A good Pastor?

Question

perhaps an oxymoron...but this one at least has some brains.

http://articles.news.aol.com/news/_a/disowning-conservative-politics-is/20060729195809990004?ncid=NWS00010000000001

The requests came from church members and visitors alike: Would he please announce a rally against gay marriage during services? Would he introduce a politician from the pulpit? Could members set up a table in the lobby promoting their anti-abortion work? Would the church distribute “voters’ guides” that all but endorsed Republican candidates? And with the country at war, please couldn’t the church hang an American flag in the sanctuary?

After refusing each time, Mr. Boyd finally became fed up, he said. Before the last presidential election, he preached six sermons called “The Cross and the Sword” in which he said the church should steer clear of politics, give up moralizing on sexual issues, stop claiming the United States as a “Christian nation” and stop glorifying American military campaigns.

Answer 1

I agree with him.

I am wondering about his congregation though. Why did they want all those things.
Were they listening to the radio preachers?
By the way, have you heard the saying prince of power of the air?
Then, we are on the air, send us your money.

Answer 2

I would describe this pastor as weak. My pastor does not spend a lot of time on politics, however, he has given his opinion and states it is his opinion. He does however encourage us to vote after we prayed about it. He does not promote any candiate in particular. He simply encourages us to use our right to vote yet in a Godly way. Not Godly, as in "vote this way and you will please God" but asks we vote as we feel the Lord is leading us. We do have an American flag in our sancuary and always have. We are proud Americans. We are proud and thankful to live in a country were we can worship openly without fear of persecution. Chrisitans are Americans also with rights and priviledges that we are thankful for. My church is very patrotic. We support the troops within and outside of our church membership. We support the freedom that we have been allowed to worship freely and spread the Word. We KNOW that our nation was founded on religious freedom. We honor those brave Christian forefathers who fought to give us that right. Every other group has a political interest.....why should Christians back away? We have the same rights. I am not saying that churches should become mini-policitcal machines. We have more important business like spreading the gospel of Christ. However, we should not back down politically. We have every right to assemble and use our right to vote. This is the same right that gives gays the right to petition the government for their rights. Rights work both ways.

Oh and "good Pastor" is not an oxymoron. Pastors are human and often make mistakes. Those who make serious mistakes should loose thier pulpits. However, their are still honorable humble pastors out there. The Lord has blessed me by leading my family to a church with such a pastor.

Answer 3

I think he is both right and wrong all at the same time. I personally don't have any problem with a church taking a stance on a political issue provided that it is an issue that the church would take a stance on regardless of politics.

For example, gay marriage is a topic that most churches have an opinion on regardless of the politics of the issue. And I think it's okay for the church to take a theological stance on a political issue. Same goes for murder--if someone tried to legalize murder, I think it would be okay for churches to speak out against it.

If the issue is not really covered in theology (such as traffic laws, business zoning, taxes, etc) then they really don't have any reason to take a stance.

Answer 4

Interesting tactic. Of course, there is another motive here: if a group takes a political stance, such as endorsing a policy or a candidate, they lose their tax break as a "religious group". Since churches milk all the money they can off of their worshippers by deceiving them and making them feel morally vulnerable, needy, and inferior, it'd be a sin to actually "pay" taxes like any other legitimate buisness,

Answer 5

Yeah, its kinda like everything Christians do is in God's name, weather it be right or wrong. I look at it as doing things in Gods name, in vain. Nothing man tries to do will change God's plan. His word tells us clearly what the habitation of mankind will be like in the end times. God is in control, and He knows what He is doing, and what the outcome will be. Man cannot change yesterday, today, or tomorrow. All he can do is point the way to the cross, and the results that the cross will bring. But the cross should never be used as force. We need to learn what we can do and let God do the rest. Most of all we need to quit telling others who do not agree with us, that their going to hell. The Bible says it is appointed for man to die once, and after that, the judgment. But it is Gods judgment, not ours. Judgment means to make a decision, and only God can do that. God works in mysterious ways, and we will one day see just what His mysterious ways are. I would not have walked out of his church.

Answer 6

it is a good question. If the Bible mentions Christians having/following pastors, i have yet to go back throughout it. i comprehend worshiping them isn't Biblical. We Christians, because the church, are meant to shop on with Jesus, loving and practise one yet another as iron sprucing iron. no longer particularly particular the position the pastor idea got here from, yet. quite, pastors who must have a level from an "accepted Bible college." all of it looks somewhat off to me.

Answer 7

I see no mention of Jesus/God.

Maybe that's what he had in mind for church service!

Answer 8

Ephesians 4

1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. 9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. 17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, 18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: 19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. 20 But ye have not so learned Christ; 21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. 25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. 26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27 Neither give place to the devil. 28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. 29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. 30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Answer 9

to you he may have brains but to me he is a failure as a Pastor.....

Answer 10

NOT NEEDED