Pastors Leading the flock???)

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>On 09/15/98 at 06:48 AM, "Caryle Clear" <cpcj@sprynet.com> said:
>
>>Pastors are
>>in positions of authority over us, period.  That authority is only
>>removed by God himself, when God sees fit.  If there is a serious
>>problem, get a group together and pray fervently that God will
>>intervene.  It does no good for the new people in the congregation to
>>see or hear or *infer* a lot of rebellion against the pastor.  If the
>>pastor is dead wrong, and you still obey (knowing in your heart it is
>>incorrect), who will be held accountable? Answer: the pastor.
>
>Am I to assume you are going to stop trying to convert anyone, since
>that would be instigating rebellion against their pastor.  Are you also
>saying that since Mr Baptist is following his pastors directions he will
>be okay?  Is my wife to go back to church with her mother knowing the
>pastor is dead wrong?


I think it is quite clear that is not what I meant.  The end of my post,
where I briefly mentioned the exact scenario is snipped.  I'm not saying
"Mr. Baptist" is ok.  I'm saying his *pastor* will be the one held
accountable for *deceiving* "Mr. Baptist" if the pastor *knows the truth*,
yet does not teach it for some reason.  It was simply an example of pastoral
accountability.  Where did you get the idea that I'm advocating not
witnessing (thoroughly confused on that one)?  The pastors in general I'm
referring to are Holy Ghost filled Apostolic pastors (excepting the one
example at the end).

It is incorrect to undermine the pastor's authority over a few trivial
issues in the presence of the new believer.  The Holy Ghost filled pastor
will likewise be held accountable for "deceiving" his congregation if a
standard he enforces is against God's will.  My point was, it is not our
place to "fix" the problem in place of God.  If God intervenes and corrects
the situation (without the physical interference of members of the church),
a new (or spiritually struggling) individual is less likely to perceive the
situation incorrectly and assume it was the congregation who "corrected" the
pastor.  As far as matters of their soul, it is very important that people
learn to listen to the pastor (or whoever God uses for his mouthpiece),
rather than have their mind "wondering" if this is really God's will.  If it
turns out that it is not, God can work it out so the *right* is uplifted,
and the *wrong* is diminished.  All we are asked to do is pray.


Anyway,
Anneliese