Comments on: 5 Reasons I would claim to leave the church http://www.reclaimingthemission.com/5-reasons-i-would-claim-to-leave-the-church/ Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:46:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Sandy Brown http://www.reclaimingthemission.com/5-reasons-i-would-claim-to-leave-the-church/comment-page-1/#comment-8980 Sandy Brown Thu, 30 Jul 2009 07:09:40 +0000 http://nathancolquhoun1.wordpress.com/2008/06/19/5-reasons-i-would-claim-to-leave-the-church/#comment-8980 I'm looking for themes on my blog I am just starting. Do you think this type of theme would work for my photography blog? I’m looking for themes on my blog I am just starting. Do you think this type of theme would work for my photography blog?

]]> By: Len Hjalmarson http://www.reclaimingthemission.com/5-reasons-i-would-claim-to-leave-the-church/comment-page-1/#comment-1723 Len Hjalmarson Mon, 23 Jun 2008 23:07:00 +0000 http://nathancolquhoun1.wordpress.com/2008/06/19/5-reasons-i-would-claim-to-leave-the-church/#comment-1723 "Proving to be examples to the flock.." This is the killer for me. I've known many busy pastors, and while they are often examples of a moral life they are not examples of a well-lived and missional life. They have no time for family, and little time for friendship. I've known too many pastors who really have no friends at all. This if nothing else, should cue us to the reality that such churches are not biblical communities and therefore are not places of gospel wholeness. In such cases they function ok as business but are not really "ekklesial." “Proving to be examples to the flock..” This is the killer for me. I’ve known many busy pastors, and while they are often examples of a moral life they are not examples of a well-lived and missional life. They have no time for family, and little time for friendship. I’ve known too many pastors who really have no friends at all. This if nothing else, should cue us to the reality that such churches are not biblical communities and therefore are not places of gospel wholeness. In such cases they function ok as business but are not really “ekklesial.”

]]> By: David Fitch http://www.reclaimingthemission.com/5-reasons-i-would-claim-to-leave-the-church/comment-page-1/#comment-1722 David Fitch Mon, 23 Jun 2008 02:05:00 +0000 http://nathancolquhoun1.wordpress.com/2008/06/19/5-reasons-i-would-claim-to-leave-the-church/#comment-1722 Thanks for the great comments all ... to speak to jeremy's questions ... you simply must have a different way about the ministry ... a ceryain resistance to more "work-making" organization ... a way of keeping ministry within the capabalities of a an established rythym of life .. something I think every Christain must do .. Sunday gathering must almst be able to run itself ...organically ... and because all ministry is bi-occupational ... there's room and budget in the church to always have two-three or four part timer pastors working together .. along with all other ministers of the church. Having said that ... it took me a while to learn this and I nearly killed myself trying to do bi-vocational ministry. <br/>Blessings .. Thanks for the great comments all … to speak to jeremy’s questions … you simply must have a different way about the ministry … a ceryain resistance to more “work-making” organization … a way of keeping ministry within the capabalities of a an established rythym of life .. something I think every Christain must do .. Sunday gathering must almst be able to run itself …organically … and because all ministry is bi-occupational … there’s room and budget in the church to always have two-three or four part timer pastors working together .. along with all other ministers of the church. Having said that … it took me a while to learn this and I nearly killed myself trying to do bi-vocational ministry.
Blessings ..

]]> By: preacherman http://www.reclaimingthemission.com/5-reasons-i-would-claim-to-leave-the-church/comment-page-1/#comment-1721 preacherman Sun, 22 Jun 2008 20:45:00 +0000 http://nathancolquhoun1.wordpress.com/2008/06/19/5-reasons-i-would-claim-to-leave-the-church/#comment-1721 David,<br/>Wonderful thoughts.<br/>I left and gave up ministry for some of the reasons you listed. I found as Jonah did that you can't run from God. When God has a purpose for your life then you have to complete it. I believe that every Christian should read this post and reflect. You do a fantastic job with your blog. Your blog is definately one of my favs. Keep up the great work and God bless your ministry and all you do. David,
Wonderful thoughts.
I left and gave up ministry for some of the reasons you listed. I found as Jonah did that you can’t run from God. When God has a purpose for your life then you have to complete it. I believe that every Christian should read this post and reflect. You do a fantastic job with your blog. Your blog is definately one of my favs. Keep up the great work and God bless your ministry and all you do.

]]> By: The Maine Roundys http://www.reclaimingthemission.com/5-reasons-i-would-claim-to-leave-the-church/comment-page-1/#comment-1720 The Maine Roundys Sun, 22 Jun 2008 13:31:00 +0000 http://nathancolquhoun1.wordpress.com/2008/06/19/5-reasons-i-would-claim-to-leave-the-church/#comment-1720 Nice,<br/>I wonder if pressing in to the church, that is not living well, by living well would have more effect than moving out to live well. I have started a community that fulfills the needs I see as lacking in my local minimega (1000) and we still are involved in our churches. What if your community was living against in the church setting as well as the world?? Nice,
I wonder if pressing in to the church, that is not living well, by living well would have more effect than moving out to live well. I have started a community that fulfills the needs I see as lacking in my local minimega (1000) and we still are involved in our churches. What if your community was living against in the church setting as well as the world??

