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Is my church overstepping or not?

Pastor Larry

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Some of those things you are talking about are targeted, i.e., not for everyone. I certainly woulnd't expect men at a ladies Bible study or vice versa. I think by "faithfulness" I would mean, "be at the things that have reference to you."
 
you know Pastor Larry... (After praying and rereading this thread Asking God to open my mind and heart to what He would have me glean from this board.) I think we were looking at the same coin from other sides. In reading back through your posts, I think the central thought you have is "we need to be doing the central Biblical things and be willing to be accountable to do them." My main point is "we should be doing the things the Bible calls out using the tools God has given us (individually, on a personal basis)." and be accountable for them.

The perception I got was that the pastor of the origonal poster was adding to the Biblical requirements by making methods (which are not Biblically mandated) required to "prove their worthiness to serve" instead of helping them to develop methods and talents God has given them.

God bless you Pastor Larry.. I may not always agree with you, but you often make me think and pray about my standpoints. Thank you.
 

Hardsheller

Active Member
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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.
[/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.

[qutoe][qb]Give me the Church of Grace any day.
</font>[/QUOTE]I agree. And I would argue that those issues of service are as Grace filled as any thing else.

I don't think your verses address this issue. Paul was talking about something else.
[/QUOTE]

Well, it certainly does not address this particular church's mandates but it does address the Biblical difference between law and grace.

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.

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

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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.
But I am not convinced it does so in the manner in which you suggest here.

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.
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.

Timothy 4:7-8 On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; 8 for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

Clearly, there are things to be done for spiritual growth. The things in themselves, done as performances will not bring that spiritual growth. But spiritual growth will not happen with out it.

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."
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.

That means that everything we need is right in Scripture. We don't need another word from the Lord. The problem with believers is not too little standing and waiting. It is too little standing period. We need people who will discipline themselves for the purpose of godliness because it has eternal profit. His word has given us all we need. We need nothing else.
 

gb93433

Active Member
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When I look at a leader. I first look at two things. One is the man and the other is who is following. If there are no followers then he is not a leader. Don't call someone a leader who isn't leading.

No number of rules will ever make up for someone who is not a leader. Leaders will exemplify the Christian life to others. They are humble examples before God.

From the list I read I thought to myself I expect much more than that from a leader and so does God. Doing those things does not make a leader. In the church leadership is demonstrated first before calling a person a leader. That list is not necessary for one who is a godly leader. He is already do much more than that. He is imparting his life into another.

Someone and especially a pastor who is not making disciples is in violation of Mt. 28:19,20. Just because someone stands and preaches each Sunday does not mean he is making disciples. Preaching is no substitute for the real job of making disciples.

In one church I pastored I told the people that we were getting rid of all the programs except the essential ones. Some were upset and wondering about how the church would grow. After their initial shock they got to work. They met new people and started Bible studies and ministries in the community. What God did was incredible. Within a year we had leaders who were leading. They would ask me questions about how to lead and what to do. Some of the ladies began a comunity outreach to other women. Some evangelistic studies and other discipleship studies were started. A lot of teamwork was involved. When someone wanted to do something they needed to get others to help. When people begin to start praying and asking God for a ministry they mean business.

Years ago I was asked to be a part of a team. The man leading told us that it would be up to us to pray and ask God for men. Every man on that team began to disciple others. Some of them had never done that before. Those who were more experienced help those who didn't have any.

For someone to not take on a ministry withour church council approval is nonsense. I want to see men and women do ministry without church approval. I don't need church council approval to do what God has already called me to do.

The real question we should be asking ourselves is who's living for Jesus Christ because of our life?
 
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.
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)?
 

Precepts

New Member
Just me personally, (I don't mean to keep butting in), and I don't say this boastfully, I wouldn't have any problem signing such an agreement, as long as if and when I fail to meet the rigid requirements I am shown brotherly love and mercy, along with a chance to repent.

The reason I say this is I can see where such an agreement would provoke dedication, but the outcome would prove the intention when the contrary action is dealt with according to Scriptural guidelines, not saying the agreement is totally unscriptural.

I believe it's more a matter of "willingness" to sign, than actual signing. Maybe this pastor should clarify, I haven't seen where the clarity of the matter has been given, just alot of opinion shown forth and the beginning of questioning.

