my old pastor

bubba · 05-11-2004, 6:00 PM

My sister had her wedding this weekend and my old pastor from the baptist church I attended when I was 11 to 17 years old was doing the ceremony for her. I went up and intro'd myself hours before the ceremony. I could not believe it - This man who helped me grow as a spiritual person through my teenage years was a complete dick towards me, he was cold and heartless. His daughter and I were the closest of friends when we were growing up, I played baseball against his son throughout - I could not believe it

I asked about his family and how the church was doing. he was very short in his answers and never asked how i had been, or what I was up to. Maybe God has already told him what I had become and he wanted nothing to do with me anymore.

Is it any wonder with people like this that my faith has disapeared?

CBRVFR · 05-11-2004, 6:10 PM

Sorry to hear, B.

I love God, but I often wonder about His hiring practices...

RRWANTR · 05-11-2004, 6:17 PM

I'm sure even a pastor has a bad day where he doesn't feel like talking or is feeling rushed etc....

bubba · 05-11-2004, 6:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RRWANTR

I'm sure even a pastor has a bad day where he doesn't feel like talking or is feeling rushed etc....

feeling rushed waching some old dude take whacks at a golf ball every 5 feet

i wished i was rushed like that

RRWANTR · 05-11-2004, 6:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bubba

feeling rushed waching some old dude take whacks at a golf ball every 5 feet

i wished i was rushed like that

ok...bad day on the golf course... That's even worse!!!

ND4SPD · 05-11-2004, 6:49 PM

Sorry to hear bubba. Unfortunately, I've come to the realization that not all pastor's remain totally faithful to our Lord. During that same age bracket I had some pretty wicked stuff happen to me....no, I was not molested or touched or anything like that. But my family, and myself included went through some tough times because of such a "pastor" and his family.

zenblader · 05-12-2004, 1:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bubba

My sister had her wedding this weekend and my old pastor from the baptist church I attended when I was 11 to 17 years old was doing the ceremony for her. I went up and intro'd myself hours before the ceremony. I could not believe it - This man who helped me grow as a spiritual person through my teenage years was a complete dick towards me, he was cold and heartless. His daughter and I were the closest of friends when we were growing up, I played baseball against his son throughout - I could not believe it

I asked about his family and how the church was doing. he was very short in his answers and never asked how i had been, or what I was up to. Maybe God has already told him what I had become and he wanted nothing to do with me anymore.

Is it any wonder with people like this that my faith has disapeared?

Hey, bubba! I agree with RRWANTR. It's tough for a "holy" man to keep up the act all the time. I had a pal in school with a cute 18 year old sister. Our youth pastor, a 40ish dynamic man with a nice family, ran off with the sister, leaving his wife and three kids embarassed and humiliated. It was a good lesson for me. The man is the man, but the message is the message. 2 different things.
I love the buddhist instruction regarding meditation..."If you see the buddha, kill the buddha." This sounds pretty wild but illustrates the point that focusing on buddha or any other being (Anna K.) can distract you from your own path. Don't let da man get you down!

ER · 05-12-2004, 10:52 AM

Bubba, I truly am sorry for you if experiences like that are the reason you don't believe or don't have faith any more. It will be a shame if you miss out on a relationship with Christ because of what other people might say or do.

And Zen, it's not an "act" - it's a choice in life that we all can choose to make. I have no idea how this pastor acted other than what bubba wrote, but I can assure everyone that there are Christians out there that don't always have Christ first in their lives. I can also say that as you grow stronger in your faith, you put yourself more into the crosshairs of the devil. Pastors and other spiritual leaders get attacked the most. But then again, convincing people that he doesn't exist is the greatest trick the devil ever pulled.

figment · 05-12-2004, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bubba

Is it any wonder with people like this that my faith has disapeared?

Is your faith based on people? Or God? People will disapoint you. Thats a part of being human. There is no one particularly set apart to be a "better" witness in Christianity. Emphasis placed on Ministers is man made. God expects us all to act accordingly. The fruit of the Spirit is Love. Each tree bears fruit according to its kind.

zenblader · 05-12-2004, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ER

Bubba, I truly am sorry for you if experiences like that are the reason you don't believe or don't have faith any more. It will be a shame if you miss out on a relationship with Christ because of what other people might say or do.

And Zen, it's not an "act" - it's a choice in life that we all can choose to make. I have no idea how this pastor acted other than what bubba wrote, but I can assure everyone that there are Christians out there that don't always have Christ first in their lives. I can also say that as you grow stronger in your faith, you put yourself more into the crosshairs of the devil. Pastors and other spiritual leaders get attacked the most. But then again, convincing people that he doesn't exist is the greatest trick the devil ever pulled.

