I am or more actually was a pastor for 30 years. After an unplanned retirement (cancer). I found myself in a pew instead of a pulpit. I wish that would have happened at year 10. Then I would have (maybe) understood what "church" is really like. First church i attended after retirement, leadership that usurped authority from a congregation that didn't know better. Second church a revolving council that left the pastor as the only mainstay on the board that he wasn't supposed to be in charge of. Then I tried some larger churches with awesome bands and moving worship. Only to find out I was spectator of church not a part of church. Then there was the church that clearly worshipped the Bible not the God of it. Finally I found a congregation of 30-40. Organic worship I feel a part of from the pew. Biblical messages that point to God and His redemptive love. One pastor with multiple preachers. No full-time salaries. Just full-time people loving God and living in their community. It's the closest thing I found to church. Including the ones I pastored.
Thanks! I know that this is not for me (I'm not a pastor), yet it still resonates strongly and personally. While reading it, I could not help thinking of God rejecting the sacrifices (Isaiah 1, Hosea 6 among others) and the cause appears to me to be the same as the one you point to in this piece.
"With what shall I come before the Lord
and bow down before the exalted God?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
with calves a year old?
7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,
with ten thousand rivers of olive oil?
Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:6-8
Acting justly, loving mercy and walking humbly have all to do with what makes the actual ecclesia.
I am or more actually was a pastor for 30 years. After an unplanned retirement (cancer). I found myself in a pew instead of a pulpit. I wish that would have happened at year 10. Then I would have (maybe) understood what "church" is really like. First church i attended after retirement, leadership that usurped authority from a congregation that didn't know better. Second church a revolving council that left the pastor as the only mainstay on the board that he wasn't supposed to be in charge of. Then I tried some larger churches with awesome bands and moving worship. Only to find out I was spectator of church not a part of church. Then there was the church that clearly worshipped the Bible not the God of it. Finally I found a congregation of 30-40. Organic worship I feel a part of from the pew. Biblical messages that point to God and His redemptive love. One pastor with multiple preachers. No full-time salaries. Just full-time people loving God and living in their community. It's the closest thing I found to church. Including the ones I pastored.
Thanks! I know that this is not for me (I'm not a pastor), yet it still resonates strongly and personally. While reading it, I could not help thinking of God rejecting the sacrifices (Isaiah 1, Hosea 6 among others) and the cause appears to me to be the same as the one you point to in this piece.
"With what shall I come before the Lord
and bow down before the exalted God?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
with calves a year old?
7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,
with ten thousand rivers of olive oil?
Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:6-8
Acting justly, loving mercy and walking humbly have all to do with what makes the actual ecclesia.
Amen 👊👊👊👊