Simple Church Minute 48--on the modern pastoral position

48—why the modern pastoral position is wrong

THIS IS SPOKEN AT A REALLY FAST PACE

My name is Tom; this is Simple Church Minute.

            Today, 16 reasons why the modern concept of the pastoral office is scripturally and ethically wrong.

1.  The distinction between clergy and laity is unscriptural.

2.  One man ministry prevents mutual edification

3.  It contradicts scripture on the priesthood of all believers.

4.  It prevents Jesus from being Head of the Church, directing worship

5.  If all the above, then God’s eternal purpose for everyone is hampered

6.  The pastor is expected to be corporation CEO, director of strategic planning, the one who identifies and trains leaders, head fundraiser, manager of staff and volunteers, mediator of conflicts, in charge of discipline, casting of corporate vision, speaker, counselor, head administrator, and public face of the organization.  This person, therefore, is a high candidate for burnout, depression, stress, emotional breakdown.

7 & 8.  They are under pressure to have a perfect family and perfect marriage.

9.  Most work the long hours of an executive.

10.  Most don’t have a close friend, and many are under orders to not make one within the church.

11.  Half feel inadequate for the job.

12.  The position demands a higher ethical standard of ethics than doctors, lawyers, politicians, and teachers.

13.  It is expected that one is entertaining, friendly, well-dressed, of good behavior, and the person and his family are popular.

14.  The pastor is expected to shoulder the “one another” exhortations by himself for the whole church

15.  Denominational pastors have to maneuver with organizational politics, run in many organizations by officials who are not believers.

16.  Because of all of the above, the position creates pressure toward dishonesty and private destructive behaviors.

            You can email me at simplechurchminute@gmail.com. For more info on organic church*, see http://www.simplechurch.com/ or locally at (local website).

On the recording, at this time, it says, “house churches.”  While that phrasing is OK, to say “organic church” is better.  I comment on that in blip 94.