A Weblog Dedicated to the Discussion of the Christian Faith and 21st Century Life
A Weblog Dedicated to the Discussion of the Christian Faith and 21st Century Life ___ I do not seek to understand that I may believe, but I believe in order to understand. For this also I believe, –that unless I believed, I should not understand.-- St. Anselm of Canterbury (1033-1109)
1) We're not "afraid of change", we are scared-bunny-in-the-headlight terrified of change. Some people even think change is immoral. After all, God doesn't change so the church shouldn't change either.
2) We say that the we don't actually believe that attendance is the measurement of a congregation's faithfulness to Christ but, if actions speak louder than words, we really do believe it.
3) Being a pastor is the only job where people think your education and experience makes you dumber than them and possibly more unqualified than they are to lead.
1. Yes, the other one is that people oppose change because they think it is a negative assessment of the past (the way they have done it), when all that is being suggested is that perhaps it is time to move on to something different because of changing circumstances.
2. You are right, and I readily confess that I fall into this one.
3. Can you elaborate because I am not sure what you are saying here. I am not sure I have encountered this one.
Elaboration on number three: the conviction that going to Seminary makes a person lose their faith, therefore your pastor may not be a "real Christian". Perhaps it's not such a feature in the US. I had a colleague in theology college ("seminary") who was actually a brilliant student. He had people from his home church praying that he would fail so that he didn't lose his faith.
Or as a friend of mine recently wrote on Facebook - a Roman Catholic female Chaplain with an M.Div. - "WHY do people think it is ok to say "I can do your job because I have life experience" and NO credentials, like I sweat out getting, as well as experience? Would you say the same thing to your doctor?"
4 comments:
Two elaborations and an addition:
1) We're not "afraid of change", we are scared-bunny-in-the-headlight terrified of change. Some people even think change is immoral. After all, God doesn't change so the church shouldn't change either.
2) We say that the we don't actually believe that attendance is the measurement of a congregation's faithfulness to Christ but, if actions speak louder than words, we really do believe it.
3) Being a pastor is the only job where people think your education and experience makes you dumber than them and possibly more unqualified than they are to lead.
Pam,
1. Yes, the other one is that people oppose change because they think it is a negative assessment of the past (the way they have done it), when all that is being suggested is that perhaps it is time to move on to something different because of changing circumstances.
2. You are right, and I readily confess that I fall into this one.
3. Can you elaborate because I am not sure what you are saying here. I am not sure I have encountered this one.
Elaboration on number three: the conviction that going to Seminary makes a person lose their faith, therefore your pastor may not be a "real Christian". Perhaps it's not such a feature in the US. I had a colleague in theology college ("seminary") who was actually a brilliant student. He had people from his home church praying that he would fail so that he didn't lose his faith.
Or as a friend of mine recently wrote on Facebook - a Roman Catholic female Chaplain with an M.Div. - "WHY do people think it is ok to say "I can do your job because I have life experience" and NO credentials, like I sweat out getting, as well as experience? Would you say the same thing to your doctor?"
Pam,
OK... yes, it is an issue here, unfortunately... I just didn't understand what you were saying.
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