See the reason that pastors are out of touch with the faith of their congregations is because the congregation does not lead a cloistered life. They are out there in the untamed world with their bodies and souls butting up against the unseemly and ungainly.
But you... the pastor.. has the inherent need to be all things congregational. No matter your appreciation of the congregant's life and lifestyle, you are not afforded the luxury of having your faith develop except by the proxy of those who are out in the world.
Don't protest. Even if you are meeting one group of 'worldly' people for breakfast or offering a sympathetic ear to someone going through a tough time, or maybe your marriage is on the rocks, your kids are rebelling and your in laws drive you nuts, or the denominational competition for 'pastor of the year' is a pressure, the fact is you get to speak in the LINGO of the church all the time. And then Sunday you roll in for the really big show and it seals the deal
Give it a week without speaking any Christian Lingo at all.... Can you do it? What happens when you do?
The church doesn't need your defense, but the Body of Christ may need you to perform CPR. Could you do it? Can you breathe life into faith? Can you give a witness? Would you?
Let's start a conversation. Tell me about it.
Love,
Deborah
About Me
- The Social Contemplative
- What does it mean to be a social contemplative? A person who has spent a lot of time reflecting on a very busy life with diverse experiences that have , in spite of herself, yielded a lot of wisdom she wishes to pass on to others. Deborah loves people but recharges her batteries alone. Sitting in the presence of her own life is mandatory. Reflection and centering happen in the midst of the whirl of a populated world. Born on the East Coast, living all her adult life on the West Coast she is a hybrid of cultures. She is a mom, a writer, and a teacher who sings, reads and swims for fun. And yes she is ordained, but don’t hold that against her. She believes we are more than conquerors and most days there’s a smile on her face because she deals with life in real time. She’s a whole lot funnier than this description makes her sound. Lastly, it’s important to know she’s a paper and pencil gal in a digital world.
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