James 5:12 could be applied, but then any contractual aggreement would be in violation, that would get back to the old timer's way of "his word is as good as gold".

I enjoy the discussion, and will restrain myself from future interuptions.
 

Hawnter

New Member
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.
 

gb93433

Active Member
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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.
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.

But when you approach him make your comments your own and not someone else's.
 

Jonathan

Member
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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...).

I applaud any church that is willing to implement such a system for leadership. 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. 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. This lack of creativity on the part of the leadership exposes a lack of real and recent experience with the fragrant aroma of Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, in many of our churches, this is quite descriptive of the leadership.

My advice is to find a church where the leadership has an ongoing experience with the God whose "lovingkindness is better than life".
 

gb93433

Active Member
Site Supporter
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
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...).

I applaud any church that is willing to implement such a system for leadership. 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. 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. This lack of creativity on the part of the leadership exposes a lack of real and recent experience with the fragrant aroma of Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, in many of our churches, this is quite descriptive of the leadership.

My advice is to find a church where the leadership has an ongoing experience with the God whose "lovingkindness is better than life".
</font>[/QUOTE]Jesus said to make disciples. How many church leaders including pastors are actively making disciples?

If the average person in the average church would make one disciple on the average of one every ten years the church would double in ten years. But the fact is that the chruch is not growing at an average of doubling in ten years. No discipes equals disobedience. Anyone who is or has been a pastor knows that the majority do not make disciples. They do not even know how. Anyone who just preaches evangelism is clearly showing that they are not making disciples and doesn't know how. Show me one case where Jesus ever taught just to do evangelism. He taught to make disciples. Wehn one gets away what does the shepherd do? he goes after the sheep. But so many are content to rack up numbers of converts. But the real measurement is disciples who reproduce themselves in others who make disciples. That is what 2 Timothy 2:2 is about.
 

Pastor Larry

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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)?
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.
 

Pastor Larry

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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.
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.

Threat vs. expectation are all in the perspective. I don't share yours
...

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.
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??
 

Pastor Larry

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Originally posted by gb93433:
Jesus said to make disciples. How many church leaders including pastors are actively making disciples?
Everytime the pastor steps into the pulpit, he is making disciples.

Show me one case where Jesus ever taught just to do evangelism. He taught to make disciples.
Discipleship starts with evangelism. The command to make disciples includes the command to evangelize.
 

gb93433

Active Member
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Originally posted by Pastor Larry:
Originally posted by gb93433:
Jesus said to make disciples. How many church leaders including pastors are actively making disciples?
Everytime the pastor steps into the pulpit, he is 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.

Show me one case where Jesus ever taught just to do evangelism. He taught to make disciples.
Discipleship starts with evangelism. The command to make disciples includes the command to evangelize. [/QB][/QUOTE

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
 

Pastor Larry

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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.
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.

I don't disagree about taking people along and teaching them; that is what discipleship is. Pastors are probably more involved in that than you think. And it is good that you learned from the one who led you to Christ. That is the way it should happen. It is what i teach here.

It was a joy last week after Sunday morning church to see two of the men here stay for an hour to help a man who walked in with some spiritual problems. I listened from behind a door rather than jumping in because I wanted to give them the chance to put to practice what I have been teaching.

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.
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.

You are right discipleship begins with evangelism but it doesn't stop there.
Which is why I said it "begins" with it.

And I repeat, everytime a pastor steps into the pulpit, he is making disciples. That better be the focus of his teaching. But you can't force people to follow. They make choices about their own obedience.
 

aefting

New Member
Along these lines, Charles Bridges says,

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.
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).

Andy
 

clayjar

New Member
At what point does the pastor remove someone from ministry? 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? What makes a church come to this? and what's next? 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? Jesus is for all people, but evidently church ministry is only for a select few.
 

Pastor Larry

<b>Moderator</b>
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Originally posted by clayjar:
At what point does the pastor remove someone from ministry?
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.

I did ask someone to step down for health issues, making it clear that the position required someone who could be there more faithfully and that when this person was able to return to consistency, they would be welcome back into the position.

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.
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."

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.

What makes a church come to this?
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.

and what's next?
With respect ot what??

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?
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.

Jesus is for all people, but evidently church ministry is only for a select few.
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??
 
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