]]> By: Dan Brennan http://www.reclaimingthemission.com/5-reasons-i-would-claim-to-leave-the-church/comment-page-1/#comment-1719 Dan Brennan Fri, 20 Jun 2008 14:40:00 +0000 http://nathancolquhoun1.wordpress.com/2008/06/19/5-reasons-i-would-claim-to-leave-the-church/#comment-1719 Hey Dave,<br/><br/>You won't be surprised by my comment, but there is no question that 5, 4, and 3 are related to professionalization. But, I think the statistics reveal something else: under the professional model, with the pastor as one man, there is no affirmation for him to build and cultivate deeper friendships within the community--non-believer, *or* believer. <br/>Under the professional model, he has to be all things to all men and must respect professional distance within the community. Here is a sad picture but appears to be on: here is the modern professional, one-man pastor model: surrounded by community--he's stressed by being all things to all men, stressed about family time, doesn't have any relationship with unbelievers, and doesn't have any immediate, deep friendships within his own faith community, either. Hey Dave,

You won’t be surprised by my comment, but there is no question that 5, 4, and 3 are related to professionalization. But, I think the statistics reveal something else: under the professional model, with the pastor as one man, there is no affirmation for him to build and cultivate deeper friendships within the community–non-believer, *or* believer.
Under the professional model, he has to be all things to all men and must respect professional distance within the community. Here is a sad picture but appears to be on: here is the modern professional, one-man pastor model: surrounded by community–he’s stressed by being all things to all men, stressed about family time, doesn’t have any relationship with unbelievers, and doesn’t have any immediate, deep friendships within his own faith community, either.

]]> By: Jamie Arpin-Ricci http://www.reclaimingthemission.com/5-reasons-i-would-claim-to-leave-the-church/comment-page-1/#comment-1718 Jamie Arpin-Ricci Fri, 20 Jun 2008 14:37:00 +0000 http://nathancolquhoun1.wordpress.com/2008/06/19/5-reasons-i-would-claim-to-leave-the-church/#comment-1718 Great post, David. I couldn't help but read some of the points in reverse. That is, how many pastors feel pushed into those positions by congregations who demand market value or "shop elsewhere"? Just a thought.<br/><br/>As we begin our "church plant", my second job will be (as it has been for years) serving with YWAM. Thankfully, this work has me in the community daily, especially since the bookstore opened. I love it! Of course, neither job pays, so... gulp!<br/><br/>Peace,<br/>Jamie Great post, David. I couldn’t help but read some of the points in reverse. That is, how many pastors feel pushed into those positions by congregations who demand market value or “shop elsewhere”? Just a thought.

As we begin our “church plant”, my second job will be (as it has been for years) serving with YWAM. Thankfully, this work has me in the community daily, especially since the bookstore opened. I love it! Of course, neither job pays, so… gulp!

Peace,
Jamie

]]> By: Jeremy http://www.reclaimingthemission.com/5-reasons-i-would-claim-to-leave-the-church/comment-page-1/#comment-1717 Jeremy Fri, 20 Jun 2008 12:13:00 +0000 http://nathancolquhoun1.wordpress.com/2008/06/19/5-reasons-i-would-claim-to-leave-the-church/#comment-1717 Great post! Number five is a big one for me. A pastor should be a model for others to follow, specifically in his relationships with non-believers. The question that I think about all the time is, How in the world can a pastor training believers to reach non-believers when he himself is not even rubbing shoulders with non-believers? It deeply bothers me that I know too many pastors that are have no relationship with non-believers. I would seriously consider leaving a church if the leadership was like that. <br/><br/>A couple questions I have in regards to being bi-occupational is: <br/>1) How do you get everything done you need to get done when you are bi-occupational? <br/>2) And when you are bi-occupational don't you seriously run the risk of doing number four (being a workaholic?) Great post! Number five is a big one for me. A pastor should be a model for others to follow, specifically in his relationships with non-believers. The question that I think about all the time is, How in the world can a pastor training believers to reach non-believers when he himself is not even rubbing shoulders with non-believers? It deeply bothers me that I know too many pastors that are have no relationship with non-believers. I would seriously consider leaving a church if the leadership was like that.

A couple questions I have in regards to being bi-occupational is:
1) How do you get everything done you need to get done when you are bi-occupational?
2) And when you are bi-occupational don’t you seriously run the risk of doing number four (being a workaholic?)

]]>