He was preaching tonight about various things, but mentioned that there are people who take one verse out of the Bible and make a doctrine out of it. He went on to say that the Bible says in the mouth of two or three witnesses that all words should be established and that people don't need a list of rules to attend his church.
Now, before some of you take in a deep breath to hold for 30 seconds, let me say that he also said he preaches the Bible, and if it's not in there, he's not preaching it. I was waiting.....out of curiosity......if he was going to mention standards in any way.
He did. He said that people can come to church as they are. Doesn't matter to him if women cut their hair or wear pants, only that they come to church and be saved. He said that it's not our works that save us anyway.
Hold on. I heard a couple of you inhale deeply and quite loudly.
He mentioned again that he preached the Bible. Now, knowing what I know of him, I know that he believes in standards, so I'm waiting for him to say something contrary to that.
Well, he didn't. He wasn't obvious about it, but he did make the statement that he preaches the Bible and if people don't obey, he's not going to force the issue, but that they are welcome to his church regardless.
My dilemma is that I've been thinking about attending another church soon. However, the nearest one is 40 miles away. I was thinking of leaving for several different reasons but nothing really to do with standards.
In the 18 months I've been attending here, I've never talked to him on a personal basis. He's not one to be pushy, and I respect that, but I feel that he's not too interested by not talking to me.
Some have asked if I requested a meeting with him. No, I haven't. I'm not good at that kind of thing. I'm used to pastors wanting to talk to me and I comply with a meeting. No biggie.
However, after hearing this message tonight, I'd really like to talk to him. I want to be careful and not sound confronting or accusational or whatever, but I'm interested in hearing him explain how he doesn't believe people should make a salvational doctrine out of one verse, but he does that with standards issues, if he even realizes it.
I'm also not sure if changing churches is a good idea at this time. There are other things going on with my children that I feel might be detrimental if I were to change right now. A week ago, I felt it was the right thing to do. Right now, I don't feel it's time.
Anyway, I'm just unsure as to what to do. But I do fully believe in listening to what God has to say, and I will just have to wait on Him to decide for me.
__________________
I've gone and done it now! I'm on Facebook!!!
HO...Changing churches is not always the answer...
Communicate with him would be my suggestion... it may make all the difference in the world....
to simply switch is ufair to both of you...
My reason isn't because of standard issues, especially since I'd be attending another UPC church.
There are several things going on. Nothing salvational, but things that are disturbing me. I guess it was because of how I was raised.
Just to mention one of those things....
He compares himself and the church to other pastors and their churches. If they do something that is working to make their churches better and bring people in, he wants to try it on his church.
Now, I'm not totally against that, but in doing that, he is often implementing new ideas and changing things. For me, it's quite confusing.
One of those things is involving children in almost everything. He has all the children who ride the bus eat breakfast when they arrive. This means they are late to service and walk in for about 15 minutes. To me, this is very distracting.
After he sings a few songs, he has people come to get prayed for. He calls the children up (keep in mind that most of them are bus kids who's parents don't attend and never have) to pray for people. This is a good idea if there were adults to guide the children. Instead, it looks like a zoo up there, and very disorganized. The kids just don't know what to do.
He has the kids line up in the front of the church and sing 'I am a Friend of God'. This is very cool and I really enjoy it. He passes the mic around and the kids take turns singing in it. This is very special and the kids behave while doing this.
He now has started doing a skit that lasts for about 5-10 minutes involving adults and a topic that is over the kids' heads. He did this last week for the first time and when the kids clapped, along with a few adults, he admonished them for it, stating that it was very serious and not something to be clapped for. What else are kids supposed to do after a skit?
The kids are in the sanctuary for about an hour before being dismissed to their classes. By this time, there are kids laying on the floor from boredom, and they are allowed to go in and out without anyone directing them. I have found kids in the kitchen looking for something additional to eat as there are no adults down there and nobody is tracking them to make sure they are only going to the bathroom or whatever.
