Chapter 5 Pastors

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Permalink Reply by Cindy Skillman on January 29, 2011 at 3:57pm

I'm sure there is abuse out there. I've heard lots of people complain about how they were treated on leaving the IC and church planters tell stories about how they've been treated by some pastors of traditional churches, and I believe them. But it hasn't happened to me so I'm grateful for that. The pastors in our town seem friendly to OC although I'm pretty sure none of them understand it. You really can't understand it until you've had an opportunity to experience it at least a little bit.

 

But I'm with Frank on the traditional pastor. God never intended that any mortal man should have to fill this position. It's an impossible situation. I know that God has used the pastorate in history to bless His children and help them to grow up, but I do believe that this time period -- this phase in the development of the ecclesia is coming to a close. Something you said made me think . . . is the church moving toward Jerusalem at last, having tried the law and found it wanting, having tried pagan devices and found them inadequate? Has the church been, in a sense, repeating the wanderings and exiles and enslavements of Israel, and are we now coming into the Land (Him) at last?

 

There have always been a few in every generation who lived in the Land, but is it time for a general move of all who truly love Him into the Promised Land? He blesses His children in Egypt and in Babylon, but at some point, He will be calling those who are truly His own into His Good Land.

Permalink Reply by Gordon Brock on January 29, 2011 at 8:04pm

"but is it time for a general move of all who truly love Him into the Promised Land?"

Excellent observation, Cindy. I am thinking the same thing, as I come across scores of people who are eager for an organic relationship with Jesus and other body members. It's like the conversation is spreading like wildfire, and the Spirit has been whispering in the ears of multitudes.

As for 'Pastors', I wondered for a long time why one guy was 'in charge' of the church while the bible talked about 4 (or 5, depending on your view) 'equipping giftings', and I never saw any of them 'in charge'. No where could I find in my bible a role like the Pastor, yet I respected, admired, and OBEYED all this man had to say. I placed him up on a pedestal that he did not belong on, and respected his position. Soon I found myself growing spiritually and feeling more spiritually mature and spiritually wise than he was, and began to feel bad as I was "thinking more highly of myself than I aught". It actually hindered what God could do with me, by being 'subject' to this man, his rules, his church, and his ideals. I could only finally see that when I left the IC and choose to follow Jesus and this journey, and learned the truth of the 'priesthood of all believers'.