Posted on 12/14/2006 11:48:10 AM PST by jodiluvshoes
Members of the congregation at Saddleback Church, the church led by Rick Warren, are evidently being ushered right out of membership for voicing any concern over the idea of Barack Obama being allowed to speak at the church recently.
I received a lengthy letter from a member of Saddleback this morning that confirmed as much:
(Excerpt) Read more at kevinmccullough.townhall.com ...
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I have been a SB all 50+ years of my life and I have never known of a church officially forewarning another church of member being a problem. and if they did I would consider that the height of hypocrisy and being judgmental. How can anyone say just because a person is having problems in one church that problem will carry over to the next church. Yes it could happen but it may not be that person's fault and if it is how can we know God won't change that person's heart between Churches. As I said to me that is being very judgmental on the part of the former church. Understand?
I'm a Southern Baptist pastor. When we receive a request for transfer of membership we send it without comment. If I were to be contacted by another church with regards to an individual who is seeking a place in ministry with membership, I may be compelled to make some comments.
Warren is a phony.
Your way is the way I have always seen it done.
I became a Christian at Calvary Chapel, Costa Mesa shortly after they moved out of the tent. Chuck Smith and I used to surf together occasionally.
I was talking to my sister this afternoon, and I told her that I had been discussing her former church on FreeRepublic. I mentioned to her that I said that the minister didn't want to mention the name of Jesus in his sermons and that the church was part of the Church of the Nazarene. She said that the minister tried to change the name of the church and go non-denominational.
My husband just got a "holiday email from the president of transportation for Conoco Phillips, saying that he was going to New Mexico to meditate "Zaratrustra style" (sic). It's part of the Iranian cult of Zoaster.
"The true sign of a meglomaniac pastor (of which there are many). They ostracize members, not for blatant sin or an unwillingness to repent, but for voicing an opposing viewpoint. The pastor of the church we left wouldn't tolerate opposing viewpoints either. He condemned such from the pulpit as a "critical spirit;" not for disagreeing with the Bible or basic teachings of the church, but for having a different opinion from the pastor. In other words, fall in line with Pastor Uber Alles, or leave."
Thanks for this input on this issue. I only have one question regarding churches like this:
Is Jesus good enough to be allowed to stay?
Of course! Starting with...... Jesse Jackson!
Sorry .. I don't agree with you.
NO ONE HAS THE AUTHORITY TO PUBLICALLY URSURP THE AUTHORITY OF THEIR PASTOR IN PUBLIC - NOBODY! God never set the church up that way .. and when people go public with their petty greivances .. they only harm themselves.
There are many ways to contact your pastor .. many! But .. unless you are in leadership within that church .. you have no God-given authority to confront your pastor.
Don't like those rules .. start your own church.
I just found an old story that has been around for years that I think applies here.
"One of the toughest tasks a church faces is choosing a good minister. A member of an official board undergoing this painful process finally lost patience. He’d just witnessed the pastoral search committee reject applicant after applicant for some minor flaw…”he didn’t wear the right clothes…his voice wasn’t right…her references weren’t what they wanted.” It was time for a bit of soul searching for the committee. So this board member stood up and read this letter supposedly to be from an applicant. Ladies and Gentlemen:
Understanding your pulpit is vacant, I should like to apply for the position. I have many qualifications. I’ve been a preacher with much success and also have had some successes as a writer. Some say I’m a good organizer. I’ve been a leader most places I’ve been. I’m over 50 years of age and have never preached in one place more than three years. In some places, I have left town after my work caused riots and disturbances. And I must admit that I have been in jail three or four times, but not because of any real wrong-doing. My health is not too good, though I still accomplish a great deal. The churches I have preached in have been small though located in several large cities. I’ve not gotten along well with religious leaders in the towns where I have preached. In fact, some have threatened me and even attacked me physically. I am not too good at keeping records. I have been known to forget who I have baptized. However, if you can use me, I promise to do my best for you.”
The board member then turned to the committee and said: “Well what do you think? Should we call him?”
The good church folks were appalled! Consider a sickly, trouble-making, absent-minded, ex-jailbird? Was the board member-crazy? Who signed the application? Who had such colossal nerve…to send them such an application? The board member looked at everyone in the eye and then said: “It’s signed…The Apostle Paul.”"
Why isn't the IRS crawling all over the nonprofit status of this church?? Oh, because it's a dummycrat preaching there.
And, just how many So. Baptist churches have you been involved in in Nebraska?
I moved to Nebraska a few years ago to be near my grandchildren. I have southern "ruts", trust me.
Okay! Trust me. I come from a long line of So. Baptist pastors.
Mark 6:4
But Jesus, said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.
It is similar for comedians. You can be knocking them dead across the country, but folks at home just think you are a clown redoing the same stupid jokes.
There are three ways to join a Baptist church. 1. By Baptism, which is for new believers. 2. By church letter from the church they left, this letter usually says, "We state soandso is a member in good standing..." but can also say, "We had problems with...". 3. By profession, this usually when the person is from a church that folded or lost the record of church membership.
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