A question for everyone...Should a Minister?

[MusicMaster]

Ministers, Pastors, Evangelists: Would you make fun of members of your congregation when away preaching at another church where you thought the member would never hear of it?

Church members: How would you feel if you logged onto the internet, and found an archived message from a minister or pastor or evangelist from your church where they had made fun of a member of their church? How about if it was you personally they had made fun of?

To give an example: "There's this lady at my church, she's a great saint, but this lady looks like a linebacker, has a moustache & everything. You know and she's single for obvious reasons. She's ugly but kind." The minister continues to puff out his cheeks, and try to give you a visual of what the person must look like.

How about if he got so carried away with the story he was telling that he slipped up and said the person's first name? Then quickly realized the mistake, asking for the one taping the service to edit the message to remove the name.

[Margies3]

MOST pastors are kind, caring people who truly love their saints.

A pastor like this, however, I would run from so quickly he would only feel wind of my feet as they sped past him.

Anyone who would demean another person - particular a saint in his church! - in this way is not a man filled with the love of the Lord.

[jaxfam6]

It is in very bad taste but I must say I have seen it happen. Usually though when I have heard ministers talk about someone from their home church it is not in a mocking kind of way. Usually they use them as an example.

[Pastor G]

Originally Posted by MusicMaster

Ministers, Pastors, Evangelists: Would you make fun of members of your congregation when away preaching at another church where you thought the member would never hear of it?

Church members: How would you feel if you logged onto the internet, and found an archived message from a minister or pastor or evangelist from your church where they had made fun of a member of their church? How about if it was you personally they had made fun of?

To give an example: "There's this lady at my church, she's a great saint, but this lady looks like a linebacker, has a moustache & everything. You know and she's single for obvious reasons. She's ugly but kind." The minister continues to puff out his cheeks, and try to give you a visual of what the person must look like.

How about if he got so carried away with the story he was telling that he slipped up and said the person's first name? Then quickly realized the mistake, asking for the one taping the service to edit the message to remove the name.

I hope this lady doesn't get on here and see what you wrote about her...

[dizzyde]

Originally Posted by MusicMaster

Ministers, Pastors, Evangelists: Would you make fun of members of your congregation when away preaching at another church where you thought the member would never hear of it?

Church members: How would you feel if you logged onto the internet, and found an archived message from a minister or pastor or evangelist from your church where they had made fun of a member of their church? How about if it was you personally they had made fun of?

To give an example: There's this lady at my church, she's a great saint, but this lady looks like a linebacker, has a moustache & everything. You know and she's single for obvious reasons. She's ugly but kind. The minister continues to puff out his cheeks, and try to give you a visual of what the person must look like.

How about if he got so carried away with the story he was telling that he slipped up and said the person's first name? Then quickly realized the mistake, asking for the one taping the service to edit the message to remove the name.

If I had previously held this man in respect, I would talk to him, give him a chance to make it right.

Although I am finding it hard to figure out a way that he could make it right. If he goes to the woman and asks her for forgiveness, she will know what he has done, and that could be devastating for her.

I think he should know that this is on the internet so he can try to persuade them to take it off.

I don't really know what I would do, I would definitely feel very disappointed.

[dizzyde]

Originally Posted by Pastor G

I hope this lady doesn't get on here and see what you wrote about her...

Slightly different since this is someone using a secret identity, and she hasn't mentioned any names. But nice try.

[MusicMaster]

Originally Posted by MusicMaster

Ministers, Pastors, Evangelists: Would you make fun of members of your congregation when away preaching at another church where you thought the member would never hear of it?

Church members: How would you feel if you logged onto the internet, and found an archived message from a minister or pastor or evangelist from your church where they had made fun of a member of their church? How about if it was you personally they had made fun of?

To give an example: There's this lady at my church, she's a great saint, but this lady looks like a linebacker, has a moustache & everything. You know and she's single for obvious reasons. She's ugly but kind. The minister continues to puff out his cheeks, and try to give you a visual of what the person must look like.

How about if he got so carried away with the story he was telling that he slipped up and said the person's first name? Then quickly realized the mistake, asking for the one taping the service to edit the message to remove the name.

Originally Posted by Pastor G

I hope this lady doesn't get on here and see what you wrote about her...

I should have made this clear in my first post. The example I gave was a direct quote from a sermon I found archived online at a church website. I was not talking about someone in my church. I would not do that. I know the anger I felt when I heard the minister say this was so great, that I have decided I will never want to hear another one of his sermons.

I can only imagine how the poor lady from his church would feel if she ever found that message.

[Pastor G]

Originally Posted by MusicMaster

I should have made this clear in my first post. The example I gave was a direct quote from a sermon I found archived online at a church website. I was not talking about someone in my church. I would not do that. I know the anger I felt when I heard the minister say this was so great, that I have decided I will never want to hear another one of his sermons.

I can only imagine how the poor lady from his church would feel if she ever found that message.

Just my attempt at a little humor...

Seems like every word is recorded now... All must be careful...

[TRFrance]

Originally Posted by MusicMaster

....
To give an example: "There's this lady at my church, she's a great saint, but this lady looks like a linebacker, has a moustache & everything. You know and she's single for obvious reasons. She's ugly but kind." The minister continues to puff out his cheeks, and try to give you a visual of what the person must look like.

How about if he got so carried away with the story he was telling that he slipped up and said the person's first name? Then quickly realized the mistake, asking for the one taping the service to edit the message to remove the name.

I'm curious... is this "example" just hyothetical, or did this situation actually take place?

[OP_Carl]

Originally Posted by MusicMaster

Ministers, Pastors, Evangelists: Would you make fun of members of your congregation when away preaching at another church where you thought the member would never hear of it?

Church members: How would you feel if you logged onto the internet, and found an archived message from a minister or pastor or evangelist from your church where they had made fun of a member of their church? How about if it was you personally they had made fun of?

To give an example: "There's this lady at my church, she's a great saint, but this lady looks like a linebacker, has a moustache & everything. You know and she's single for obvious reasons. She's ugly but kind." The minister continues to puff out his cheeks, and try to give you a visual of what the person must look like.

How about if he got so carried away with the story he was telling that he slipped up and said the person's first name? Then quickly realized the mistake, asking for the one taping the service to edit the message to remove the name.

It's tough to pass judgment without context. Did he describer her physical appearance to further some sort of point he was making in his sermon?

Aside from all that, becoming offended is the easiest thing in the world to do. We should all be as careful as possible not to cause offense, but we should all also be understanding that people make errors and harboring offense is immature and spiritually destructive.