Saturday, November 1, 2008

Who counsels the Pastors?

I was just thinking about an issue. In the modern day church who do the pastors turn to when they need advice or help?
You see the way things are structured the people go to the pastor for help or advice, yet don't expect to be able to help the pastor when they need it.
I used to look at my old pastors as knowing everything and not needing anything.
I always thought only we who were sitting in the chairs had issues concerning wrong thoughts, anger etc. . It wasn't until I heard a pastor in Texas at a men's meeting that he struggled with the same issues. I was like full of relief. I know that sounds tacky, but in our modern day traditional churches we tend to elevate the leaders to a higher standard of spirituality. Just as some churches bow down to kiss the leaders hand. Jesus never intended it to be this way. He said, the greatest would be the least. A servant! That's why so many pastors in the modern traditional church setting are failing. They have been put on a pedestal that can't hold up.
The issues stems from the false dichotomy of scripture and the role of leadership.
You see we are all priest in the New Testament. We are all equal in Christ. Those who are spiritual are to help those who are not. Most ,not all men who are pastors are only there because they went to seminary and got a "degree". Yet they may have no experience in the how to's of everyday life. They were only taught how to deal with the issues and have never learned from experience.
That said, we should be ready to help one another including those who are leaders when we come together and throughout the week.
Read the following scriptures:

1 Corinthians 14:26 "What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for BUILDING UP."

Ephesians 4:15-16 "Rather speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into HIM who is the HEAD, into CHRIST, from whom the WHOLE BODY, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when EACH part is WORKING properly, makes the BODY GROW so that it BUILDS itself up in LOVE."

Colossians 3:16 "Let the word of Christ dwell in YOU richly, teaching, and admonishing ONE ANOTHER in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with all thankfulness in your hearts to GOD."

Hebrews 10:24 "And let US consider how to STIR up ONE ANOTHER to love and good works, not neglecting to MEET together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging ONE ANOTHER, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."

1 Thess. 5:14-15 " And we urge you, brothers admonish the IDLE, encourage the FAINTHEARTED, help the WEAK, be patient with THEM all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to ONE ANOTHER and to EVERYONE!"

The scriptures quoted are what we are to do as the church. We are meeting not only to hear a good teaching, but to bring a teaching ourselves, and in doing that we are all being built up including the leaders. No one knows all, so we need all in order to be learning. Stir each other up not just let the pastor, or elders do all of the stirring. Read those scriptures do you have something to bring to the meetings? We all are to be ready in season and out. In doing so everyone will be blessed when we meet. Remember the pastor and elder are just people. Christ is the head and He leads His church. So don't look to the pastor to help you and then never have take an opportunty to do likewise. Again the modern traditional setting we call church is not the way the scriptures have laid it out. That is one reason some pastors are failing, because they are put into a position that was never meant to be used the way it is. If we only need one man to lead then why do we need the gifts or other ministries? Help your leaders and be ready to teach, exhort, and rebuke. All for the building up of one another.
Anyone who is in Christ should be able to bring a teaching, a song, a revelation as the Lord leads not just one person. In doing that all will be built up according to the word of God.

3 comments:

Alan Knox said...

Steven,

In the seminary, many tell pastors not to open up about problems to others in the church. Instead, pastors are taught to find friends outside of the church - especially other pastors.

That makes no sense to me at all. When I have a problem, I talk to my closest friends, which would be my family and others who are part of the church with me. But, then, I don't see myself as "over" them, and they don't see themselves as "under" me. Thus, I do not have to pretend to be perfect, without weaknesses or problems.

-Alan

Steven O. said...

Alan,
Why do seminaries want to teach the pastors this? Have we gone that far off from what the Bible teaches?
Thank You for your comment as it opened up something I would not have known before.
Steven

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