j_barner2000
Member
The prayer meetings and church services and Bible study time are Biblical mandates. just to clarify previous post.
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[/q]It seems to me that Law is synonymous with the OT Mosaic Law which was unable to give life to enable obedience. The Spirit is the Holy Spirit who gives life which enables obedience. That is what Paul is talking about here. Paul himself set down "rules" of conduct for the church. He was not "Spirit less" or "Law like." Instead, he insisted that obedient living is the norm.Originally posted by Pastor Larry:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Hardsheller:
It seems to me that Law is synonymous with this Church's Rules which mandate behavior, and Spirit is synonmous with Grace which leads to voluntary works.
But I am not convinced it does so in the manner in which you suggest here.Originally posted by Hardsheller:
Well, it certainly does not address this particular church's mandates but it does address the Biblical difference between law and grace.
It can lead to Pharisaism, but it does not not have to. The truth is, if we are to grow spiritually we must do something.There is an assumption within some Churches that if "I do the right things I will grow spiritually" While that sounds true on the surface it is a false assumption that can lead to Phariseeism.
What kind of word should we expect?? It seems to me that God gave us his "word from the Lord" in Scripture. 2 Tim 3:16-17 say that "All Scripture is inspired and profitable ... so that the man of God may be equipped for every good work." 2 Peter 1:3 says that God has given us everything necessary for life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and virtue. That knowledge is found in the word.The watchword in many Baptist Churches is "don't just stand there - do something" when it should be "don't just do something - stand there until you get a word from the Lord."
Pastor Larry, I agree with everything you have said here, but I have one question which nobody has addressed here. The original poster was concerned with his pastor requiring ministry leaders to sign a written agreement to abide by these conditions.In your opinion, Would the act of a pastor requiring a written agreement, regardless of what is being asked, be in violation of Scripture (according to James 5:12)?Originally posted by Pastor Larry:
The Scriptures define what is to be done
1. Every person is to have a growing relationship with God.
2. Every believer is to be engaged in personal spiritual disciplines of prayer, Bible study, and learning.
3. Every believer is to be a vital part of the local church.
4. Every believer is to be actively engaged in ministry to the body.
5. Every believer is to be engaged in evangelism for the purpose of glorifying God by building the church.
6. Every believer is to be actively worshipping in the local body.
These are all biblical standards that God has set up. This is what we should be doing. I am not suggesting it is limited to this. There are certainly other things. But it is no more than this.
As I say, too often we are hung up on somebody telling us what to do. We get so bent out of shape that we forget to look at see that these things are what Scripture tells us to do.
The Scripture is the mandate.
Just approach him in person when nobody else is around. I have seen a pastor completely change his practice because of something I discussed with him.Originally posted by Hawnter:
Thanks to all who've responded. You've helped me tremendously. I'll be talking to my pastor soon.
There's one thing I'm starting to have concerns about. It deals with Romans 14. I don't want to cause my brother to stumble and I'm concerned that my starting this topic might do so??? This discussion has been very helpful to me personally, but I don't want to be the cause of creating doubts in others minds who agree with this specific leadership agreement. I'm thinking of those who might be directly involved. My question was selfishly coming from a personal standpoint of wondering if I should go elsewhere or not, but I could see how someone could view it as stirring up trouble for my pastor and church. I wouldn't want to hurt any of them, even if I don't agree with their methods. I apologize for publically posting. I've never posted on a message board before and should have prayerfully thought it through.
Well run businesses do implement a system of expectations for employees and those in leadership. And the best managers in these businesses focus on seeing that each employee and leader in his/her charge achieve fulfillment in specific roles (a fulfilled employee is a happy, loyal, productive, ready to sacrifice for the team employee, etc...).Originally posted by North Carolina Tentmaker:
Hawnter:
What your church has done (knowingly or not) is copy standard practice in business management and apply it to a ministry situation. Well run corporations will outline goals and expectations of their employees annually and will tie salary increases, bonuses, or discipline measures to those specified goals.
Many times this is done for legal reasons so that they can justify firing an employee who is not completing his objectives. Where this can come back to haunt you is when someone meets all of their goals but is an absolute jerk. You can't get rid of him because he has done everything you asked him to do in writing.
I would be very careful setting goals that are too specific in a ministry application and I would be very hesitant to sign such an agreement.
Tentmaker
Well run businesses do implement a system of expectations for employees and those in leadership. And the best managers in these businesses focus on seeing that each employee and leader in his/her charge achieve fulfillment in specific roles (a fulfilled employee is a happy, loyal, productive, ready to sacrifice for the team employee, etc...).Originally posted by Jonathan:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by North Carolina Tentmaker:
Hawnter:
What your church has done (knowingly or not) is copy standard practice in business management and apply it to a ministry situation. Well run corporations will outline goals and expectations of their employees annually and will tie salary increases, bonuses, or discipline measures to those specified goals.
Many times this is done for legal reasons so that they can justify firing an employee who is not completing his objectives. Where this can come back to haunt you is when someone meets all of their goals but is an absolute jerk. You can't get rid of him because he has done everything you asked him to do in writing.
I would be very careful setting goals that are too specific in a ministry application and I would be very hesitant to sign such an agreement.
Tentmaker
Not at all. Signing an agreement is a "yes" or a "no." It verifies that the parties have understood what is involved. There is no room for "I didn't know I was supposed to do that." I think this is an a-biblical matter. AGain, while I would differ with some of teh particulars, it is a good leadership to communicate expectations clearly and have methods of evaluation. To me, that is all this is.Originally posted by Larry in Tennessee:
In your opinion, Would the act of a pastor requiring a written agreement, regardless of what is being asked, be in violation of Scripture (according to James 5:12)?
