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NASB | Romans 1:18 ¶ For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Romans 1:18 ¶ For [God does not overlook sin and] the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who in their wickedness suppress and stifle the truth, |
Subject: response |
Bible Note: Not only have I spent a day with him, I have spent weeks with him. He is not only my Pastor, he is one of my best friends. Our families spend weekends together, go to the Dallas zoo, go on vacations together in colorodo, etc,. Our relationship is so close that I can make personal statments to him without him taking offense. Why? He knows my heart and I know his and he knows that I will do whatever it takes to not just mount a critique but help find and implement the solution. If the pastor's are performing "crisis evangelism" that would be "getting out into the world" in my book. If the pastor is doing "prison ministry" that would be "getting out into the world" in my book. Whenever a pastor interacts with people other than those from his church and takes that opportunity to open a door for future conversations about Christ--He is doing exactly what I am talking about. That would also include "body evangelism". The problem is so many pastors do none of the above and beat their sheep because they are not doing it! I don't know how many sermons I have heard on the great commission and the railing rebuke that follows because the church (their assembly)is not going out to the highways and by-ways compelling the masses to come in. My simple question is, "Why aren't you doing it, Pastor?" I don't think that is too much to ask for. I agree with you on the need for good christian scholarship and the probable cause of the lack of scholarship in the church. the church has plenty of good scholars but, most people choose not to read the great works that are out there and pastors--thanks to Willow Creek community church and other church growth seminars--are reluctant to preach deep theological messages. I have all the willow creek stuff and have been to the seminar. Just thought I would cut that response off before it is made. :-) Of course I can never respond to the "you just don't understand what was being said at the conference" response that is bound to come up. When pastors are strong-armed and their whole worth centers around how many people are sitting in the pew, the pressure forces them to shift into a "what works" mentality. I emphatize greatly with the stress that pastors face every day. Why? I was one. We def. need to pray for our pastors. They are under a huge amount of stress and pressure to increase their churches numerically in a society that seems to want nothing to do with the Christian message. I could go on and on about my expereinces in this area, but will choose not to bore those in the forum. I will close with this. I would never aske anyone in my congregation to go out and share their faith with others if I was not willing to and currently doing so myself. |