It's getting to the point where I don't even want to go to SS anymore. I can't take the distractions. When I was in church as a child, I was taught respect and there was no way I would leave the sanctuary for any reason without my mother. The ushers wouldn't let me anyway.
As I said, this is just one of several issues that bother me.
__________________
I've gone and done it now! I'm on Facebook!!!
Some have asked if I requested a meeting with him. No, I haven't. I'm not good at that kind of thing. I'm used to pastors wanting to talk to me and I comply with a meeting. No biggie.
Something seems to be left out here for me....why do Pastors want to talk to you? Why do you need to have the pastor want to talk to you? And if you really need to talk to him then you should be the one that tells him
My reason isn't because of standard issues, especially since I'd be attending another UPC church.
There are several things going on. Nothing salvational, but things that are disturbing me. I guess it was because of how I was raised.
Just to mention one of those things....
He compares himself and the church to other pastors and their churches. If they do something that is working to make their churches better and bring people in, he wants to try it on his church.
Now, I'm not totally against that, but in doing that, he is often implementing new ideas and changing things. For me, it's quite confusing.
One of those things is involving children in almost everything. He has all the children who ride the bus eat breakfast when they arrive. This means they are late to service and walk in for about 15 minutes. To me, this is very distracting.
After he sings a few songs, he has people come to get prayed for. He calls the children up (keep in mind that most of them are bus kids who's parents don't attend and never have) to pray for people. This is a good idea if there were adults to guide the children. Instead, it looks like a zoo up there, and very disorganized. The kids just don't know what to do.
He has the kids line up in the front of the church and sing 'I am a Friend of God'. This is very cool and I really enjoy it. He passes the mic around and the kids take turns singing in it. This is very special and the kids behave while doing this.
He now has started doing a skit that lasts for about 5-10 minutes involving adults and a topic that is over the kids' heads. He did this last week for the first time and when the kids clapped, along with a few adults, he admonished them for it, stating that it was very serious and not something to be clapped for. What else are kids supposed to do after a skit?
The kids are in the sanctuary for about an hour before being dismissed to their classes. By this time, there are kids laying on the floor from boredom, and they are allowed to go in and out without anyone directing them. I have found kids in the kitchen looking for something additional to eat as there are no adults down there and nobody is tracking them to make sure they are only going to the bathroom or whatever.
It's getting to the point where I don't even want to go to SS anymore. I can't take the distractions. When I was in church as a child, I was taught respect and there was no way I would leave the sanctuary for any reason without my mother. The ushers wouldn't let me anyway.
As I said, this is just one of several issues that bother me.
Is this pastor particularly young? Does he do everything too?
Something seems to be left out here for me....why do Pastors want to talk to you? Why do you need to have the pastor want to talk to you? And if you really need to talk to him then you should be the one that tells him
I am accustomed to pastors who, after someone has been attending their church for a while, request a meeting...like to get to know them or ask how they can assist if needed or whatever. It's just the experiences I've had with pastors, that's all.
One pastor I had requested a meeting to find out more about me and how I liked church and things like that. Another pastor I had requested a meeting with my husband and I and also had a word from God for us as well. He saw things in me that he wanted to help me with.
As for talking with him....well...I'm just not sure how to approach the situation.
__________________
I've gone and done it now! I'm on Facebook!!!
If you can't support the pastor vision the best thing to do get out... There are always places for needy christians.
Quote:
Originally Posted by HeavenlyOne
He was preaching tonight about various things, but mentioned that there are people who take one verse out of the Bible and make a doctrine out of it. He went on to say that the Bible says in the mouth of two or three witnesses that all words should be established and that people don't need a list of rules to attend his church.
Now, before some of you take in a deep breath to hold for 30 seconds, let me say that he also said he preaches the Bible, and if it's not in there, he's not preaching it. I was waiting.....out of curiosity......if he was going to mention standards in any way.
He did. He said that people can come to church as they are. Doesn't matter to him if women cut their hair or wear pants, only that they come to church and be saved. He said that it's not our works that save us anyway.
