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Chad Williams · (This post was last modified: 04-19-2011 05:13 PM by Chad Williams.)

(04-19-2011 05:00 PM)GraceThruFaith Wrote: It is a dream of mine to play pick up basketball or go golfing with my pastor. I want to see pastors as regular guys who can talk about the NBA playoffs, tv shows, and popular movies. I want to see my pastor sin just so I know that I can see him as someone who isn't sinless. But it's almost as if pastors expect themselves to always be a pastor who must be more separated, holier, and closer to God more than everyone else.

The thing I have noticed with many preachers, myself included, many time they are not the kind of guy who is into sports, except the occasional hunting or fishing trip, they are more often found studying history, the classics, or theololgy. They are men of the mind, much like professors. I guess what I am saying they tend to like individual sports more than team sports.

And I hope to never see anyone sin. I know they will, but I would never hope and wait on it. I do not want anyone paradeing their faults and sins out in public. That is as annoying as the person who is so proud of how humble and how much humility they posess.

Beowulf · 04-19-2011, 05:12 PM

(04-19-2011 05:00 PM)GraceThruFaith Wrote: It is a dream of mine to play pick up basketball or go golfing with my pastor. I want to see pastors as regular guys who can talk about the NBA playoffs, tv shows, and popular movies. I want to see my pastor sin just so I know that I can see him as someone who isn't sinless. But it's almost as if pastors expect themselves to always be a pastor who must be more separated, holier, and closer to God more than everyone else.

That's where mainstream denominations have an advantage. My Presbyterian pastor was really into kayaking, and another would have a beer with me with no problem. My brother is a Methodist minister, and he does those things as well.

Some would call that compromising. So be it. This is the VERY reason I've turned away from any vestige of fundamentalism.

Beowulf · 04-19-2011, 05:37 PM

I understand different pastors have different styles, and I wouldn't expect all of them to be into kayaking, drinking beer, etc. It's just nice to see some that do.

GraceThruFaith · 04-19-2011, 06:06 PM

(04-19-2011 05:37 PM)Beowulf Wrote: I understand different pastors have different styles, and I wouldn't expect all of them to be into kayaking, drinking beer, etc. It's just nice to see some that do.

They don't have to do be into things like that, but a pastor should do things that make him appear like a regular joe rather than a I-have-to-appear-holier-than-everyone-else-nonstop pastor.

Elijah Craig · 04-19-2011, 06:25 PM

Given my background, I know a lot of pastors or people who think they are or will be pastors. People who are in pastor mode all the time can be very hard to be friends with. You want to share a struggle or emotion, and they are there to correct you or suggest a wiser course of action. Hey thanks... I know what I'm feeling is wrong and don't want or need you to tell me., I just needed to express it to someone.

**pastor's wife** · 04-19-2011, 06:29 PM

When my husband first became a youth pastor, a girl in the youth group sometimes brought her boyfriend to church, but not often. When the boy's mother committed suicide, he asked my husband to speak at her funeral. At the funeral, he handed my husband a poem he'd written and asked him to read it out loud during the service. The poem had the word "d-mn" in it. The funeral wasn't in church but at the funeral home, but my husband wasn't sure if he should read it. But then he wanted to honor the boy's wishes so he did. I'm just glad the senior pastor wasn't there because I think my husband would have gotten in trouble.

BTW, my husband loves sports. He's also into drama and music and he studies and has his MDiv too. I think he's a great guy.

GraceThruFaith · (This post was last modified: 04-19-2011 06:47 PM by GraceThruFaith.)

(04-19-2011 06:29 PM)pastors wife Wrote: BTW, my husband loves sports. He's also into drama and music and he studies and has his MDiv too. I think he's a great guy.

If sports means football, basketball, and/or hockey and drama also includes comedy, then he definitely is a great guy Tongue

I am sure I would enjoy being a member of your church even if your husband didn't meet my qualifications of sports and drama.

TomK · 04-19-2011, 11:15 PM

(04-19-2011 05:00 PM)GraceThruFaith Wrote: It is a dream of mine to play pick up basketball or go golfing with my pastor. I want to see pastors as regular guys who can talk about the NBA playoffs, tv shows, and popular movies. I want to see my pastor sin just so I know that I can see him as someone who isn't sinless. But it's almost as if pastors expect themselves to always be a pastor who must be more separated, holier, and closer to God more than everyone else.

I totally identify with this. It wasn't until I started listening to evangelical pastors that I EVER heard a pastor talk like they didn't walk on water. Craig Groeschel wrote a book called Confessions of a Pastor that helped me to be way more open about my own weaknesses and it totally helped others identify with me more as a person, not just "the pastor."

Plus, we can play basketball anytime you want and I'll kick your butt.

captain_solo · 04-20-2011, 09:02 AM

I want my pastor to be himself. Not some facade of what he thinks a pastor ought to be.

This is basically just admitting that what they are on Sunday is not who they really are. Its the core of the whole problem.

Chad Williams · 04-20-2011, 10:00 AM

[/quote]
That's excellent!
I have a different kind of test. I don't have a problem with so-called "profanity" because sometimes it is appropriate to express outrage etc. I make it a point to say "damn" or "hell" or some such around my pastors, in a seemingly appropriate context, to see if it freaks them out or not. If it does, then they're too legalistic for me. I typically make it a point to call them and shoot the breeze with them and go out for a drink or lunch or something. If they can't hang out and do normal stuff then they're too stuffy and think they're above "normal" people. Fortunately I've not met one of those in a really long time.
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So what you are saying is, if the preacher does not cuss and drink liquor he is too up-tight. Before I becam a Christian, I had a foul mouth. Every other word was some type of curse word the f-bomb was what I was known for the most among my friends. A bad temper did not help things at all. So I admit I can not stand nor will I tolerate a foul mouthed individual in my presence, nor in the presence of my wife and son. The English language is to vast and contains to many vaied words that can express extreme emotions, without having to resort ot the base levels of words that only drunken sods would use.