The STRANGEST Spiritual Gifts

[Cow Poke]

On the other hand, I knew a man who was well taught but said he wasn't a fruit inspector. It may have been his way of dealing with at the time our current pastor who changed his positions as the fads in the Christian church changed. I get you can't be nitpicky on every little detail, especially in the nonessentials, but I can't see the pastor being a position that is exempt from correction.

This is good stuff, so lemme come back to this.... I OFTEN point out to my church that Matt 18:15ff ALSO applies to the Pastor - he is not exempt from it. But it ALSO should be applied in the same manner as the rest of that "Church Discipline" section --- to win somebody back, not to drive them off.

[mossrose]

I suspect from the father of all lies. He actually had a notebook, and took notes on the sermon, and would offer damning condemnation like "you said 1 John for that one reference, but it was actually 2 John....."

(I will often say something like, "and the verse about [such and so] - I think it's Romans 4...." --- clearly not intended as a "thus sayeth the LORD".)

Yuh.

[Cow Poke]

Oh, and bacon.

[mossrose]

I miss Jed.

[Sparko]

I has the spearchul gift of attracting trolls. And forgetfulness. That last one comes in handy a lot.

[rogue06]

I need to put on my glasses. I read your post as it is below.

Absolutely agreed -- I just don't see that - as he claimed - to be a Spiritual Gift. Discernment? Yes. Teaching, Extortion.... yes.

[Thoughtful Monk]

This is good stuff, so lemme come back to this.... I OFTEN point out to my church that Matt 18:15ff ALSO applies to the Pastor - he is not exempt from it. But it ALSO should be applied in the same manner as the rest of that "Church Discipline" section --- to win somebody back, not to drive them off.

So easy to say and yet hard to do right. Probably no wonder many churches neglect discipline.

[Cow Poke]

I need to put on my glasses. I read your post as it is below.

Now, if that had been said by the Pirate...

[Cow Poke]

So easy to say and yet hard to do right. Probably no wonder many churches neglect discipline.

This is why, every church I have been in, I manage to preach that passage at least once a year, and refer to it multiple times - ALWAYS laying down the groundwork about it being for the purpose of salvaging a relationship, not severing one.