Pastors Leading the flock???)

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Skip wries:
>
>In the church I attend, the Pastor has several personal beliefs.  
>Before
>I started attending this church, I talked at great length to him about
>what I expected and what he expected.  He isn't my perfect Pastor, we
>disagree on many topics; but in this area he is the "least of the
>evils".  His wife doesn't like my constant "challanges" (in private),
>but he appreciates being "kept on his toes".  When I first started
>attending here he had a policy of no men with beards will teach/preach
>from the platform _or_ hold an office in the church.  As many know I
>have a beard and have had a beard for several years.  This lead to a
>discussion, a few months ago he had a bearded man teaching/preaching 
>on
>Sunday night (no not me, he hasn't lost his mind, yet).  I used to be 
>a
>cell group leader (had to stop now that my job has me who knows where
>who knows when) beard and all; I still teach the lessons if I am home 
>on
>the caregroup nights.  What happened?  Someone questioned the rules
>wanting a Biblical answer and a lifetime of preconcieved ideas went
>away.
>
>
>SKip

Skip,

I must say I was moved by your post.  You want very many of the same
things we all want.  My husband ( who is my pastor) and I also like to be
challenged because it makes us better, thinking, people.  What grieves me
is that we *cannot* do away with holiness standards and be pleasing to
God.  I'm not debating that things can't be changed from time to time but
we can *never* be like the world and be pleasing to God.  Holiness is the
very heartbeat of God.  I have learned that as a person, I will never be
perfect, the church will never be perfect.  So do I give up trying to
make things better?  Not on your life.  What do I do?  I try to know God.
 I try to be pleasing to Him.  No one has perfect understanding of the
scriptures.  

What I see as a major flaw in thinking is that people equate no standards
with all the wonderful things you stated above.  Why?  Because often
standards are our main point of contention and pride.  What I am saying
is that if we as a people would pray, fast and seek the face of God
instead of trying to remedy these things in the flesh we would succeed. 
We could be more like the church you want.

Holiness is close to my heart.  I wouldn't want to give it up at all. 
Where does all the contention come from?  Standards?  NO!!  They come
from the flesh.  Am I saying that if we " Walked in the Spirit and not in
the flesh" that we should be unthinking idiots?  A thousand times, no! 
What grieves me to no end is the thought that if we were rid of standards
that we would be free of contention and more Godly.  It's just not true.

I really appreciate your post, Skip.  You desire what we all do.  But how
are we going to get there? ( Not perfect, but closer.)   "  If my people,
which are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek
my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven,
and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."  2 Chr. 7:14

Lynne Yohnk  

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