Pastor Appreciation Month

[BeenThinkin]

Originally Posted by AreYouReady?

I agree. That is where it should take all the members of the body of Christ to form a local body. (equal responsibility) No two people should hold all the responsibility of the church building. Gathering for a meeting together takes the hands and the feet, as well as the brain and the heart and soul of a meeting. I agree that there are many God-fearing people-loving pastors out there....I just have not seen any that are Jesus Name in my area as of late.

And...I don't have a problem going to a trinitarian church if the people all love one another. That is where Christ is.

It's just that as a saint, who sometimes has been treated like the excrement from the body to be flushed, I do not appreciate being told that I must conform to a look or style that I object to, then be told I must pay them 10% of my household budget to order me around when it comes to the "pentecostal' look and then disguise that 10% as being given to God, when I know that in some churches, it goes straight into the pastor's pocket.

Oh how I wish that I could find a little church who wants all of the body to labor together for the cause of Christ.

Wish I could tell you where ours is. And I don't know if you are aware of this or not, but there's times we Pastors wish and plead for folks to be more a part, jump in and do their part, help make the church a place that people love and appreciate; not a place that you dread to go to. I've noticed many pictures taken during church and especially during the altar appeal and many of those individuals involved have a horrible look of their face. Looks of agony, crying and wailing and seeming to be in great pain! Why? In my earlier days I went to church and then felt worse after being there than when I arrived. That's not the will of God, in my estimation.

I wish I could share more of my past with you. I am where I am today, partially because I withstood much of what you and others have posted. When you challenge the politics and challenge the "Big Preacher," (and too often his big money), and please believe me I don't mean that to be mean....just a fact, you find real quick that "that wasn't the best thing to do to be popular." Yet, I don't want to linger on this because when I do those with whom I am angry are in control of my emotions and my actions. I can be mad at them all day, angry and frustrated, and they will never know it, but I sure will!

Been Thinkin

[KeptByTheWord]

Ezekiel 34 is a chapter all those who call themselves shepherds/pastors should read.

I have one GREAT shepherd and his name is Christ. Ezekiel 34:30-31 "Thus shall they know that I the Lord their God am with them, and that they, even the house of Israel are my people, saith the Lord God. And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord."

We are his flock, his sheep, and Jesus Christ is our true shepherd. He is the head and we are the body. All of us are ministers.... we are all called with gifts, and callings... not just "preachers" or "pastors" ....

Romans 12:4-8

4For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:

5So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

6Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;

7Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;

8Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

You see... there are more gifts mentioned here than the "favorite" scripture in Ephesians 4:11

1. Prophecy
2. Ministry
3. Teaching
4. Exhortation
5. Giving
6. Ruling
7. Mercy.

Each spirit filled believer has a ministry, and a calling... and I forever will not understand why we have to lift "one man, one pastor, one preacher" up for a whole month.... when we are all supposed to be about the business of spreading the gospel, and working in the body of Christ together.

Of course, I know that there has to be leadership, and that we are to respect the leadership in the church. But the leadership mentioned by Paul was always in the plural, and never in the singular.

[KeptByTheWord]

And for the record, Been Thinking... from reading your posts here... I believe you post in the heart of a true shepherd. I don't know you from Adam, have never visited your church, but your heart shows through in your posts. I believe you truly care for those in your care. Yet.... I believe you know too of what I post... the flip side of the coin. I respect your position, and your concern for your flock, and you will be blessed of the Lord for that.

[BeenThinkin]

Originally Posted by KeptByTheWord

And for the record, Been Thinking... from reading your posts here... I believe you post in the heart of a true shepherd. I don't know you from Adam, have never visited your church, but your heart shows through in your posts. I believe you truly care for those in your care. Yet.... I believe you know too of what I post... the flip side of the coin. I respect your position, and your concern for your flock, and you will be blessed of the Lord for that.

Thanks KeptByTheWord. I appreciate your comments. I'll shut up about me. I am who I am and that's that....good or bad. It's been a good journey and I'm looking forward to growing old in the work of the Kingdom. ...... Oh, by the way, at what age do you grow old?

Been Thinkin

[AreYouReady?]

