Dr. David Miller, Director of the Princeton University Faith and Work Initiative (web site: princeton.edu/faithandwork), has titled a principle part of his work the Avadah Institute. He chose the name because while earning his doctorate in theology (on top of his doctorate in business) he learned that the Hebrew word sometimes translated as "praise" is also the word used in other contexts for "labor" which is also sometimes translated as "service" -- as in, "for me and my household we will serve the Lord." We are created for praise and we are created for work. When the two become integrated we call it "service." When we deprive individuals of an opportunity to work (in whatever way they are able) we rob them of their dignity and their creation calling.
We pride ouselves on being facidious about our theology (sometimes more so in our hymns than in our sermons), but if the cook is so carefull about having only the purest and healthiest ingredients in the meal that half of the family members leave to eat at McDonalds, haven't we defeated the purpose? Those abandoned Psalters (in the pew rack next to a non-denomintional alternative, or worse -- stacked in the basement) ought to tell us something.
Did you know that "scarecrows" occur in Jeremiah's description of false idols (at least in the NIV and NRSV - Jer. 10:5; KJV has "palm trees")? I remember doing a sermon on "Scarecrows in a mellon patch" once -- partly because both the sound and imagery of that phrase seemed irresistable. In that context it becomes a picture of something that is not very effective. Since Satan is not easily detered, the metaphor of armor in Eph. 6 (of "fortress" often in the Psalms) makes a stronger image. But any recognition of the need to defend against the attacks of Satan is worthwhile. Thanks for the reminder!
Good thoughts. I would add one more question in the last paragraph under "Governance": Is everything in the worship service (from the prelude to the postlude; from the offering to the announcement about the upcoming potluck) done in the context of "here is how we honor God and his family" instead of as an interruption, bit of entertainment, or commercial break?
My experience 17 years ago in losing a wife and daughter while serving a rural church in northern MI was probably atypical in that: 1) the church had experienced a number of tragic losses before mine (in other words, they had some experience in processing this), 2) rural farm families (in my experience) seem to be very tough while being fairly flexible -- they wouldn't survive in the farming industry if not both, and 3) we had a very positive relationship as church and pastor. They "pastored" me through the recovery and remarriage process. I stayed for another six years and left very amicablyand with their blessing to begin an experiment in workplace chaplaincy. It is true, however, that as a pastor you live in the public image and must be willing to be very transparent through this process in order to survive. I also had the support of a local Christian psychologist who later became a co-founder in the workplace chaplaincy ministry.
In summary, God saw that I had a support system outside of the church plus a lot of grace and encouragement from inside the church. Without both of these it could have been a very different story.
PS: I should not discount the fact that God brought a new person into my life whose own life was shaped by the premature loss of her first husband, and who was very humble and skillful in making herself much appreciated by the church and by my remaining three children.
You have posed the question as if the leader has three choices: A, B or remain neutral
When churches (or groups) experience conflict over choice A or choice B it may be because they (or their leadership) have not passionately sought out, defined, then repeatedly emphasized the ultimate goal X. If X (which it now occures to me can conveniently stand for Christ and his kingdom) is well defined in the current context -- we are called to be..... and to do... -- then discussions about whether route A, B, or C take us there more directly (and at what cost) can be more openly explored.
I suspect that the leader who allows himself/herself to be identified with A, B, C, D or E before the group has adequately explored them all and chosen one by a clear majority (while being frequently reminded of X) is the leader who goes down in flames or cleans up after a train wreck.
Eugene Peterson's book The Pastor: A Memoir has some good chapters on his honest struggling with a young church about what they should become (and at the same time what he as a pastor should become).
Posted in: Should the Government Support or Discourage Employment?
Dr. David Miller, Director of the Princeton University Faith and Work Initiative (web site: princeton.edu/faithandwork), has titled a principle part of his work the Avadah Institute. He chose the name because while earning his doctorate in theology (on top of his doctorate in business) he learned that the Hebrew word sometimes translated as "praise" is also the word used in other contexts for "labor" which is also sometimes translated as "service" -- as in, "for me and my household we will serve the Lord." We are created for praise and we are created for work. When the two become integrated we call it "service." When we deprive individuals of an opportunity to work (in whatever way they are able) we rob them of their dignity and their creation calling.
Posted in: The Old Rugged Cross
We pride ouselves on being facidious about our theology (sometimes more so in our hymns than in our sermons), but if the cook is so carefull about having only the purest and healthiest ingredients in the meal that half of the family members leave to eat at McDonalds, haven't we defeated the purpose? Those abandoned Psalters (in the pew rack next to a non-denomintional alternative, or worse -- stacked in the basement) ought to tell us something.
Posted in: Scarecrows
Did you know that "scarecrows" occur in Jeremiah's description of false idols (at least in the NIV and NRSV - Jer. 10:5; KJV has "palm trees")? I remember doing a sermon on "Scarecrows in a mellon patch" once -- partly because both the sound and imagery of that phrase seemed irresistable. In that context it becomes a picture of something that is not very effective. Since Satan is not easily detered, the metaphor of armor in Eph. 6 (of "fortress" often in the Psalms) makes a stronger image. But any recognition of the need to defend against the attacks of Satan is worthwhile. Thanks for the reminder!
Posted in: The Elder, Worship and the Church Order
Good thoughts. I would add one more question in the last paragraph under "Governance": Is everything in the worship service (from the prelude to the postlude; from the offering to the announcement about the upcoming potluck) done in the context of "here is how we honor God and his family" instead of as an interruption, bit of entertainment, or commercial break?
Posted in: Pastors Losing Family Members to Death
My experience 17 years ago in losing a wife and daughter while serving a rural church in northern MI was probably atypical in that: 1) the church had experienced a number of tragic losses before mine (in other words, they had some experience in processing this), 2) rural farm families (in my experience) seem to be very tough while being fairly flexible -- they wouldn't survive in the farming industry if not both, and 3) we had a very positive relationship as church and pastor. They "pastored" me through the recovery and remarriage process. I stayed for another six years and left very amicablyand with their blessing to begin an experiment in workplace chaplaincy. It is true, however, that as a pastor you live in the public image and must be willing to be very transparent through this process in order to survive. I also had the support of a local Christian psychologist who later became a co-founder in the workplace chaplaincy ministry.
In summary, God saw that I had a support system outside of the church plus a lot of grace and encouragement from inside the church. Without both of these it could have been a very different story.
PS: I should not discount the fact that God brought a new person into my life whose own life was shaped by the premature loss of her first husband, and who was very humble and skillful in making herself much appreciated by the church and by my remaining three children.
Ron Klimp
Posted in: The Cost of Leadership
Verlyn,
You have posed the question as if the leader has three choices: A, B or remain neutral
When churches (or groups) experience conflict over choice A or choice B it may be because they (or their leadership) have not passionately sought out, defined, then repeatedly emphasized the ultimate goal X. If X (which it now occures to me can conveniently stand for Christ and his kingdom) is well defined in the current context -- we are called to be..... and to do... -- then discussions about whether route A, B, or C take us there more directly (and at what cost) can be more openly explored.
I suspect that the leader who allows himself/herself to be identified with A, B, C, D or E before the group has adequately explored them all and chosen one by a clear majority (while being frequently reminded of X) is the leader who goes down in flames or cleans up after a train wreck.
Eugene Peterson's book The Pastor: A Memoir has some good chapters on his honest struggling with a young church about what they should become (and at the same time what he as a pastor should become).