Maybe I'm Too Harsh

[Trouvere]

Originally Posted by Rico

Right. But it's not that big a stretch to apply those same principles to anyone wanting to be used in ministry. For one thing, it's like living in a glass house and there is a lot of pressure on people in ministry. Someone that is new to the faith should not have to deal with those kinds of pressures. It's a perfect recipe for disaster. Give people time to get established, strengthened, and settled in the faith before using them in ministry. It just makes sense. Six months is a good timeframe for letting someone test the waters of ministry, but in my opinion it should only be in supporting roles rather than full blown leadership.

Sometimes supportive roles help someone keep occupied and off things
like drugs and alcohol.Things like helping with tape ministry or being a
greeter.Have you ever noticed how bubbly a new convert lady is? Its
a great witness.I played music on the platform.My pastor was strict but
then I did not mind as I had no self discipline what so ever.God sometimes
puts you in places where it is super discipline just so you might learn
to maintain a moderate level on your own.

[Felicity]

Originally Posted by NobodyImportant

I never said this was an ironclad rule of thumb. If you will re-read my post you will see that it is a general guideline that scripture does posit for the church.
Consider: if someone came in who was a pedophile, would you really want that individual to teach SS to the 5-6 year olds? Wouldn't it stand to reason to wait and see if the person is genuinely walking in faith and desiring to continue further in truth for the deliverence of their soul?
It is basic common sense and bibliacl in essence.
Further, there are those amongst us now who never had to wait. Their call to ministry began immediately. They often did go through a lot of training in the meantime, which is also part of the proving of a ministry.
My wife and I didn't get into real active ministry for ten years after coming to truth. There were (and still are) things that God was proving in our lives.

Good post.

Sometimes I wonder what in the world WE were thinking and what the congregations were thinking that voted in a very young couple with very little actual experience to pastor and shepherd and "teach" them --- many who I'm sure knew more than we did and were twice and 3 times our age. It's amazing really! I'm very thankful for their kindness and patience.

[chaotic_resolve]

Originally Posted by Trouvere

Sometimes supportive roles help someone keep occupied and off things like drugs and alcohol.Things like helping with tape ministry or being a greeter.Have you ever noticed how bubbly a new convert lady is? Its a great witness.

Right. We have a lady who doesn't even have the Holy Ghost yet that helps with our outreach and visitation. Another man and wife who recently received the Holy Ghost has been on outreach the past couple weeks and helping out wherever they can.

[Whole Hearted]

Originally Posted by chaotic_resolve

I understand what you're both saying, though the example was a little extreme. I'm not meaning to be a jerk or anything with the question, just wondering if there was scriptural precedent.

I believe it should depend on the position a person wants to be in. For teaching positions, of course there should be time for study, knowledge and growth before becoming a teacher. However, I don't feel the same length of time is needed for a greeter, usher, musician, singer or technician (sound/video/lighting).


Continuing to play the devil's advocate here . . . and using WH's point, I still ask, what about Paul? What did the early Apostolics feel about a man who helped murder their friends and brothers in the church . . . when now he's writing Epistles to them which give them warnings and exhorts them on how to live as a Christian?

I had a friend who came into the church. We had gone to school together. He had been singing in honky tonks and prayed through. He had to wait six months. What would people have though if they had been to the honky tonk and saw him and a couple of weeks later showed up at the church. They wouldn't have known that he prayed though. This is a real example.

[Trouvere]

Originally Posted by chaotic_resolve

Right. We have a lady who doesn't even have the Holy Ghost yet that helps with our outreach and visitation. Another man and wife who recently received the Holy Ghost has been on outreach the past couple weeks and helping out wherever they can.

I read in the accounts of the Azusa Street revivals that Brother Seymour
was preaching the Holy Ghost before he had it.

[Trouvere]

Originally Posted by Whole Hearted

I had a friend who came into the church. We had gone to school together. He had been singing in honky tonks and prayed through. He had to wait six months. What would people have though if they had been to the honky tonk and saw him and a couple of weeks later showed up at the church. They wouldn't have known that he prayed though. This is a real example.

He could have had an awesome testimony of how God got him out of the Honky Tonk could he not?

[CC1]

Originally Posted by Whole Hearted

Well you don't attend here so don't worry about it.

PS there is a church about 17 miles away where you could go and do about anything you wanted to, so be my quest.

Freudian slip?

[CC1]

Nobody Important,

I don't know anybody on AFF who thinks you don't have a right to a strong set of beliefs just like all of us have.

The only complaint I know of is in how you express that belief sometimes to people. Others manage to do it without being condescending,etc.

I have ultra con friends on here who I know absolutely believe I am splitting hell wide open because I wear rings, watch TV, on the rare occasion wear shorts, go to football games, etc. However they are mature enough to seperate their personal view of my eternal destination from things we do have in common like a shared heritage, shared view of Oneness, Jesus name baptism,love of the Lord, etc. The shared things are the basis of our relationship, not the differences. Doesn't mean we don't fuss and tangle on AFF over those differences but it is never personal.

[chaotic_resolve]

Originally Posted by Whole Hearted

I had a friend who came into the church. We had gone to school together. He had been singing in honky tonks and prayed through. He had to wait six months. What would people have though if they had been to the honky tonk and saw him and a couple of weeks later showed up at the church. They wouldn't have known that he prayed though. This is a real example.

I'd have to agree to disagree with that. I may not put him on the platform the first service after he was saved, but I'd definitely get him involved as soon as possible.

As Trouvere said, what an awesome testimony opportunity if the example had happened. And I'm sure if this man had received the Holy Ghost and was living for God they would have noticed a difference.

[Barb]

Originally Posted by CC1

Nobody Important,

I don't know anybody on AFF who thinks you don't have a right to a strong set of beliefs just like all of us have.

The only complaint I know of is in how you express that belief sometimes to people. Others manage to do it without being condescending,etc.

I have ultra con friends on here who I know absolutely believe I am splitting hell wide open because I wear rings, watch TV, on the rare occasion wear shorts, go to football games, etc. However they are mature enough to seperate their personal view of my eternal destination from things we do have in common like a shared heritage, shared view of Oneness, Jesus name baptism,love of the Lord, etc. The shared things are the basis of our relationship, not the differences. Doesn't mean we don't fuss and tangle on AFF over those differences but it is never personal.

You are NOT splitting hell wide open...!!