Originally Posted by BeenThinkin

Wish I could tell you where ours is. And I don't know if you are aware of this or not, but there's times we Pastors wish and plead for folks to be more a part, jump in and do their part, help make the church a place that people love and appreciate; not a place that you dread to go to. I've noticed many pictures taken during church and especially during the altar appeal and many of those individuals involved have a horrible look of their face. Looks of agony, crying and wailing and seeming to be in great pain! Why? In my earlier days I went to church and then felt worse after being there than when I arrived. That's not the will of God, in my estimation.

I wish I could share more of my past with you. I am where I am today, partially because I withstood much of what you and others have posted. When you challenge the politics and challenge the "Big Preacher," (and too often his big money), and please believe me I don't mean that to be mean....just a fact, you find real quick that "that wasn't the best thing to do to be popular." Yet, I don't want to linger on this because when I do those with whom I am angry are in control of my emotions and my actions. I can be mad at them all day, angry and frustrated, and they will never know it, but I sure will!

Been Thinkin

Brother Been, you hit the nail on the head with the emboldened quotes. Why is it that when we first come to Christ, we only have our eyes on Christ. Services were exciting and I anticipated each and every service wondering what Christ would have for me that day.

It was only after I married and we went to my husband's church was when I started leaving services feeling worse than when I arrived. I decided then that this was not God's will. I felt like I was in the middle of Stepford wives there in that church. I could not let other people's critical attitudes and critical roving eyes looking for something to whisper around the church destroy me. I had to leave. I feel sure all of this started when the "pastor" perceived that I challenged his authority as to how he put together the Sunday School program, at that time, 35 years ago. So yeah...I got a big dose of what happens to another if they are perceived as challenging something a pastor declared to be "law" within his four walls. One dares not express any ideas that might help others or even one's own spiritual walk.

So....how can the people participate when they are under a pastor who has an authoritarian complex that won't give the saints the freedom to do something for God within the four walls of that church system? [long run in sentence...I know ] The answer is that they cannot if there is no liberty for one to work for the Lord as they feel led by the Holy Spirit.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by BeenThinkin

So, Houston, do you feel like Paul got it wrong? Eph 4:11 "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;" Should he have left out pastors? Just askin'

Been Thinkin

He gave some pastors, but not all.

[Titus2woman]

Originally Posted by KeptByTheWord

Ezekiel 34 is a chapter all those who call themselves shepherds/pastors should read.

I have one GREAT shepherd and his name is Christ. Ezekiel 34:30-31 "Thus shall they know that I the Lord their God am with them, and that they, even the house of Israel are my people, saith the Lord God. And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord."

We are his flock, his sheep, and Jesus Christ is our true shepherd. He is the head and we are the body. All of us are ministers.... we are all called with gifts, and callings... not just "preachers" or "pastors" ....

Romans 12:4-8

4For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:

5So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

6Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;

7Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;

8Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

You see... there are more gifts mentioned here than the "favorite" scripture in Ephesians 4:11

1. Prophecy
2. Ministry
3. Teaching
4. Exhortation
5. Giving
6. Ruling
7. Mercy.

Each spirit filled believer has a ministry, and a calling... and I forever will not understand why we have to lift "one man, one pastor, one preacher" up for a whole month.... when we are all supposed to be about the business of spreading the gospel, and working in the body of Christ together.

Of course, I know that there has to be leadership, and that we are to respect the leadership in the church. But the leadership mentioned by Paul was always in the plural, and never in the singular.

I love this. And really why would any healthy person want to take on the challenge of being the be all end all person for hundreds of people?

[Cindy]

In the first place we are supposed to be honoring God. In the second place, our reward is in heaven. In the third place, we honor each other daily, not just once a year. And that goes for our Pastor's, saints, etc.

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Cindy

In the first place we are supposed to be honoring God. In the second place, our reward is in heaven. In the third place, we honor each other daily, not just once a year. And that goes for our Pastor's, saints, etc.

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by KeptByTheWord

You see... there are more gifts mentioned here than the "favorite" scripture in Ephesians 4:11

1. Prophecy
2. Ministry
3. Teaching
4. Exhortation
5. Giving
6. Ruling
7. Mercy.

Each spirit filled believer has a ministry, and a calling... and I forever will not understand why we have to lift "one man, one pastor, one preacher" up for a whole month.... when we are all supposed to be about the business of spreading the gospel, and working in the body of Christ together.

I like this. Coming out of the Catholic Church, it was never desirable for me to have to kiss another ring or hand in the way we were taught.