ViaCrucis
Confessional Lutheran
- Oct 2, 2011
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What pastoral training do you have?
This is no attack on you; but I am deeply troubled by the idea of people just up and "starting a church".
I believe, very strongly, that the call and ordination of ministers is a very important thing for the Church. And I also believe the Lord's own words apply to it, "To whom much is given, much is required."
A person could, for example, have a great deal of expertise in Scripture, on theology. They might be extremely good biblical exegetes, and extremely good theologians. And they still may not be fit for being a pastor. Because taking on that kind of responsibility is to take onto one's shoulders not only the spiritual health of an entire community, but being a good spiritual father--a pastor isn't just a preacher or a teacher, but a counselor, a confidant, a shepherd. They are ministers of God's word and God's Sacraments, to handle the word with utmost care ("rightly dividing the word of truth" as Paul calls it when writing to Timothy).
When Paul writes about how to choose pastors, he speaks of a heavy and strong vetting process, and is not something an individual can simply choose for themselves apart from the general authority of the Christian Church. Paul didn't decide he was an apostle, Christ personally chose Him; Timothy didn't just decide to be a pastor--he studied and trained and worked with and under St. Paul for literal years before taking up a post in Ephesus.
I would, therefore, at the very least, advise walking with extreme caution here.
-CryptoLutheran
This is no attack on you; but I am deeply troubled by the idea of people just up and "starting a church".
I believe, very strongly, that the call and ordination of ministers is a very important thing for the Church. And I also believe the Lord's own words apply to it, "To whom much is given, much is required."
A person could, for example, have a great deal of expertise in Scripture, on theology. They might be extremely good biblical exegetes, and extremely good theologians. And they still may not be fit for being a pastor. Because taking on that kind of responsibility is to take onto one's shoulders not only the spiritual health of an entire community, but being a good spiritual father--a pastor isn't just a preacher or a teacher, but a counselor, a confidant, a shepherd. They are ministers of God's word and God's Sacraments, to handle the word with utmost care ("rightly dividing the word of truth" as Paul calls it when writing to Timothy).
When Paul writes about how to choose pastors, he speaks of a heavy and strong vetting process, and is not something an individual can simply choose for themselves apart from the general authority of the Christian Church. Paul didn't decide he was an apostle, Christ personally chose Him; Timothy didn't just decide to be a pastor--he studied and trained and worked with and under St. Paul for literal years before taking up a post in Ephesus.
I would, therefore, at the very least, advise walking with extreme caution here.
-CryptoLutheran
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