Should Associate Pastor be Fired?

[evangelist6589]

In what ways do you feel passing out tracts equates to witnessing?

I'm not saying that it is wrong to do so, but too often "evangelism" is viewed as wearing "Jesus saves" t-shirts, putting bumper stickers on your car, and passing out material. It seems more like advertising to me (like "bud light" t-shirts, political bumper stickers, and social project flyers). At best, it seems that this would be providing material to evangelize or witness, but simply providing the material...I don't know.

We are to share the faith with everyone and there are millions of lost people out there. Not everyone do we have time or they have time for a chat and so a gospel tract is the best way to witness. Passing out tracts is not the only way to witness but it is a good and valid way. Do you not believe the verse I have in my sig? We are to "preach" the word to all of creation and passing out tracts is a valid way to do this.

 

[evangelist6589]

BTW, the tracts are fine (actually, I don't know what the first one says on back but I've seen some similar - always disappointing when I find one on the street) and I think would be a great introduction to the gospel message.

They are wonderful tracts that use the LAW to convict the conscience of sinners. Find more of their tracts here.

http://www.livingwaters.com/index.p...=shop.browse&category_id=8&Itemid=199&lang=en

 

[JonC]

We are to share the faith with everyone and there are millions of lost people out there. Not everyone do we have time or they have time for a chat and so a gospel tract is the best way to witness. Passing out tracts is not the only way to witness but it is a good and valid way. Do you not believe the verse I have in my sig? We are to "preach" the word to all of creation and passing out tracts is a valid way to do this.

I do believe the verse in your signature, and I believe it is a command to all believers. I do not see tracts as valueless – they are wonderful tools in reaching others for Christ – but in themselves they do not constitute “witnessing.” Evangelism is more than words on paper.

 

[evangelist6589]

I do believe the verse in your signature, and I believe it is a command to all believers. I do not see tracts as valueless – they are wonderful tools in reaching others for Christ – but in themselves they do not constitute “witnessing.” Evangelism is more than words on paper.

They are one form of witnessing. When I go out witnessing I pass out hundreds of tracts, I talk with people, pray with people, and do open air preaching.

 

[Salty]

I wonder if this Asst Pastor takes his youth group to help pass out the tracts at these stores?

 

[preacher4truth]

Has this associate been burned at the stake yet?

 

[righteousdude2]

Not yet...

Has this associate been burned at the stake yet?

....would you like to pound in the stakes and light the match? :laugh:

 

[JohnnyReb]

I would like the clarify on my camparision with Jesus mingling with sinners.

No Jesus did not enter any porn shops ect. But for the time he was living in he did some very eyebrow raising things. I was trying to compare the judgment cast upon him for doing some things outside the box compared to what this pastor is doing outside the box. Remember....Jesus was doing things that could have gotten him killed and ultimately it did! He was not a man who walked on the safe side when it came to religious acceptability among the self richouse crowd. It takes alot more guts to preach in a Jewish temple during his time and tell the teachers of the law they are all hypocrites than it does to pass out stuff in a porn shop. This pastor has a long way to go before he can equal the outrage that Christ stirred up with his ministry.

If Jesus had walked the earth during our time do you think he would have feared going into a xxx shop to correct and teach the people?? I'm sure some of our religious community would have burned him at the stake if he had.

But ultimately OP.....if you are his pastor and have authority over him then ask him not to do it or to stand outside. Personally I admire his guts. But he might as well stop because without support he won't succeed.

 

[JohnnyReb]

It is an incorrect argument to appropriate Jesus' fellowship with sinners to condone such actions.

Don's first line above pretty sums up the point.

Jesus', while fellowshipping with sinners, didn't enter the sinners' dwellings to do so in ways that would have left himself open to question. This young pastor needs to be confronted, biblically, and given appropriate boundaries.

Besides, the folks in these places don't care about tracts. Learning to live in fellowship with sinners is the greatest proclamation tool, outside of preaching the Gospel directly, we have.

Really LOL :laugh:

So letting a lowly prostitute woman wash his feet with her tears and hair didn't call question upon him to others? The son of God stooping to the level of lowly women and forgiving her sins didn't raise a eyebrow??

 

[Yeshua1]

I would like the clarify on my camparision with Jesus mingling with sinners.

No Jesus did not enter any porn shops ect. But for the time he was living in he did some very eyebrow raising things. I was trying to compare the judgment cast upon him for doing some things outside the box compared to what this pastor is doing outside the box. Remember....Jesus was doing things that could have gotten him killed and ultimately it did! He was not a man who walked on the safe side when it came to religious acceptability among the self richouse crowd. It takes alot more guts to preach in a Jewish temple during his time and tell the teachers of the law they are all hypocrites than it does to pass out stuff in a porn shop. This pastor has a long way to go before he can equal the outrage that Christ stirred up with his ministry.

If Jesus had walked the earth during our time do you think he would have feared going into a xxx shop to correct and teach the people?? I'm sure some of our religious community would have burned him at the stake if he had.

But ultimately OP.....if you are his pastor and have authority over him then ask him not to do it or to stand outside. Personally I admire his guts. But he might as well stop because without support he won't succeed.

think that he would no problem walking in there to share with someone who needed to get saved by him, but also think that hewould not have His Apostles hang around to keep viewing magazines!

