Have you ever......

[crakjak]

Originally Posted by pelathais

I haven't really seen this - but what usually happens is just as bad. Someone goes to the pastor with some kind of slur and the pastor doesn't bother to check it out- instead he "handles it" from the pulpit.

Lives are hurt, the whole church is traumatized and when the truth finally does come out, it turns out that everyone was reacting to childish gossip.

My cousin played college football in a lower NCAA Division (2AA, or whatever) and when his team was in town he asked me to come see him. I talked to my pastor and got his "approval." I went to the game- they didn't charge admission! In fact I walked right out onto the field and met with my cousin and his team mates on the field itself before the game. The only problem was- another local school was vying for the National Championship and all of their games were being loudly publicized.


A few days later I was called into the pastor's office while he and his wife screamed at me for going to that football game. I reminded my pastor of our conversation- I reminded him of the school my cousin attended and where they actually played. His head fell into his hands when he realized how foolish he had been. But his wife would not let up. She kept screaming at me saying things like I had "disobeyed the pastor..." even after the pastor was reduced to just shaking his head and mumbling to himself.

I tried to get an apology but got thrown out of the pastor's office instead. The whole thing could have been avoided if the pastor had actually "investigated" the rumor. Or better yet, if the pastor had paid enough attention to the people working with him that he would remember his conversations with them 2 or 3 days after the fact.

Or had a wife that was not controling him. That is sad.

[Neck]

Originally Posted by Jesuswins

I have never been a part of the UPCI, but I have heard some "stories" about Pastors investigating the lives of the church members to see if they are "living right". I just wonder if it's true....... have you ever experienced this from your Pastor or are you a Pastor and done it to some of your saints.

The ministers do not have to investigate. Too many of the saints go around talking about what everyone else is doing....

[stmatthew]

Hbr 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that [is] unprofitable for you.

Any man that would just look the other way is no Pastor. He is a Hireling! A real Pastor, as Amos has said, will check under every bush to make sure that everything is ok, and will spend much time praying over the situation prior to giving his approval.

[chaotic_resolve]

Originally Posted by Amos

Have you noticed that pastors don't typically get on here and tell horror stories about saints?

It is because we love people and don't get a charge out of tearing them down and repeating all kinds of dirt about them online like you and all your uplifitng stories.

Nah, not on AFF. They do that stuff in the licensed preachers only forum.

Originally Posted by Stephen Hoover

FN, I think this is not common at all. These types of incidents are mostly history.

I agree. I've known some things and heard stuff from the past. But that was all when I was younger.

The only thing that could come close to this that I've experienced and known personally of in the past few years was a Pastor who told a friend of mine it wasn't God's will for him to move away. When my friend made his decision to move, at first the Pastor and staff ignored him and wouldn't hardly talk to him at church. Then, they made a 180 and gave him a title, had both he and his brother sit on the platform and did everything they could to try and keep him there. It was hilarious.

During one conversation I told my friend that if he had stayed any longer, they would have made him an assistant pastor.

Originally Posted by stmatthew

Hbr 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that [is] unprofitable for you.

Any man that would just look the other way is no Pastor. He is a Hireling! A real Pastor, as Amos has said, will check under every bush to make sure that everything is ok, and will spend much time praying over the situation prior to giving his approval.

I like how people use this scripture to try and give the Pastor carte blanche authority over the saints. Unfortunately for them, this scripture wasn't meant for that.

[Hoovie]

Originally Posted by pelathais

Do you really think so, S.H.? Not doubting you or trying to pick a fight...

Yes. I think most pastors are and should be involved and or concerned on a certain level, but when it comes to making the decision, or dictating - it simply is not commonplace in the UPC.

Perhaps in small minded family churches or those who still preach against education, this type of thing still flies, but not for the majority of those attending UP Churches.

I think it is a niavity of the past, and was not found exclusively in the UPC either. Today it is not appealing, nor accepted by the church constituency.