The following post is from this past November:
I've had the following experience a few times over the years. I will be corresponding with someone who lives in another state who desperately needs a church where they will hear the cross of Jesus Christ preached from the pulpit. I'll then spend hours if necessary researching every church near them. I need to know what the church's 'statement of faith' is. Is it just a bunch of words.....or does it seem heartfelt? What kind of feeling do I get from the church website....is it fun and games.....'come be a part of our family'.....or is it a sound Christian church? I most definitely need to know at least the titles of recent sermons.
I've gone so far as to contact the pastor....for I've learned the hard way that I just can't tell someone to find a church in this denomination or that denomination. If one is just looking to being a part of the church.....meet some new people......or maybe they need a good youth group for your teen.....then they are in good shape....for these churches are everywhere....but if they're drowning and looking for a lifesaver thrown their way....as I was thirty-some years ago....well it's just not that easy to find such a church.
I've often wondered if the problem is that pastors come to the point where they think that their learning is done....and where they think that no unlearned common Christian in a pew can point out mistakes that they are making. This much I know for certain....we simple everyday Christians are afforded no such luxury as thinking that our learning is over.....and I am so thankful for that! So if we are in a position where we must learn and grow as the years pass....or we whither and die....why would our shepherds be any different? One would think that they would study and plead even more than we do since so many sheep depend on them! One would think?
I've had the following experience a few times over the years. I will be corresponding with someone who lives in another state who desperately needs a church where they will hear the cross of Jesus Christ preached from the pulpit. I'll then spend hours if necessary researching every church near them. I need to know what the church's 'statement of faith' is. Is it just a bunch of words.....or does it seem heartfelt? What kind of feeling do I get from the church website....is it fun and games.....'come be a part of our family'.....or is it a sound Christian church? I most definitely need to know at least the titles of recent sermons.
I've gone so far as to contact the pastor....for I've learned the hard way that I just can't tell someone to find a church in this denomination or that denomination. If one is just looking to being a part of the church.....meet some new people......or maybe they need a good youth group for your teen.....then they are in good shape....for these churches are everywhere....but if they're drowning and looking for a lifesaver thrown their way....as I was thirty-some years ago....well it's just not that easy to find such a church.
I've often wondered if the problem is that pastors come to the point where they think that their learning is done....and where they think that no unlearned common Christian in a pew can point out mistakes that they are making. This much I know for certain....we simple everyday Christians are afforded no such luxury as thinking that our learning is over.....and I am so thankful for that! So if we are in a position where we must learn and grow as the years pass....or we whither and die....why would our shepherds be any different? One would think that they would study and plead even more than we do since so many sheep depend on them! One would think?
