Here's A Question I've Been Pondering Because...

Because the Pastor is the resident Holy Man that does all that kind of religious stuff.:tonofbricks:

peace to youraying:

 

People look to the pastor as a representative of God in a way they don't look at other members...

While we are all ambasadors of Christ, some don't see that.

That is the same reason why the pastor is wanted at the hospital when someone is having surgery... it affirms God's presence with the sick...

Strange I know, but that is the way people see him.

 

Sounds reasonable to me. :laugh:

 

I have had something happen this past week that really blew my mind...

We have 2 people that had to have a procedure at the hospital...

1 person: a shoulder surgery
2 person: a heart cath.

Both has told me to stay home! They didn't want me there.. not because they don't like me... but because of the cost of gas.. and saving the church money.... (The hospital is almost 2 hours away)

They said that my prayers along with the prayers of their Brothers and sisters in Christ will reach Heaven from here... They said it was a matter of good stewardship....

But I am meeting one of the families in the morning before they leave their house at 5, to have prayer with them...

I am happy that they are this solid in their faith... kinda reminds me of the guy that told Jesus to just speak the word, and his child would be healed... That Jesus didn't have to physically be there...

NOW that is faith!

 

Half the time I never turn in my mileage...
So no problem there.. :thumbs:

We are on the same page here..

With Gas prices.. they didn't care if it was coming out of my pocket, or the church... it was still a matter of good stewardship...

 

I do too.. that is why it blew my mind...

It might be also important to note that they come from the same family that has a high priority on not wasting resources...
In their mind, for me as a pastor to travel 150 miles to pray is a waste of resources since I can pray for them here, and God will answer... And this would be a sign of bad stewardship in their pastor... So we also are having a special prayer at church tonight for them... a circle prayer.

Some people don't want anyone around including their pastor when going through a hospital procedure...

As a pastor, I have to be able to know the "sheep" the Good Shepherd has allowed me to minister to..

And all are different...

Gotta run...

 

This is unusual Spiritual maturity. I have rarely seen it among members of the churches I have served. Occasionally, but not often. Most want me there, even if they never told me that they're going to be in the hospital.

I'll never forget the dear old saint who railed me because I didn't come and see her when she was in the hospital - a 3 day stay. I told her that I never knew that she was there. I told her, "If you want me to come see you, you have to let me know you're there - I can't read minds, you know."

 

I think at some level they have James 5:14-15 in their minds, and that certainly suggests that the elders (whoever that may be and I think it includes pastor) are expected to show up.

 

Even with all the "stuff" I can't imagine doing anything else.

 

Why? It's because the pastor gets paid and we Baptists like to make sure he earns his salary!:laugh:

 

Most don't feel "worthy" enough to pray. Some don't know how to pray or think that there is a certain procedure (Jas 5:14-15).

A pastor I play golf with was lamenting this very thing the other day saying that we don't teach our members to pray with the sick and dying -- how to pray, how to encourage, etc. We don't even designate teams of men like elders anymore to visit.

My MiL was really miffed when her pastor didn't visit her dying husband. They believe it is the least a pastor can do for longtime, faithful members.

There's my sense of it.

skypair

 

Have we not, as pastors, also fed this problem? We have a need to be needed, we act as though nothing significant can take place unless we are doing it. Speaking confessionally ... I remember times when I agreed that my assistant pastor should visit someone, as it fit his schedule better, only to feel anxiety that the family or patient would feel they were being shortchanged. I suspect we visit more out of a need to satisfy the politics of the church and our own insecurities than we do out of compassion.

Well, "we" means "I". Mea culpa

 

Curious what this has to do with mega church pastors? I've seen this same attitude in churches with 50 people