Hold on. I heard a couple of you inhale deeply and quite loudly.
He mentioned again that he preached the Bible. Now, knowing what I know of him, I know that he believes in standards, so I'm waiting for him to say something contrary to that.
Well, he didn't. He wasn't obvious about it, but he did make the statement that he preaches the Bible and if people don't obey, he's not going to force the issue, but that they are welcome to his church regardless.
My dilemma is that I've been thinking about attending another church soon. However, the nearest one is 40 miles away. I was thinking of leaving for several different reasons but nothing really to do with standards.
In the 18 months I've been attending here, I've never talked to him on a personal basis. He's not one to be pushy, and I respect that, but I feel that he's not too interested by not talking to me.
Some have asked if I requested a meeting with him. No, I haven't. I'm not good at that kind of thing. I'm used to pastors wanting to talk to me and I comply with a meeting. No biggie.
However, after hearing this message tonight, I'd really like to talk to him. I want to be careful and not sound confronting or accusational or whatever, but I'm interested in hearing him explain how he doesn't believe people should make a salvational doctrine out of one verse, but he does that with standards issues, if he even realizes it.
I'm also not sure if changing churches is a good idea at this time. There are other things going on with my children that I feel might be detrimental if I were to change right now. A week ago, I felt it was the right thing to do. Right now, I don't feel it's time.
Anyway, I'm just unsure as to what to do. But I do fully believe in listening to what God has to say, and I will just have to wait on Him to decide for me.
Quote:
My reason isn't because of standard issues, especially since I'd be attending another UPC church.
There are several things going on. Nothing salvational, but things that are disturbing me. I guess it was because of how I was raised.
Just to mention one of those things....
He compares himself and the church to other pastors and their churches. If they do something that is working to make their churches better and bring people in, he wants to try it on his church.
Now, I'm not totally against that, but in doing that, he is often implementing new ideas and changing things. For me, it's quite confusing.
One of those things is involving children in almost everything. He has all the children who ride the bus eat breakfast when they arrive. This means they are late to service and walk in for about 15 minutes. To me, this is very distracting.
After he sings a few songs, he has people come to get prayed for. He calls the children up (keep in mind that most of them are bus kids who's parents don't attend and never have) to pray for people. This is a good idea if there were adults to guide the children. Instead, it looks like a zoo up there, and very disorganized. The kids just don't know what to do.
He has the kids line up in the front of the church and sing 'I am a Friend of God'. This is very cool and I really enjoy it. He passes the mic around and the kids take turns singing in it. This is very special and the kids behave while doing this.
He now has started doing a skit that lasts for about 5-10 minutes involving adults and a topic that is over the kids' heads. He did this last week for the first time and when the kids clapped, along with a few adults, he admonished them for it, stating that it was very serious and not something to be clapped for. What else are kids supposed to do after a skit?
The kids are in the sanctuary for about an hour before being dismissed to their classes. By this time, there are kids laying on the floor from boredom, and they are allowed to go in and out without anyone directing them. I have found kids in the kitchen looking for something additional to eat as there are no adults down there and nobody is tracking them to make sure they are only going to the bathroom or whatever.
It's getting to the point where I don't even want to go to SS anymore. I can't take the distractions. When I was in church as a child, I was taught respect and there was no way I would leave the sanctuary for any reason without my mother. The ushers wouldn't let me anyway.
As I said, this is just one of several issues that bother me.
He's not young, no. And I'm not sure what you mean by 'does everything'.
Some pastors take on too much responsibility around the church. This pastor sounds.
Change is good, but too much change over a short period of time gives the impression of uncertainty...that the pastor really doesn't have a direction he is sure of going. Imagine being on a ship and the captain saying he is not sure they are headed in the right direction
Some pastors take on too much responsibility around the church. This pastor sounds.
Change is good, but too much change over a short period of time gives the impression of uncertainty...that the pastor really doesn't have a direction he is sure of going. Imagine being on a ship and the captain saying he is not sure they are headed in the right direction
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