tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6821288.post7499750473676859150..comments2023-11-05T04:01:05.199-05:00Comments on Phil Wilson's Blog: Why Ministers Matter and Don'tPhilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11540149196113374329noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6821288.post-19545921589169576602010-03-28T09:43:25.923-04:002010-03-28T09:43:25.923-04:00I agree. The Church is the corporate body of belie...I agree. The Church is the corporate body of believers - wherever they many be - the office, a construction site, a school, etc. The minister is God's Holy Spirit and the Preacher is God's Word in the Bible. Our cohesion is not built on the creation - but on the Creator.Hepzibah The Watchmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17459404010681683434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6821288.post-27263113402052091532010-01-19T15:09:04.425-05:002010-01-19T15:09:04.425-05:00Frank, I'm not anonymous as someone who just l...Frank, I'm not anonymous as someone who just lobs grenades for kicks. It's because I care about the very people I'm criticising, and I have no interest in hurting them, as they have done nothing to hurt me. I have identified myself to Phil and he knows who the comment came from. Honestly, part of the reason I left the comment is because I'm shocked Phil doesn't recognize this himself, because I'm right.<br /><br />Also, I have gone to 2 of the elders and 1 staff member with my concerns. So whether I comment anonymously or take it up with the leadership essentially makes no difference--nothing changes either way. I feel no comfort either way.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6821288.post-75877112727448141102010-01-19T12:07:28.879-05:002010-01-19T12:07:28.879-05:00Anonymous,
I have to say to you that you really ...Anonymous, <br /><br />I have to say to you that you really should take up these valid concerns of yours with the elders and other leaders of the congregation. As difficult and painful as it might be to do that, it's only right. And, if it is done in the Spirit of Christ, it has the potential to bring growth to you and those you question and confront. <br /><br />To make an anonymous comment about these matters can provide a bit of temporary comfort. But it will not change the things that you say you care about.Frank Bellizzihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07949066335378651585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6821288.post-48226863483226307592009-12-31T15:58:02.956-05:002009-12-31T15:58:02.956-05:00I think you're right, Phil, except my observat...I think you're right, Phil, except my observation from my personal experience over the 12 years I've been at O.C. would be not that ministry continues here regardless of whether or not we have a paid preacher, but that it continues NOT to happen, as usual. The glaring exception being outreach fueled by Doug Sanders. Internally, we are nothing short of an embarassment to the notion of church. This begins and ends with our elders, who intend well and talk a big game, but are woefully and shamefully short on follow through. Marriages litterally crumbling right in front of their eyes, and not even a phone call from a single elder. Members caught up in inapproprite relationships being forced to worship "off campus". Bizarre. ShamefulAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6821288.post-25771945892980540972009-12-15T18:30:18.500-05:002009-12-15T18:30:18.500-05:00I witnessed the same thing in our church many year...I witnessed the same thing in our church many years back. Without a pastor we looked inward and found speakers and services we did not know existed, I think churches need to always be developing themselves from their own fellowship; speakers and teachers. In fact I feel that the 'pastors' main focus should be in doing exactly this, developing and growing people for the ministry, rather than being a talking head, or event planner/marriage counselor/marketing strategist/hospice worker. Most modern pastors are, or expected to be all of these. Hire a person/s for this position but leave the teaching of the Word to the 'pastor'. I feel this is why the Church today is so void of knowledge and the power to save and restore.<br />Acts 6:2 So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, "It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables.3 "Therefore, brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task.4 "But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word."5 The statement found approval with the whole congregation; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch.6 And these they brought before the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them.7 The word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith.zeloslogoshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16535034300554211630noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6821288.post-12172299172715503852009-12-15T18:04:02.676-05:002009-12-15T18:04:02.676-05:00I witnessed the same thing in our church many year...I witnessed the same thing in our church many years back. Without a pastor we looked inward and found speakers and services we did not know existed, I think churches need to always be developing themselves from their own fellowship; speakers and teachers. In fact I feel that the 'pastors' main focus should be in doing exactly this, developing and growing people for the ministry, rather than being a talking head, or event planner/marriage counselor/marketing strategist/hospice worker. Most modern pastors are, or expected to be all of these. Hire a person/s for this position but leave the teaching of the Word to the 'pastor'. I feel this is why the Church today is so void of knowledge and the power to save and restore.<br />Acts 6:2 So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, "It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables.3 "Therefore, brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task.4 "But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word."5 The statement found approval with the whole congregation; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch.6 And these they brought before the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them.7 The word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith.zeloslogoshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16535034300554211630noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6821288.post-5944604741867767722009-11-23T10:20:11.548-05:002009-11-23T10:20:11.548-05:00Phil,
This is a wonderfully, thought provoking pi...Phil,<br /><br />This is a wonderfully, thought provoking piece.Doug Younghttp://www.douglasryoung.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6821288.post-46463127709310802672009-11-22T21:11:40.396-05:002009-11-22T21:11:40.396-05:00In light of something I witnessed today, this post...In light of something I witnessed today, this post is quite timely and I offer a very hearty, "AMEN!"<br /><br />(sorry to be cryptic, it would be imprudent to say anymore publicly)<br /><br />MaliaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com