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According to our Reformed theology pastors are most closely tied to the office of prophets. The more I study the prophets the more that I understand that and the more it scares me. On the one hand prophets are blessed because they weren't employed by a specific congregation who houses them, pays their wages, provides insurance, and helps with their retirement. On the other hand, when I hear how the prophets were treated I can't imagine that sort of life, especially while having a family.

As I spend more years at the current church (which is my first as an ordained minister) I find more and more battles and subjects that aren't worth my fighting and discussing. We know that we can't change people and it becomes painfully obvious in council meetings or when the same person keeps "discussing" the same issue with you for years. I have a hard time with this because I am called to bring the Word of God to them even when it is hard to hear, even when they disagree with it. So, I would like to ask two things here. First, what do you do with issues that cause more problems and drive a wedge between yourself and the congregation (not just individuals)? Second, what are issues that you can't talk about because even the mention of them brings a deluge of anger?

Some of the items that I have found I can't talk about are social justice (after all, I'm told it is related to socialism and therefore it leads to Hitler somehow), the UN, the second Sunday Worship service, politics (especially anything related to Democrats), and Christian School (particularly that it is not evil to send your child to a public school).  These are just a few. What about you?

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