A Pastor who "gets it"

[Tikatu]

Wade Burleson is a SBC pastor with a lot of wisdom and insight. This is one of his latest blog posts. I think he really understands what plagues Christianity today and makes IFB pastors act/think the way they do.

[Darrell]

I'll have to read this carefully when I have some more time.

[WhoThrewTheBottle]

I'd have to agree with him on this but I believe legalism is still a major problem. In fact, I think the two go hand in hand.

This was a major problem where I came from. I experience a lot of this in my last few years in fundamentalism and even after I left. I constantly got texts and calls from the pastoral staff after I left. Crazy, they cared more when they found out I was going to a Presbyterian church than when I wasn't going to church at all. I eventually stopped going to the Presbyterian church after constantly being harassed by the fundies and I haven't been in a church in over a year.

The idea that they think I owe my life to them makes me sick.

[GraceThruFaith]

Wow, that is a great article. I think that the author believes that legalism stems from authoritarianism, which I believe is valid. Legalism can really only exist if someone of authority is enforcing the rules, right?

[Ricardo]

You know Budha said: Don't take my word for it. You check it out! So we now have hundreds of Budhists denominations, each one believing THEIR way is closest to Budha's way...

It is sort of human nature. We are always looking for someone to tell us, to guide us, to follow.

Jacob would not let go of God in the earliest WWF match ever recorded. Breaking new trails in your relationship with God, that isd much harder.

[oneflewoutofthecuckcoosnest]

I agree with his critique of the abuse of authority in the church, but I disagree with his dogmatic declaration that the NT does not confer authority on church leaders. Acts 15 certainly gives the Jerusalem council authority and Paul at least saw himself as an authority figure in relation to his churches.

[GraceThruFaith]

While perusing the internet, I managed to find another great article about IFB authoritarianism. The article is coming from someone who went from being an IFB pastor to an atheist. Nevertheless, as a Christian, this article really hit home with me, personally. One of the most grievous parts of this article was this: "In the IFB church, [unquestioned, strict obedience] means unquestioned, strict obedience to the Word of God as interpreted by the pastor." Everything that you are to believe, it must be the same as the pastor.