectives.
Thanking you
Roy

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: -- Ephesians 4:11-12 (KJV)

Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.” -- 1 Timothy 5:17-18 (ESV)

If a congregation has an individual with this gift and wishes to compensate him for operating on their behalf, why should that bother anyone else? The traveling minister is often referred to as an evangelist and the minister that stays put is often a pastor. Why? I guess because 'Independent Contractor Smith' and 'Church Employee Jones' are too wordy.

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by freeatlast

Sat under a pastor like that for 20 years. Could not question him on anything.

If you did you'd get your head handed to you on a platter and then be the topic of next sundays sermon.

That type of pastor is a reproach unto God.

Sat under a pastor, he burned me with cigarettes, hooked live electrodes to my body. Hung my MeeMaw up by her thumbs.

In the immortal words of Blind Willie Johnson...nobody's fault but mine.
------------------------------
Ok, I have to modify this post. The above events never happened. That is because anytime I see the sad tale of woe posted by some, what I posted is all I see in my head. Not that I have no compassion for your story, but that we are supposedly Christians. Yet, these posts sound more like weeping men. Asking for other men to hold them while in the fetal position. You had a bad experience in life? Guess what? You are a Christian, suck it up, give it to God, and move on in Jesus name.

[Ehud]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

Sat under a pastor, he burned me with cigarettes, hooked live electrodes to my body. Hung my MeeMaw up by her thumbs.

In the immortal words of Blind Willie Johnson...nobody's fault but mine.
------------------------------
Ok, I have to modify this post. The above events never happened. That is because anytime I see the sad tale of woe posted by some, what I posted is all I see in my head. Not that I have no compassion for your story, but that we are supposedly Christians. Yet, these posts sound more like weeping men. Asking for other men to hold them while in the fetal position. You had a bad experience in life? Guess what? You are a Christian, suck it up, give it to God, and move on in Jesus name.

Preach!

For some reason, most people's first reaction is to go into attack mode. (He was wrong, and I'm gonna pin him to the wall!) If I approached my pastor in some confrontational manner, I am sure he would defend himself and may very well hand me my head back on a silver platter. I have brought issues to him on many an occasion -- as respectfully as possible -- and never had any issue.

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by Ehud

Preach!

For some reason, most people's first reaction is to go into attack mode. (He was wrong, and I'm gonna pin him to the wall!) If I approached my pastor in some confrontational manner, I am sure he would defend himself and may very well hand me my head back on a silver platter. I have brought issues to him on many an occasion -- as respectfully as possible -- and never had any issue.

[coksiw]

It depends how frequently and badly it is. I have made mistakes teaching sometimes too, and even from the pulpit. And I probably still do, without realizing. Like, using three verses to make a point and one of them is used out of context or without proper analysis.
There may be some disagreements that you can put up with, and some you can't. Just be patient.
I see my pastor using scriptures once in a while out of context. It is rare, though.
I disagree with my pastor in few things and that's OK too, as long as it is not critical for me. For instance, he believes that aborted babies go to hell because of their parents. I don't, because, as I understand the scripture, even though we are born with a sinful nature we are going to be judged still by our works. What bad work did that fetus? but I just put up with it.

However, other things that I have read here are more serious. If I see my pastor teaching and believing some of the things posted here I would definitely point it out.

I have confronted pastors privately twice in my entire life (in two different churches) for things happening in the church not related to doctrine. The confrontation was not pretty in both cases and they chew me out but at the end they acknowledged the issue in both cases and I stayed in the church and kept my ministry. And to this day we still get along as well, with both pastors. I still go to one of the churches.

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by coksiw

It depends how frequently and badly it is. I have made mistakes teaching sometimes too, and even from the pulpit. And I probably still do, without realizing. Like, using three verses to make a point and one of them is used out of context or without proper analysis.
There may be some disagreements that you can put up with, and some you can't. Just be patient.
I see my pastor using scriptures once in a while out of context. It is rare, though.
I disagree with my pastor in few things and that's OK too, as long as it is not critical for me. For instance, he believes that aborted babies go to hell because of their parents. I don't, because, as I understand the scripture, even though we are born with a sinful nature we are going to be judged still by our works. What bad work did that fetus? but I just put up with it.

However, other things that I have read here are more serious. If I see my pastor teaching and believing some of the things posted here I would definitely point it out.

I have confronted pastors privately twice in my entire life (in two different churches) for things happening in the church not related to doctrine. The confrontation was not pretty in both cases and they chew me out but at the end they acknowledge the issue in both cases and I stayed in the church and kept my ministry. And to this day we still get along in both cases as well.