Comments on: The buck, part 2

By: Mark

Mark — Sun, 28 May 2006 03:27:41 +0000

Derek: You guys are not talking about the same thing. I think you all agree. Besides, nobody knows what the heck you are talking about.

ME: Yeah, I know, but it makes for better blogging.

By: Mark

Mark — Sat, 27 May 2006 16:55:37 +0000

As long as you are speaking generally, yes, there is truth in most of what is being said here. But the example was not general. It was specific, in a specific context and I am not sure it is fair at this stage in the game to sit on the sidelines and throw pot shots. Some church flowers need to be planted. We can be high minded and let someone else do it. In fact, let’s let the those unenlightened people do it, because, afterall, it’s just church flowers designed to make the visible church keep doing what it does.

There is another option here that no one seems to be talking about.

By: Wayne

Wayne — Sat, 27 May 2006 14:51:57 +0000

I thought I felt the earth shake — Steve B., Mr. “I don’t read blogs, I don’t care what other people think” posted…this makes at least twice!!! I do believe we’ll be seeing the Steve Boehm blogspot before long

Anywayn, Steve — great points — even if you aren’t bitter. Love ya bro!

By: Steve Boehm

Steve Boehm — Sat, 27 May 2006 13:47:16 +0000

I’ve got a little bit of experience on this subject …

A vast majority of the people that I’ve encountered who have risen to the level of church leadership have all had a pretty good idea of what they think “church” should look like. In some cases, they have desired to be in leadership because the church they are attending no longer fits “the mold” – hence, their opportunity to affect the direction. It becomes easy to set the rules of proper and improper conduct/dress/direction/actions … etc.

My humble opinion is that the missing quality in most church leaders is spirituality. It is difficult, when you are in a church leadership position, to say “I don’t know – I’m waiting to hear from Jesus on this”. It is difficult when eveyone around you demands action to say “Wait – I haven’t heard from God”. And it’s the end of a career to say, “I recognize this is the way we do it, but God is telling us to do something different”. It is much, much easier to set up a set of extra-biblical rules to abide by and to eliminate anything that doesn’t fit … the Pharisees found this to be the case also. “The Buck Stops Hear” … “I know right from wrong, which makes ME the final authority”.

When we continue to elevate Pharisitical thinking men to leadership positions, we will continue to reap legalistic clubs. Pluralism in leadership works until the Pharisee becomes uncomfortable, THEN we meet under the cover of darkness to eliminate the problem (check out the arrest of Jesus – the Pharisees conducted their business in the middle of the night, the pagan Romans did theirs in full view of everyone).

{but I’m not bitter}

By: Mark

Mark — Sat, 27 May 2006 02:56:59 +0000

I’d take willing with limited ability over ability that is unwilling anyday.