Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Church of Christ Preachers
Here is one we got wrong: preachers. I am not against preachers. I am one. But I think the way we have evolved in this position is one of the things we have gotten wrong in our heritage. First of all, we have made preaching a profession, not a calling. We want degreed, career oriented preachers. We have made the sermon the center of our assemblies. We have created a system where one voice has out of proportion influence.
We have preached that every member is a minister, but our practice betrays us. As a result, we have unfair expectations for the men who do preach. They are expected to entertain, enlighten, and inspire. That is a set of unrealistic expectations. Our church experience revolves around how we feel about the preaching. We have created a system where it is hard to keep egos in check, where the "I know best" syndrome is fed, and where churches get built around a personality.
Most of our preachers function as senior pastors. We argue that they are not elders, but in practice we treat them as if they are. And in function, they do serve as the senior elder. Then we wonder why so many preachers have a "pope" complex. WE set them up that way. Now one of the trends in evangelical circles is to have a "senior pastor". Many of our preachers want that same system. The only thing new about it is that they want formal recognition for an existing practice.
We have somehow come to expect our preachers to be more spiritual than everyone else. We have confused talent and function with spirituality. They are no better, or worse, than any Christian using their abilities for the gospel.
We have given lip service to a Biblical model while creating a practice that is not healthy or sustainable. We need evangelists who will equip others. Most of the healthy churches I am seeing today have multiple preaching voices and a clear distinction between preaching and pastoring.
Just my opinion. What do you think about our preaching model?
We have preached that every member is a minister, but our practice betrays us. As a result, we have unfair expectations for the men who do preach. They are expected to entertain, enlighten, and inspire. That is a set of unrealistic expectations. Our church experience revolves around how we feel about the preaching. We have created a system where it is hard to keep egos in check, where the "I know best" syndrome is fed, and where churches get built around a personality.
Most of our preachers function as senior pastors. We argue that they are not elders, but in practice we treat them as if they are. And in function, they do serve as the senior elder. Then we wonder why so many preachers have a "pope" complex. WE set them up that way. Now one of the trends in evangelical circles is to have a "senior pastor". Many of our preachers want that same system. The only thing new about it is that they want formal recognition for an existing practice.
We have somehow come to expect our preachers to be more spiritual than everyone else. We have confused talent and function with spirituality. They are no better, or worse, than any Christian using their abilities for the gospel.
We have given lip service to a Biblical model while creating a practice that is not healthy or sustainable. We need evangelists who will equip others. Most of the healthy churches I am seeing today have multiple preaching voices and a clear distinction between preaching and pastoring.
Just my opinion. What do you think about our preaching model?
Comments:
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A) Yes, we have it wrong for many of the reasons you have mentioned.
B) I can't think of a Christian faith that HASN'T set up their system as such currently. We are fighting the tide of current society -- sit and be entertained, pay and get served.
C) Even where the preacher doesn't try to encourage this model, the congregation generally prefers it -- the path of least resistance.
B) I can't think of a Christian faith that HASN'T set up their system as such currently. We are fighting the tide of current society -- sit and be entertained, pay and get served.
C) Even where the preacher doesn't try to encourage this model, the congregation generally prefers it -- the path of least resistance.
Sarah,
You are right. That is very much the accepted model in the States, tho it is different in other countries. And I think you are right that most congregations like this model. Let the preacher do the thinking and the study for us.
steve
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You are right. That is very much the accepted model in the States, tho it is different in other countries. And I think you are right that most congregations like this model. Let the preacher do the thinking and the study for us.
steve
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