Pastoral Authority,Limits and Boundaries.

[mfblume]

Originally Posted by Carpenter

I agree, but this scenario while rampant in the Apostolic church is rather extreme when considering the universe of pastors.

MF, what do you think is the MOST COMMON or global characteristic(s) of pastors throughout the more prominant of the Apostolic organizations in the spirit of this thread?

We can talk about 1sies and 2sies pastors all day...

I am not sure what you are asking, but let me start by saying the common, SENSIBLE boundaries of most pastors, I think, is not going beyond simply sharing truth and allowing people to choose to obey it or not, without forcing them to do so in a militant manner. We can share what we believe the bible teaches about any given issue, but we must stop when it comes to making a person do anything. We cannot make a person do something, but suggest what we fell would be God's will.

Is that the sort of thing you are looking for? Please clarify.

[Carpenter]

Originally Posted by mfblume

I am not sure what you are asking, but let me start by saying the common, SENSIBLE boundaries of most pastors, I think, is not going beyond simply sharing truth and allowing people to choose to obey it or not, without forcing them to do so in a militant manner. We can share what we believe the bible teaches about any given issue, but we must stop when it comes to making a person do anything. We cannot make a person do something, but suggest what we fell would be God's will.

Is that the sort of thing you are looking for? Please clarify.

I think to an extent all UPC pastors have a militant perspective regarding some things. Even the small towner who has his mind made up that he is going to conquor the mainstream religion in his town instead of warming up to it.

I think many men come from big churches and expect to impose...if you will... the same paradigms (worship, church extracurricular attendance, standards, etc.) on a handful of people in a home missions church.

[Scott Hutchinson]

I certainly don't agree with these people on everything they preach and teach doctrinally,but this article has some valid points.http://batteredsheep.com/authoritarianism.html

[mfblume]

Originally Posted by Carpenter

I think to an extent all UPC pastors have a militant perspective regarding some things. Even the small towner who has his mind made up that he is going to conquor the mainstream religion in his town instead of warming up to it.

I think many men come from big churches and expect to impose...if you will... the same paradigms (worship, church extracurricular attendance, standards, etc.) on a handful of people in a home missions church.

That may be true. Imposing things on people is never right. When I heard some pastors tell their saints when to have vacation, I thought that was insane!