I was in one place where someone said they needed to get more members who would pay tithes. Once, they asked me to have two minutes silence so everyone could pray quietly, and then I was to close with prayer that everyone heard. I clocked the two minutes > after maybe forty seconds ones were squirming and one man looked back over his shoulder. I got worried that the place could break down in pandemonium if I held out for the full two minutes; so I violated it all by doing the prayer starting after maybe the first minute. Then someone even accused me, maybe . . . it seemed . . . of taking too long; so I said I had timed it on my watch. There was a little laugh and that was the end of it. And the end of that church came not long after.
But we had people who were functional in that church, I would say . . . even though a pastor ran out on family and church, departing in the middle of the night, then getting rejected wherever he tried to become a pastor. And he came back and tried to take the pulpit back, but ones managed him on his way. And ones reached to me when I backslid, and I think we had a mature senior deacon.
So, while there may be ones even in leadership, who are no-shows or whatever, there can be the genuine ones who keep caring for the sheep and helping with needs.
And . . . "by the way" > *y*o*u* and **>
I <** need to help care for one another and younger children of God. There is plenty in scripture about how to care and share as God's family, and my experience is any of us can do this, no matter what leaders and others are doing.
I think I have seen how there tends to be up-front speaking and not really caring for the sheep. However, during the week, the ladies might have a real Bible prayer group and so it draws in ones of different churches, and non-members contribute ministry and wisdom.
Also, possibly I have seen how a leader can give me a lot of attention, but he seems like he's trying to use me to get more people . . . I never get anything or much about how to grow in Jesus. But I have been with people who nurture and help to correct and mature God's people. So, now I can feed on their example and do this with others, even if leaders are not with it.
And personal pastoring can take time. It can mean sharing for hours with someone who is younger. So, this really might not be for ordained pastors who can have so many people and things to take care of. Truth is, ones can really be building administrators and financial managers who can speak and might know enough scripture for preaching, plus ones do grow up to become real pastors. But I see we need individual "uncalled" people to do personal caring for newborn Christians and others.
And what I think I have seen works best is > you grow in Jesus, get your needed correction, and you mature so now you can feed others from your experience >
"nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock." (1 Peter 5:3)
This can work quite well in Christian marriage > you learn how to love so you are relating "without complaining and disputing" (in Philippians 2:13-16) > you get to be committed to being faithful to our Groom Jesus so you do not get into any relating with Satanic stuff in you that would get you to complain or argue. But with God you get rid of that stuff, right when it tries to or does get started in you. And with this we grow in how God's love is. And then is when we can qualify to "take care of the church of God" (in 1 Timothy 3:1-10) as example leaders or example helpers.
However, churches fill pulpits from seminaries, instead of from the seminary of mature marriage. And it can be the "A-personality" people can tend to be "called". But in case you are not "called" because of your becoming gentle and humble and uncontrolling - - - this can keep you free to do what God really has you doing, with "rest for your souls" (in Matthew 11:28-30) > while ones making a lot of things happen can burn out and stress out and be lonely even right while they are so busy with so many people > controlling quantity but without quality.
And in case I have grown to be more with it, at age 78, a senior who is supposed to be mature and now an example for younger ones > I have discovered how I have to fight to stay healthy. Now I am more desirable to people, since I can be more quiet and pleasant and able to speak the word in an encouraging way and help people. But this means more food comes my way, and more invites to eat somewhere. And one time I said, yeah sure I would like to spend some time with someone, but the person got quite aggressive that I had to eat some donut shop stuff > he was not going to let me just sit there while we talked. And a pastor can try to empty a load of pot luck leftover fried chicken and desserts on me.
When ones get especially aggressive, I might say how I have seen the bellies of ones who have socialized too much with food being required. And I have to stay healthy. Ones are now at the doctors for health issues which are because of a life of food abuse. And I do understand that the Holy Spirit's fruit includes self-control.
But even so, I understand that there are other sin problems that I can have, which might not show in the condition of my body > immoral lust can be less obvious > and activities of lust might not put on weight, but immoral lust still can be destructive to keep me from loving and relating the way the Bible says we can in real love. Weakness for pleasure can be weakness also for pain . . . including, in my case, for giving in to paranoid stupidity with its dominating of my attention and canceling me from loving each and every person the way Jesus requires so we are perfect in our Father's love.
I may not gain weight, but the weight of sin can hold me down in other ways.
So, we do not need to spend too much time looking at how certain church culture people are not functioning. With Jesus shepherding us . . . we can care for ourselves right and for one another, and He will make the way in His timing in His precision leading and guiding, so we have time for whatever He wants us to do to minister to ones not maybe functional to minister to us, but this while we share and care with the ones who are with Jesus and how He cares for us >
"'Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.'" (Matthew 11:29)
By the way > Jesus ministered right where there were Pharisees, in the temple and synagogues plus elsewhere; and He would take His own with Him to that garden where they could resort with Him and one another.
So-o-o . . . perhaps there is a garden where you belong
