Mostly thank you for his leadership, guidance of the church and strong commitment to reaching the lost.
But if I could complain about one thing, he drives me nuts with his ‘Jesus believed it and that is good enough for me” in reference to anything in the old testament. It just makes me nuts because it diminishes the concept of genre, metaphor and story. I am completely fine with claiming a historical Adam, Jonah, etc. Just don’t claim that you believe it because you think Jesus referenced it. You can reference a story just as easily as history. Referencing does not mean you believe it was historically true, it just means that your audience understands what you are talking about.
The people out here in the “pews” who love you & care about you often don’t know when you’re under attack – unless you trust them with it. We want to stand by you…
Matt
Speaking as one, Gently…I would tell him..to stop. Save your family first. There are INFINITE ways to fulfill a ministry calling that do not involve the soul fleecing price that traditional, institutional, 20/21st century American church demands
Tell us when you are struggling with emotional problems or mental illness. Chances are, we are too. It’s healthier for you and for me to get it out in the open.
Kevin Dickerson
You do not have to lead with an iron fist.
Mona Hanna
Speak about Jesus’ love for us, not what we should and shouldn’t do to be ‘good’ Christians. It’s not about what we should and shouldn’t do, in the end. It’s about God’s love for us. Preach about God’s love and acceptance. Doing the right thing will come when we have Jesus in our hearts, not from forcing ourselves to be ‘good.’
Please study, and teach us, as much about “Loving our Neighbors” as you do about “Loving God.” Treat them like twins. Study them, teach and preach them, and live them equally.
Thanks Beth! An “Amen” to yours too. Liked it. If you want to see an older version of the results of my Bible study on “loving your neighbors,” it’s on http://www.sparkleofnature.com along with a lot of my daughter’s pictures. The book version there is about 2 years old; there are several paragraphs that have been strengthened appreciably since. Bless you.
Beth
Please don’t fall into the world’s trap of dumbing down worship – true worship – & don’t water down the message so it feels good.
Emily
That’s a great question and one I will ponder (with respect to my “dark days” and previous pastors). However, my first reaction was to laugh because, thankfully, I have the kind of relationship with my pastor where I tell him what I think. We have shared laughter, tears, sarcastic comments, etc. I think I am where I’m supposed to be. Feeling the freedom to say what I’m thinking is awesome. So, what I probably should tell him more often is “thank you for being you, for being real, and for being a loving pastor.”
Alison
Show me Jesus.
Tommy
Preach Jesus. Everything else will fall into place. Don’t water down the gospel.
Dereck
Community doesn’t happen because you preach about it.
May you extend as much grace to yourself as you extend to others.
Tom Feliciano
Stop preaching about sin and how we are to try and stop doing it! In this life we will never stop sinning. Start Preaching about a closer relationship with Jesus Christ, that and that alone will give us the power to stop sinning.
Todd
Quit worrying so much about everyone liking you. It paralyzes you and you get nothing done. And you stand for nothing.
Emily
Speak up for the unborn. Someday the world will wake up to the evil of abortion. You have a captive audience every week and your silence on this issue says the status quo is OK for Christians.
Comments
23 responses to “What’s One Thing You Would Tell Your Pastor?”
Thank you…
– for being a man of prayer
Mostly thank you for his leadership, guidance of the church and strong commitment to reaching the lost.
But if I could complain about one thing, he drives me nuts with his ‘Jesus believed it and that is good enough for me” in reference to anything in the old testament. It just makes me nuts because it diminishes the concept of genre, metaphor and story. I am completely fine with claiming a historical Adam, Jonah, etc. Just don’t claim that you believe it because you think Jesus referenced it. You can reference a story just as easily as history. Referencing does not mean you believe it was historically true, it just means that your audience understands what you are talking about.
The people out here in the “pews” who love you & care about you often don’t know when you’re under attack – unless you trust them with it. We want to stand by you…
Speaking as one, Gently…I would tell him..to stop. Save your family first. There are INFINITE ways to fulfill a ministry calling that do not involve the soul fleecing price that traditional, institutional, 20/21st century American church demands
Tell us when you are struggling with emotional problems or mental illness. Chances are, we are too. It’s healthier for you and for me to get it out in the open.
You do not have to lead with an iron fist.
Speak about Jesus’ love for us, not what we should and shouldn’t do to be ‘good’ Christians. It’s not about what we should and shouldn’t do, in the end. It’s about God’s love for us. Preach about God’s love and acceptance. Doing the right thing will come when we have Jesus in our hearts, not from forcing ourselves to be ‘good.’
Please study, and teach us, as much about “Loving our Neighbors” as you do about “Loving God.” Treat them like twins. Study them, teach and preach them, and live them equally.
Amen!
Thanks Beth! An “Amen” to yours too. Liked it. If you want to see an older version of the results of my Bible study on “loving your neighbors,” it’s on http://www.sparkleofnature.com along with a lot of my daughter’s pictures. The book version there is about 2 years old; there are several paragraphs that have been strengthened appreciably since. Bless you.
Please don’t fall into the world’s trap of dumbing down worship – true worship – & don’t water down the message so it feels good.
That’s a great question and one I will ponder (with respect to my “dark days” and previous pastors). However, my first reaction was to laugh because, thankfully, I have the kind of relationship with my pastor where I tell him what I think. We have shared laughter, tears, sarcastic comments, etc. I think I am where I’m supposed to be. Feeling the freedom to say what I’m thinking is awesome. So, what I probably should tell him more often is “thank you for being you, for being real, and for being a loving pastor.”
Show me Jesus.
Preach Jesus. Everything else will fall into place. Don’t water down the gospel.
Community doesn’t happen because you preach about it.
May you extend as much grace to yourself as you extend to others.
Stop preaching about sin and how we are to try and stop doing it! In this life we will never stop sinning. Start Preaching about a closer relationship with Jesus Christ, that and that alone will give us the power to stop sinning.
Quit worrying so much about everyone liking you. It paralyzes you and you get nothing done. And you stand for nothing.
Speak up for the unborn. Someday the world will wake up to the evil of abortion. You have a captive audience every week and your silence on this issue says the status quo is OK for Christians.
Thank you for saying brave things.
Yes.
I told my pastors last week thanks for loving me and not judging me. Thanks for helping me pick up the pieces and putting them all back together.
Love this!