Can Vultures Really Pray for a Pastor?
Check this out from Bob Hostetler’s blog “Desperate Pastor“! Then read Hebrews 13:14, “Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.”
How often do we make a leader’s job joyful? Our culture is one of making trouble for authority. Everywhere you look people are encouraged to question authority. This idea is nowhere in scripture, yet most churches have an adversarial role between pastor and congregation (BTW, did you know that a flock of vultures is known as a “committee”…hmmm). Knowing how optimistic most pastors are when they start out I doubt that the problem is primarily with them.
When a congregation, or any individual, rebels against its pastor they are really rebelling against God. In his letter to the Roman church Paul says that there is no authority over us other than what God has put there. So, if you have a problem with the authority over you the first place to complain is to God, but only after you have also thanked God for His placing that hedge of protection over you.
Here, in Hebrews, Paul goes a step further under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Don’t just begrudgingly submit, but make being a leader a joy.
Tags: being a leader, bob hostetler, Churches, flock, god, hebrews 13, holy spirit, inspiration, pastors, rebels, roman church, scripture, vultures
Hey, Joe, thanks for reading my blog….and plugging my blog. I’ve added yours to my Google Reader!
Thanks, Bob. Did you ever get any other replies to your blogs about using twitter, facebook, iphone, etc. in ministry? I read some of the on-line comment, but would be interested in what feedback you’ve received off-line.