Sorry, ER. You're right. "Act" was not the right choice of words. My point was the "spirit", while always accessible, is often obscured by man-made concerns and anxieties. Even the apostles acted like a-holes occasionally, ex: fighting over who would sit at the right hand of Jesus, etc.

Serial Thriller · 05-12-2004, 1:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by figment

Is your faith based on people? Or God? People will disapoint you. Thats a part of being human. There is no one particularly set apart to be a "better" witness in Christianity. Emphasis placed on Ministers is man made. God expects us all to act accordingly. The fruit of the Spirit is Love. Each tree bears fruit according to its kind.

Yes, Christianity is about having a personal relationship with Jesus. Pray and read the Bible and get to know him yourself. There are many folks who can help you strengthen your spiritual life and make it through the struggles we all face. Don't let the bad examples ruin your impression of all Christians.

figment · 05-12-2004, 1:25 PM

Quote:

25 Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me,
26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.
27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.
29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all[4] ; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand.
30 I and the Father are one."

"No one" includes yourself...

stopsign · 05-18-2004, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CBRVFR

I love God, but I often wonder about His hiring practices...

i must say that is a great line.... the catholic church should adopt that as their new slogan....

figment · 05-19-2004, 9:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stopsign

i must say that is a great line.... the catholic church should adopt that as their new slogan....

yep.

Quote:

Romans 5
8 But God shows and clearly proves His [own] love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) died for us.
[Amplified Bible]

bubba · 05-19-2004, 1:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by figment

Is your faith based on people? Or God? People will disapoint you. Thats a part of being human. There is no one particularly set apart to be a "better" witness in Christianity. Emphasis placed on Ministers is man made. God expects us all to act accordingly. The fruit of the Spirit is Love. Each tree bears fruit according to its kind.

it was based on God, but with the things that have happened to my wife and i since we have been together, it barely exists at all - so to base it on a person or a belief is futile at this point

figment · 05-19-2004, 2:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bubba

it was based on God, but with the things that have happened to my wife and i since we have been together, it barely exists at all - so to base it on a person or a belief is futile at this point

yes, a belief in God is a very personal descision. Some people live thier whole lives without being "tested" and in "relative" comfort, oblivious to the trials of others. It is hard to understand your particular experiences partially because I am ignorant of them and partly because I lack your perspective. I can only say that I have seen people both draw nearer to God and driven from Him by their troubles. I would hope that I would draw nearer to Him. The Bible calls God the "God of all comfort". I pray you see this comfort soon as a testimony of His love and care for you. Keep your eyes and your heart open...

Quote:

2 Corinthians 1 :: New International Version (NIV)

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
To the church of God in Corinth, together with all the saints throughout Achaia:
2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The God of All Comfort

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,
4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.
5 For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.
6 If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.
7 And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.

ER · 05-19-2004, 3:59 PM

I've had a similar experience as figment in that I've seen people's trials in life draw them closer to God and I've also seen them push people away. My testimony includes the death of my brother, which turned out to be the biggest test and reassurance of my faith. I've offered to share that with you in the past and the offer still stands, but I'd prefer to do it via email or phone, since it's too much to write up in this thread.

Bubba, part of the excitement of my faith is that I will one day be with the Lord in Heaven, and everything I have to endure here on Earth will feel like a speed-bump once I'm there. In my studies of the Bible and in my personal prayer, I have never once been led to believe that life would be fair or easy, or that I would never hurt. What I (and all who choose to believe in Christ) have been promised is that the Lord will always lead me through those times if I let Him. That of course takes a lot of faith and trust when you are having rough times.

I've been praying for you since you started the "Who believes" thread. I hope to one day hear that you've had a renewal in your faith and that you are living a life of Christ.

figment · 05-19-2004, 4:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ER

What I (and all who choose to believe in Christ) have been promised is that the Lord will always lead me through those times if I let Him. That of course takes a lot of faith and trust when you are having rough times.

Amen. What is the point of faith if it is never required?

Thanks for the great post ER. I really liked it.

You have a gift.

EDIT

T:ER, BTW, I came to know the Lord as my personal Saviour in St Louis in 1985.

I noticed you where living there now...

ER · 05-19-2004, 6:07 PM

Thank you for your kind words. The glory goes to Him of course, so if a post resonates with anyone, perhaps He's directing me.

1985? I was in 5th grade sporting jams, knee-high socks, a "Here comes trouble" T-shirt, and a mullet that year.

figment · 05-21-2004, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Matthew 14:
25 During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.
26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear.
27 But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."
28 "Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."
29 "Come," he said.
30 Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"
32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down.
33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."

While thinking about this discussion, this particular verse came to mind.