Our church has been without a permanent pastor since April of 2009. The interim pastor started about a month after that. Attendance started to decline, but that's to be expected with changes. The IP has done his job, but the people want a permanent pastor. So much so that they're willing to vote for a pastor simply to have one. Any familiar with the story of the Israelites that wanted a king so they could be like the nations around them?
1 Samuel 8:5-7 (New King James Version)
5 and said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.”
6 But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” So Samuel prayed to the LORD. 7 And the LORD said to Samuel, “Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them.
8 According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt, even to this day—with which they have forsaken Me and served other gods—so they are doing to you also. 9 Now therefore, heed their voice. However, you shall solemnly forewarn them, and show them the behavior of the king who will reign over them.”
10 So Samuel told all the words of the LORD to the people who asked him for a king. 11 And he said, “This will be the behavior of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them for his own chariots and to be his horsemen, and some will run before his chariots. 12 He will appoint captains over his thousands and captains over his fifties, will set some to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and some to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. 13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers. 14 And he will take the best of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, and give them to his servants. 15 He will take a tenth of your grain and your vintage, and give it to his officers and servants. 16 And he will take your male servants, your female servants, your finest young men,[a] and your donkeys, and put them to his work. 17 He will take a tenth of your sheep. And you will be his servants. 18 And you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, and the LORD will not hear you in that day.”
19 Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, “No, but we will have a king over us, 20 that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.”
21 And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he repeated them in the hearing of the LORD. 22 So the LORD said to Samuel, “Heed their voice, and make them a king.”
And Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Every man go to his city.”
Do verses 11-18 sound like another nation with which we are all familiar? If only our king simply took 10% of our sheep!
God allowed this to happen for a reason. I was convicted to be obedient to what I felt God telling me to do, and I suppose that means my obedience doesn't if I don't get my way. Our family will give him the benefit of the doubt, but we've been feeling separated from this church for some time. Perhaps this is the final message from God to us regarding leaving? We shall see.
These things are so hard to go through! But I'm glad to hear you are going to give him the benefit of the doubt for a period of time to see how he does. But if he's been there over 1 1/2 already, chances are it won't change much. Should you feel that the elders or deacons won't listen, and you must leave, you should make an appt. with someone in authority and let them know why. My husband always appreciates it when a family will do that so that 1) we know they are actually leaving and not just MIA; 2) we understand why so that we can take it to the Lord in prayer and consider our part in the matter. It's not fun (and it shouldn't be!) because it's loosing not only a church, but a family, not to mention difficult to confront someone! Praying it goes well for you all!!
ReplyDeleteIt's not the IP that was voted in today, but a new candidate. I think people said yes just so they could have a permanent pastor. I took my concerns directly to the candidate last week and was basically told if I felt that way I should vote no on Sunday, because he definately wasn't the pastor I was looking for. His words. Didn't even address my concerns. Called the associate pastor to ask what to do and was referred to the chairman on the elder board. Talked to him, but it didn't really go anywhere. If we leave, it will most likely be because we move out of the area.
ReplyDeleteI'm honestly not familiar with how pastors are chosen, but that would be very upsetting to have your concerns trivialized. I hope things work out for you, and for the best.
ReplyDeleteTeek-this is the first time I've been through it, and I believe it's different based on the bylaws of the church. It's been an interesting experience!
ReplyDeleteHi thanks for sharring this
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