I disagree completely. Scripture itself uses "threats" (if that is what you want to call this). You are focused on the "You will lose your position." Why not focus on the "This is what will help you become a better minister." That is what it will do ... These are things that better equip you to do what God has called you to do. How would you like a medical doctor who skipped 2 out of every 3 classes??? That would be detrimental. When a soul doctor skips two out of three classes, should we not be concerned??? I think we should be.Originally posted by Jonathan:
However, the example described in this thread does not mirror a well run business. Rather, it mirrors a poorly run and ineffective dictatorship.
The biblical standard is that believers will be involved in spiritual disciplines because of the promise of reward for maturing in them...not because of the threat of having a title removed from us.
Again, I disagree. Every company sets expectations for its employees and a part of that, whether stated or unstated, is that if you are not helping us, we don't have a place for you. Why carry dead weight? Why carry people who are not helping you reach your goal??Threats are necessary when organizational leadership becomes unable to concentrate on the rewards and when maintaining the organization (rather than growing the organization) becomes the goal.
Everytime the pastor steps into the pulpit, he is making disciples.Originally posted by gb93433:
Jesus said to make disciples. How many church leaders including pastors are actively making disciples?
Discipleship starts with evangelism. The command to make disciples includes the command to evangelize.Show me one case where Jesus ever taught just to do evangelism. He taught to make disciples.
Originally posted by Pastor Larry:
Everytime the pastor steps into the pulpit, he is making disciples.Originally posted by gb93433:
Jesus said to make disciples. How many church leaders including pastors are actively making disciples?
If that is the case hen we would have 100 percent excluding those who are not believers who are able to make disciples. Disciples make disciples. What you have stated is a myth right from many theological schools. The majority of people in churches do not know how to lead another person to Christ and disciple them. If that is true then preachiung has done little. I never learned how to make disciples by any pastor in any church. I learned from the man who led me to Christ.
Preaching was not at all the way Jesus made disciplles. He made disciples by taking them with him in doing ministry and teaching them along the way. He taught them to be obedient.
How many people do you know who after hearing sermons for years are actually making disciples. If preaching makes disciples then America is overflowing with them while the churches are in serious decline.
Discipleship starts with evangelism. The command to make disciples includes the command to evangelize. [/QB][/QUOTEShow me one case where Jesus ever taught just to do evangelism. He taught to make disciples.
You are right discipleship begins with evangelism but it doesn't stop there. A friend of mine was in a country where preaching and witnesssing was illegal. But people came to Christ and were discipled.
What would happen should that happen in America and preaching as we know it was illegal? I suspect some people would throw in the towel and others would get serious with God.
I would challenge you to read the two sermons at http://66.218.71.225/search/cache?p=Born+to+Reproduce&url=csV8EdPVFzIJ:www.bibleteacher.org/Dm118_8.htm
It is not a myth at all. At the heart of discipleship is teachign what God says. If a pastor is not teachign what God says, then he needs to resign. What I have said is absolutely true. And it is probably not all that the pastor does. I know it is not all that I do in disciple-making. I have noticed in your posts on this subject in other places, you seem to have somethign stuck in your craw about pastors. I wish you would get over it.Originally posted by gb93433:
If that is the case hen we would have 100 percent excluding those who are not believers who are able to make disciples. Disciples make disciples. What you have stated is a myth right from many theological schools.
Or perhaps that people are simply disobedient. There are people here who have never led anyone to Christ and have not discipled them. That is not because I have failed to teach and try to disciple them. That is because they are disobedient.The majority of people in churches do not know how to lead another person to Christ and disciple them. If that is true then preachiung has done little.
Which is why I said it "begins" with it.You are right discipleship begins with evangelism but it doesn't stop there.
God put people such as pastors and teachers into local assemblies to build the members up unto the stature of the fulness of Christ (Eph. 4:11ff).So powerful is the influence of the pulpit upon the Church that the general state of the Church at any given period may be correctly estimated by the prevelant style of preaching.
It depends on the situation. I don't think you can draw a hard and fast line. But you can't draw anyline at all if people don't know what is expected. You might ask someone to step down because of clear lifestyle problems, i.e., living in open sin. You might ask someone to step down because of testimony issues, or faithfulness issues. You might ask someone to step down because of health issues. You simply cannot draw a hard and fast line on this.Originally posted by clayjar:
At what point does the pastor remove someone from ministry?
And that is one of the purposes of it. If you make clear what is expected, then you have a standard by which to measure. Otherwise, you can be accused of "you just don't like me." This way, you can say, "You are not doing what you agreed to do."It seems to me that once you have this contract in place, there will have to be a system down the road to discipline, reprimand, or remove someone from service.
A person may have extenuating circumstances that justify why he can't fulfill portions of the contract, but who dictates what's valid and what isn't?[/qutoe]I think you underestimate the value of common sense.
The need for obedient and faithful Christians to be a vital part of the ministry. We need people who model what it means to be a Christian, who are faithfully learning (i.e., personal Bible study, service and small group attendance, teacher training meetings etc) and who are faithfully giving it back out.What makes a church come to this?
With respect ot what??and what's next?
Not committed enough or "just can't find the time" are problems that need to be addressed. We are commanded in Scripture to be committed enough adn to find the time for ministry. Those who do not do so are disobedient. As for "don't quite fit in," I am not sure what that means.Will the elite group try to weed out members that don't quite fit in, or are not committed enough, or just cannot find the time?
And Jesus is the one who commanded people to minister in the body, being faithful and growing. This sounds pious on your part, but the reality is that Jesus is not just for all people; he is for all people to be doing what they are commanded to do. Jesus invites people to come as they are; but he commands them to be changed from what they are. That is what this is about ... being changed ... What is bad about that??Jesus is for all people, but evidently church ministry is only for a select few.