tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32640004.post2263956754007439810..comments2023-10-30T08:47:31.863-05:00Comments on The Rambling Prophet: Notes on Pastoral AuthorityTonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13090951749017263188noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32640004.post-38668931385916460402007-10-23T17:18:00.000-05:002007-10-23T17:18:00.000-05:00Jim,Just to be sure, I was being facetious. I do r...Jim,<BR/><BR/>Just to be sure, I was being facetious. I do respect and honor the opinions and views of all the folks God has given me to serve, even that "argumentative church member."<BR/><BR/>He is after all, one of God's children too, as fretful as he can be!Tonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13090951749017263188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32640004.post-43601850152451839632007-10-23T17:05:00.000-05:002007-10-23T17:05:00.000-05:00TonyIts not that you have to stroke thier egos, it...Tony<BR/><BR/>Its not that you have to stroke thier egos, it seems that these folks need to know that they have a say and that thier opinons matter. The earlier in the process you can get them on board, the easier the business meeting :)<BR/><BR/>JimAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32640004.post-3591705030677325272007-10-23T13:13:00.000-05:002007-10-23T13:13:00.000-05:00Jim,That is good advice in dealing with argumentat...Jim,<BR/><BR/>That is good advice in dealing with argumentative people. I pastor a church of 85 or so but we still have those who want to assert themselves in some way. Most of them, in my case, are folks who have been at the church for millennia and see something some young whipper snapper is doing and they want it to stop.<BR/><BR/>Typically, though, I have not had difficulty in getting people to talk with me so as to try to bring them along to some place they need to be in their spiritual maturity. <BR/><BR/>I ain't much into ego strokin', though. :)Tonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13090951749017263188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32640004.post-50747266317695637452007-10-23T09:20:00.000-05:002007-10-23T09:20:00.000-05:00Tony,On the argumentative church member issue. I ...Tony,<BR/><BR/>On the argumentative church member issue. I am a layman in our church and work in the business world. Many times I see the argumentative church member as an individual not very high up on the pecking scale at his or her place of employment who find the only "authority" that they have is in the church.<BR/><BR/>What I have seen my pastor do - and our chruch averages about 500/sunday, is to invite the argumentative member(s) in for a talk to talk about things that are coming up and plans that he or one of the committees is having. He essentially is getting those people on board early in the process which does two things for him - it strokes thier egos and reduces the arguments in business meetings<BR/><BR/>Jim ChampionAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32640004.post-89832731593244635092007-10-23T09:11:00.000-05:002007-10-23T09:11:00.000-05:00Everyone,I apologize for being so late responding ...Everyone,<BR/><BR/>I apologize for being so late responding to comments. That isn't the norm for me. I had a very long day yesterday plus I felt horrible yesterday evening. Thanks for your patience!<BR/><BR/>Steve,<BR/><BR/>I agree. If a pastor has to tell a congregation that he is in charge, then he isn't (not that I think he should be in charge, but the principle applies). For a pastor to say "I'm in charge" it is rather his own insecurity in who he is in Christ, not a need to be recognized as "in charge."<BR/><BR/>Selah,<BR/><BR/>There are many bad examples in pastoral ministry and sadly, with the way media works, we see them too often. I also am thankful not just for ministers who are good examples, but also fellow believers. <BR/><BR/>Kat,<BR/><BR/>I think we should practice what we preach, plain and simple. His undershepherds should do exactly that and Jesus will empower his ministers to do that. <BR/><BR/>Thanks everyone, for the favorable comments. I am a blessed blogger!Tonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13090951749017263188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32640004.post-18921926631991392462007-10-22T19:54:00.000-05:002007-10-22T19:54:00.000-05:00"Authority is earned." That is so true. People can..."Authority is earned." <BR/>That is so true. People can spot a fraud pretty quickly when they expect authenticity. People listened to Jesus' teaching because he spoke with authority. His disciples lived with Him 24/7. They submitted to His authority because they saw that He lived what He said.<BR/>Shouldn't His "under-shepherds" do the same? <BR/>Good post, Tony. KatElder's Wifehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15044802341855654059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32640004.post-68108820645278115552007-10-22T19:17:00.000-05:002007-10-22T19:17:00.000-05:00Tony, this is an excellent post. There are many ma...Tony, this is an excellent post. There are many many pastors who are examples to the flock and I am ever grateful for the ones who showed me Jesus in their lives.<BR/><BR/>Sadly, there are several pastors who are examples to the flock who are bad examples and that is where so many people go astray in their walk with the Lord. The greatest words my husband shared while he pastored were to look to Jesus as their example, for in Him they would never be led astray or disappointed. selahVAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32640004.post-59705811655913252412007-10-21T20:13:00.000-05:002007-10-21T20:13:00.000-05:00It's that "examples to the flock" part of Peter's ...It's that "examples to the flock" part of Peter's statement that I think gets so often overlooked.<BR/><BR/>I've sat under "sledgehammers to the flock" and "motivational speakers to the flock" and "comedians to the flock", but I've never had the privilege of being involved in a church where I saw an "example to the flock".<BR/><BR/>I think you are really trying to be that, and I applaud and support you in that, Tony.<BR/><BR/>By the way, just my personal opinion, if you punt to "I'm the pastor and that's that", you have already lost whatever battle you thought you were fighting.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com