tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post4408607507634609774..comments2024-03-29T04:31:15.219-05:00Comments on Pastoral Meanderings: That is not how we do things around here. . .Pastor Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653554256101480140noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-81742052087158668152015-09-17T20:31:36.334-05:002015-09-17T20:31:36.334-05:00Jim, I said that you called the false dichotomy ou...Jim, I said that you called the false dichotomy out rather than proclaimed it. I've taken a lot of flack from thise who, on the one hand, oppose church-growth nonsense as much as I do, but fail to see that being friendly to seekers is not the same as being seeker-friendly - as if "Word and Sacrament" were some spell to bring thousands of Teutons into our pews. Methinks we're on the same side.Kirk Skeptichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06142889734004402296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-8522474593938037672015-09-16T12:20:28.600-05:002015-09-16T12:20:28.600-05:00I did not mean to imply any dichotomy. Word &...I did not mean to imply any dichotomy. Word & Sacrament, outreach, kindness and hospitality belong together. None of these excludes any other in the list. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04314080476382907548noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-45183933522725035492015-09-16T09:15:23.577-05:002015-09-16T09:15:23.577-05:00Again, the false dichotomy between Word & Sacr...Again, the false dichotomy between Word & Sacrament and outreach, well descried by Jim Davis. I know of nothing in Scripture or the FC prohibiting kindness & hsopitality, but you'd thing there was one given the deadness of all too many of our congregations.Kirk Skeptichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06142889734004402296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-18838394847337456602015-09-16T07:17:33.934-05:002015-09-16T07:17:33.934-05:00" The church grows through the proclamation o..." The church grows through the proclamation of the Word and the administration of the sacraments. We don not need gimmicks or to run to the evangelicals to borrow and put together an outreach program that is long on style but pitifully short on Lutheran substance."<br />This should read: " The church grows through the proclamation of the Word and the administration of the sacraments. We can together an outreach program that is long on style and solid on Biblical teaching. We can interact and actively work with the community that we are part of."<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04314080476382907548noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-40626910871584285492015-09-15T12:45:37.402-05:002015-09-15T12:45:37.402-05:00Dear Anonymous, I have to disagree a bit. Jesus di...Dear Anonymous, I have to disagree a bit. Jesus did gain following by healing sick, feeding the hungry which is crisis management. As Christians we can't walk on water. However, I believe the world's biggest problem/sin is greed. Therefore, I attempt to help people selflessly and spread good will to encourage faith. I'm not always highly successful, but that is my constant struggle. These articles are reminders for those who care of what the bigger picture of Christians may need to focus on for ourselves or others. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00558640821622038008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-88885321935734955762015-09-15T12:45:17.153-05:002015-09-15T12:45:17.153-05:00Dear Anonymous, I have to disagree a bit. Jesus di...Dear Anonymous, I have to disagree a bit. Jesus did gain following by healing sick, feeding the hungry which is crisis management. As Christians we can't walk on water. However, I believe the world's biggest problem/sin is greed. Therefore, I attempt to help people selflessly and spread good will to encourage faith. I'm not always highly successful, but that is my constant struggle. These articles are reminders for those who care of what the bigger picture of Christians may need to focus on for ourselves or others. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00558640821622038008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-47427530681237333212015-09-15T10:39:30.091-05:002015-09-15T10:39:30.091-05:00I think that Pastors and churches do fall into pat...I think that Pastors and churches do fall into patterns, as we all do individually, and talking about and examining our actions is a good thing. However, I do not believe it is productive to look for problems where they do not exist, or waste time trying to change things that do not need to be changed. Wisdom sometimes means not changing something just out of boredom or to try something new. In the matter of a congregations expenses, I believe the Pastor and designated financial trustees should be upfront about shortages in funds and giving. The congregation sometimes needs a direct appeal, like this; " Brothers and sisters, we really need a new boiler for the sanctuary, and our general fund for building repairs is nearly drained. We are asking if you each can increase your giving, and don't forget we are trying to keep our mission work going." Communicate! John Joseph Flanaganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06596324816480709495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-5263073987638913822015-09-15T08:43:41.271-05:002015-09-15T08:43:41.271-05:00Precisely.
The church is very good at being react...Precisely.<br /><br />The church is very good at being reactive. Whenever there is a problem, we think writing a newsletter article or preaching on it will solve the problem. The church, however, is not in the problem solving business.<br /><br />Just be the church. Preach. Teach. Crisis management was not the way of Christ, nor should it be the way of his disciples.<br /><br />Great post.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com