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

I don't know but my response might a result of many years as a Pastor of a small congregation. I have found that we do invoke the prayers of each other and in fact find them very endearing. To put so much on one man is akin to having a personal priest. This is not the doctrine of Acts chapter 6.

 

I personally have never felt that it is "better" for my senior pastor to pray for me than my brother/sister in the pew next to me.

I do however appreciate prayers for me and my loved ones from whoever is leading congregational prayer because it represents the entire church praying as opposed to a single person. I'm not sure why I perceive that as "better" but for some reason I do.

 

I think a man who serves as senior pastor is usually a well spoken person who everyone likes and wants to be near. And, it's his job to project spirituality even on days when things aren't going to great for him. We expect him to always have the right thing to say in every situation, and he usually does. This is all just human nature.

Well, one evening the pastor at a church I was attending (a really big church) said there was going to be a healing service that night. No, not a Benny Hinn "knock 'em in the head and they fall over" healing service, but elders of the church were standing in the back with bottles of anointing oil and if anyone was sick or afflicted that the elders were there to pray for them for their healing. And the pastor just about guaranteed, though not using that exact word, that people would be healed.

Well, my eyesight had been failing me and multiple ophthalmologists had been unable to figure out what was going on. So I got in line, and I was annointed and prayed for. Within two days the name of another ophthalmologist was given to me. I had an appointment the next week, surgery followed, and my vision is now 20/20 with glasses. God heals, and I give Him no less credit for using a doctor to do the busy work.

James made it clear, we are to call on the elders of the church. The pastor is great, and he's one of the elders too of course, but it is the obedience that God wants, not us seeking to promote our good emotional feelings. Give me the youngest elder of the church with a bottle of oil and God will do His part every time.

 

When I was in my teens (35 years ago ) we had a similar service and my Great Uncle went forward and the deacons put their hands on his head and the pastor anointed him with olive oil and the hip ailment he had was gone by the next day.:godisgood:

 

Bless you m' friend, bless you!!

I am one of those who doesn't care for a lot of company when I'm sick; just leave me alone and I will enjoy your company when I'm better. I'd much rather you pray for me from "afar", and visit later or even just a phone call is fine.

Also kudos for acknowledging that people are different and not from the same mold.

I had a birthday a month or so ago, and a friend from church saw me as we were entering church Sun AM, & yelled from 30-40 yards away "Happy birthday!" I was thinking to myself "Please be quiet". I DO NOT LIKE attention focused on me, and this was just begging for bystanders to join in - to my dread; thankfully none did.

He made the comment to me after he got closer, "Everybody likes to be recognized on their birthday, no matter how old they are."

Well, maybe many, or even most do, but I for one do not!! A birthday to me is just another day & nothing significant.

There have been many times past that I was totally unaware of the date until my wife gave me a card/present/greeting sometime during the day.

At any rate I do appreciate that you are aware that some folk do despise/hate/avoid any undue attention, and so honor that desire!