Marla Swoffer
  • Read
  • Meet
  • Eat
  • Read
  • Meet
  • Eat

Pastors, Pay Attention

8/24/2010

1 Comment

 
Did you know your church has a personality type?  Chances are, it's similar to yours. Also, some of you missed the memo from way back about the Transformations videos being debunked. What you should be showing your congregation is Lord, Save Us from Your Followers (it's also currently on Netflix instant play). If you really want to see revival, then find out what it means to be missional. It's not just another Christian buzz word. 

Some weird and dangerous stuff has been creeping into your church via well meaning but misguided homeschooling families who have been influenced by "family" ministries like Vision Forum, No Greater Joy, the Duggars, Bill Gothard (yeah, he's still around) and others who subscribe to a hyper-patriarchal theology (a.k.a. patriocentricity) that teaches legalism, authoritarianism, and the quiverfull philosophy of limitless childbearing. 

And another thing--please leave politics out of church. We're not all republicans (or democrats). We're certainly not all fans of Sarah Palin. 

I may elaborate on these and other church-related topics in the future, but in case it's a while, I needed to get it off my chest now...and get the word out. So pastors, please do your homework and encourage your flock to do the same. It's an uncomfortable place sorting through truth and error within the larger church world (and there are those who are overzealous and hyperjudgemental - I'm not advocating that), but please let's not turn a blind eye to, or unwittingly promote theologies which are unscriptural and abusive. Let's examine our own hearts - as leaders, as churches, as individual Christians who are, as the old saying goes, the only Bible some people will ever read.

One last thing...let your people go, and even tell them to leave, when necessary. After all, they're not really yours anyway. They're God's. And where they go, they are still part of the body of Christ, so please don't act like changing churches is akin to spiritual adultery. That's not Biblical. It also divides and wounds. Wouldn't you rather have them growing elsewhere than withering in your care?
1 Comment
Melody Hanson link
9/19/2010 08:38:35 am

This is very well put. And good reminders!

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Categories

    All
    Art
    Beauty
    Blogging
    Body
    Books
    Church
    Culture
    Ethics
    Family
    Food
    Friends
    Frugality
    Giveaways
    God
    Grace
    Homemaking
    Homeschooling
    Humor
    Insights
    Liturgy
    Marin
    Marriage
    Motherhood
    Movies
    Music
    Personality
    Science
    Sheltering In Place
    Sillyness
    Social Media
    Stories
    Theology
    Truth
    Women
    Wow
    Writing

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Photos used under Creative Commons from SteveNakatani, epSos.de, 柏翰 / ポーハン / POHAN, Rob Shenk, nirats