RE: resigned?

#1 · June 12, 2002, 8:09 am

Quote from Forum Archives on June 12, 2002, 8:09 am
Posted by: petecamp <petecamp@...>

Bro. Bob;

My wife has reminded me this week that sometimes the Lord must prune the vine for there to be growth. I thought how amazing that we were having a discussion about going after the one who left and here is another challenge for our Christianity. I think this area is one of those where our dependence on the leading of the Holy Spirit is absolutely critical. If we go after and attempt to restore one whom the Lord has pruned, I would think the Holy Spirit would warn us. If we let one go whom the Holy Spirit wants restored, we should sense that as well.

There are so many voices competing for our attention that it is not always easy to figure out exactly whose voice we are hearing. All I know is that the Spirits' leading will never violate or contradict the Word. I am attempting to help the "Hooters" brother see the contradiction in his life--even though right now we are not discussing that particular issue.

I, too, have had deacons who bitterly complain about some of the same issues your deacon mentioned. They also were totally inactive in soul-winning, visiting the sick, etc. Everyone expects the pastor to go after the ones who grow dissatisfied and leave. I have asked Sunday School teachers (in past pastorates) about sending a card, making a phone call, or visiting someone who drops out, and have had them say: "We can't do that. We already dropped them from our enrollment." I suppose that is as great a contradiction as my guy and the "Hooters" incident.

The bottom line is that all of us have to "walk the walk", not just "talk the talk". It just takes so much less energy to talk than walk. Thanks sharing your wisdom and experience with us.

I have heard so much from so many pastors lately about the lack of real commitment on the part of so many that it sort of makes me wonder if we really are not in the "last times" and are seeing the great falling away from the true church that some expositors of Revelation assure us is coming.

Blessings,

Pete Campbell

-----Original Message-----
From: Bob AuBuchon [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Tuesday, June 11, 2002 11:49 AM
To: PastorMail
Subject: [PastorMail] resigned?

Hello

With all the talk over the hooters incident ... few have said we should mourn over the sin of this deacon.

A week ago or so ... one of the older deacons resigned. He said he the reason why was ... he was concerned about:

1. the direction of the church.
2. people who have left the church
3. lack of conversions and baptism

I might say ... this man has opposed me most of the 11.10 years I have been the pastor. He has never seemed to care for me. I have challenged him on several occasions as to his walk with Christ. He has been a "thorn" in the side on most occasions. However I have have always attempted to minister to him and his wife (who never comes to church). I have shown love and care for them when sick ... visited them in their home and always went by to shake his hand while at church.

His concerns are valid ... he, I and all should be concerned in them ... but the only thing he fails to see is that he has done nothing to help in the areas he expresses concerns about. He does not want the church to grow ... he has not helped visit people who have left our church and he does not visit much less witness. He should never have been put in the position of deacon some 30 years ago.

He is one of those cases in my estimation ... when the bull dog knows he can whip the skunk ... just not sure he wants to raise that big of a stink.

However ... in all of that ... when he resigned ... I did not rejoice in any manner. I went to see him with another deacon the next day after resigning. The conversation was very short and does not seem to want to talk about it. We presented the matter to the church Sunday night in business meeting. They accepted it.

Though I do see that perhaps God has moved him out of the way ... I mourn ... seriously mourn to see him so upset. He and his wife are hurting in some fashion even in his obstanance to be a part of mine or the church's ministry.

Should we not pray for those who are trapped in sin and those who are frustrated? I am by no mean condoning the "hooters" shirt wearing etc. I agree the hat and shirt should not be worn period by a Christian. But should we not as ministers of the "good news" attempt to bring back in reconciliation those who have drifted away from the faith?

Galatians 6:1-2 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. 2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Just a thought

Bob AuBuchon

--
Running for the Prize Sermons
http://www.RFTPsermons.com
-- To unsubscribe, send ANY message to <[email protected]>

Posted by: petecamp <petecamp@...>

Bro. Bob;

My wife has reminded me this week that sometimes the Lord must prune the vine for there to be growth. I thought how amazing that we were having a discussion about going after the one who left and here is another challenge for our Christianity. I think this area is one of those where our dependence on the leading of the Holy Spirit is absolutely critical. If we go after and attempt to restore one whom the Lord has pruned, I would think the Holy Spirit would warn us. If we let one go whom the Holy Spirit wants restored, we should sense that as well.

There are so many voices competing for our attention that it is not always easy to figure out exactly whose voice we are hearing. All I know is that the Spirits' leading will never violate or contradict the Word. I am attempting to help the "Hooters" brother see the contradiction in his life--even though right now we are not discussing that particular issue.

I, too, have had deacons who bitterly complain about some of the same issues your deacon mentioned. They also were totally inactive in soul-winning, visiting the sick, etc. Everyone expects the pastor to go after the ones who grow dissatisfied and leave. I have asked Sunday School teachers (in past pastorates) about sending a card, making a phone call, or visiting someone who drops out, and have had them say: "We can't do that. We already dropped them from our enrollment." I suppose that is as great a contradiction as my guy and the "Hooters" incident.

The bottom line is that all of us have to "walk the walk", not just "talk the talk". It just takes so much less energy to talk than walk. Thanks sharing your wisdom and experience with us.

I have heard so much from so many pastors lately about the lack of real commitment on the part of so many that it sort of makes me wonder if we really are not in the "last times" and are seeing the great falling away from the true church that some expositors of Revelation assure us is coming.

Blessings,

Pete Campbell

-----Original Message-----
From: Bob AuBuchon [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Tuesday, June 11, 2002 11:49 AM
To: PastorMail
Subject: [PastorMail] resigned?

Hello

With all the talk over the hooters incident ... few have said we should mourn over the sin of this deacon.

A week ago or so ... one of the older deacons resigned. He said he the reason why was ... he was concerned about:

1. the direction of the church.
2. people who have left the church
3. lack of conversions and baptism

I might say ... this man has opposed me most of the 11.10 years I have been the pastor. He has never seemed to care for me. I have challenged him on several occasions as to his walk with Christ. He has been a "thorn" in the side on most occasions. However I have have always attempted to minister to him and his wife (who never comes to church). I have shown love and care for them when sick ... visited them in their home and always went by to shake his hand while at church.

His concerns are valid ... he, I and all should be concerned in them ... but the only thing he fails to see is that he has done nothing to help in the areas he expresses concerns about. He does not want the church to grow ... he has not helped visit people who have left our church and he does not visit much less witness. He should never have been put in the position of deacon some 30 years ago.

He is one of those cases in my estimation ... when the bull dog knows he can whip the skunk ... just not sure he wants to raise that big of a stink.

However ... in all of that ... when he resigned ... I did not rejoice in any manner. I went to see him with another deacon the next day after resigning. The conversation was very short and does not seem to want to talk about it. We presented the matter to the church Sunday night in business meeting. They accepted it.

Though I do see that perhaps God has moved him out of the way ... I mourn ... seriously mourn to see him so upset. He and his wife are hurting in some fashion even in his obstanance to be a part of mine or the church's ministry.

Should we not pray for those who are trapped in sin and those who are frustrated? I am by no mean condoning the "hooters" shirt wearing etc. I agree the hat and shirt should not be worn period by a Christian. But should we not as ministers of the "good news" attempt to bring back in reconciliation those who have drifted away from the faith?

Galatians 6:1-2 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. 2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Just a thought

Bob AuBuchon

--
Running for the Prize Sermons
http://www.RFTPsermons.com
-- To unsubscribe, send ANY message to <[email protected]>