 

[Zaac]

Really LOL :laugh:

So letting a lowly prostitute woman wash his feet with her tears and hair didn't call question upon him to others? The son of God stooping to the level of lowly women and forgiving her sins didn't raise a eyebrow??

I'm sure it did. But I would imagine that His Holiness in forgiving her and loving her probably smashed any wrong thoughts about the association.

Jesus was always witnessing Himself CONSISTENTLY.

While tracts are a useful tool in witnessing, they should not replace one-on-one witnessing. That's the purpose of a tract. To point people towards Jesus ad the people who can answer their questions.

As evangelist stated, Scripture says we must not give the appearance of evil. And there are just so many different ways he could have gone about this.

As was mentioned, he could have stood outside and passed out the tracts giving him the opportunity to actually engage in dialog with the people

He could have spoken with the owner and asked if he could leave a stack of the tracts next to the magazines or at their counter.

He could have asked the owners if it was okay to place them on cars after explaining where he was from.

As it is, he needs to be reprimanded. His WAY tends to suggest that he's lusting because there are just too many other ways to do this that don't make it look like you're coming in and looking at porn.

That strip church ministry is a wonderful story. But unless the pastor's wife is bisexual and has a thing for women, there is marked difference between a woman ministering to strippers than there is a heterosexual man sifting through heterosexual porn to place a tract.

 

[webdog]

Really LOL :laugh:

So letting a lowly prostitute woman wash his feet with her tears and hair didn't call question upon him to others? The son of God stooping to the level of lowly women and forgiving her sins didn't raise a eyebrow??

Apples and oranges. She wasn't topless.

 

[JonC]

They are one form of witnessing. When I go out witnessing I pass out hundreds of tracts, I talk with people, pray with people, and do open air preaching.

Just hand out Bibles - then the work is done. Seriously though, I think that you do a good work in handing out tracts and witnessing to those God has cross your path.

 

[thisnumbersdisconnected]

Really LOL :laugh:

So letting a lowly prostitute woman wash his feet with her tears and hair didn't call question upon him to others?

I'm sure it did. But He didn't see her naked before she washed his feet, either.

The son of God stooping to the level of lowly women and forgiving her sins didn't raise a eyebrow??

That doesn't even begin to stoop as low as this associate pastor is in opening up XXX magazines and exposing himself both to temptation, and to ridicule -- particularly when it isn't necessary for him to do so.

 

[JohnnyReb]

I'm sure it did. But He didn't see her naked before she washed his feet, either.

That doesn't even begin to stoop as low as this associate pastor is in opening up XXX magazines and exposing himself both to temptation, and to ridicule -- particularly when it isn't necessary for him to do so.

Point taken. By the way I'm not really into arguing with you...just a friendly debate and opposing point of view. It's healthy to disagree sometimes. I guess if we all agreed 100% of the time it would be hard to hold each other accountable.

I would like to say we are open to temptation from the time we open our eyes everyday. He is a adult I'm assuming so me being very conservative I guess I assume he can handle his own temptations without a babysitter. As the flesh leader of your church it's your call. You asked and I gave a honest opinion. Hope it helped one way or another. Good luck and hope it all works out

 

[JonC]

The more I think about it, the answer is "yes, the associate pastor should be fired"... if asked to cease and he continues, anyway.

Pornography is a widespread sin in many churches, and affects many men. He cannot lead by example and continue to "evangelize" by doing his "mag ministry."

 

[Ed B]

When I was in my early twenties me and a friend did something similar but we didn't go into the establishment. One night we went to the parking lot of a topless club and put hand written letters under the windshield wipers of a few scattered cars. I don't remember the exact words but they were telling them about Christ, a short Roman Roads gospel message and that forgiveness was a prayer away. We included the phone number for a small church in our town with the Pastor's knowledge. I have no idea if anything came of it.

Going inside would not have been wise for me. I don't know if what we did was wise. It was an act of faith and zeal.

I think the person in question is at best very unwise in how he is trying to reach these people. They need to be reached with the Gospel. I believe that if it could be arranged, having coffee or sharing a meal at a public diner with the owner or customers of the XXX bookstore would be more in line with what our Lord did when he walked this earth. Still, since he has put tracks in those magazines (we assume) I pray it bears fruit.

 

[Yeshua1]

The more I think about it, the answer is "yes, the associate pastor should be fired"... if asked to cease and he continues, anyway.

Pornography is a widespread sin in many churches, and affects many men. He cannot lead by example and continue to "evangelize" by doing his "mag ministry."

Would say that if a pastor rebels against following the lead of those over him, good sign might not be cut out for Pastoring, or at least might need to take some down time and regroup!

maybe he has developed some problems with viewing that stuff?

 

[preacher4truth]

Would say that if a pastor rebels against following the lead of those over him, good sign might not be cut out for Pastoring, or at least might need to take some down time and regroup!

maybe he has developed some problems with viewing that stuff?

There is more than the op side to this story. Sounds like a grudge to me IMO.

 

[Yeshua1]

There is more than the op side to this story. Sounds like a grudge to me IMO.

very well could be, as there seems to be a lot of just getting posted one side of the story here on the BB!