I noticed a few mistyped letters but this is readable.

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Preacher's Wife Name Withheld I have no quarrel with God, but I have a lover's quarrel with the church. Something's wrong in this fellowship which traditionally proclaims to the world and to ourselves how right we are. Some of our worship services are so self-conscious that consciousness of God is hardly possible - show-business productions where excitement is the watchword, success is the goal and Jesus Christ is not the superstar. In organization, we have wedded business and church and brought forth a religious corporation with a basically unworkable system. Preachers and elders are in positions that almost inevitably lead to conflict, power struggles, and disappointed expectations. Preachers are expected to function as pastors - shepherds - while denying that they are pastors, and members are careful to avoid calling them pastors. (For all our talk about "the truth," many of us see labels as more important than reality.) Elders - who are to be called pastors - are expected to function in absurdly contradictory roles regardless of their abilities or limitations. They are expected to be shepherds in a corporation or executives in a sheepfold. Shepherd-type elders who can't manage are criticized; management-type elders who can't shepherd are criticized. Usually, the elders' number one responsibility in the church is hiring, firing, or supervising a preacher. They try to hire an expert who can juggle all the jobs; who is willing and able to shepherd the sheep, preach the Word, organize the corporation and keep it solvent. Elders then are considered to be his bosses and advisers - licensed backseat drivers who tell the preacher how to do what they admit they can't do themselves. If the preacher goes along with their advice and it doesn't work, the preacher gets the blame for the failure. If he doesn't go along, he's criticized for not being in subjection to the elders. The sheep always hear the voice of the functioning shepherd. If that happens to be the preacher, the sheep are accused of being preacher-lovers who rebel against the "authority" of the elders. Some members meekly and dutifully pray: "Help us follow the wisdom of our elders" as though men were given sudden, miraculous wisdom at elder-installation ceremonies. (We're supposed to ask wisdom of God.) Or they pray: "Help us unite under the leadership of our elders." (We're supposed to unite as disciples of Christ.) Trying to live up to this mystique of pope-like authority can be a burden and a strain on humble men. But some become imperious and virtually put themselves in the place of Christ or thoughtlessly allow others to do so. Both preachers and elders can be corrupted by the power thrust on them and forget to remind themselves: "I myself also am a man." As sheep, we should follow the right shepherd. As the body of Christ, we should take directions from the right head. As a kingdom, we should honor the right King. If all we are is a corporation, we need efficient executives to run it. If show business is our legitimate work, we need talented performers and smooth masters of ceremonies and innovative producers. If we're strictly a system of law and tradition, we need more Pharisees to fiddle on our roof. But if we are truly sheep, we need shepherds patterned after the Good Shepherd, not bosses or public-relations men or super administrators. We need to be taken care of, kept safe from wolves, led beside still waters and in paths of righteousness that honor the Lord's name and not our own. The ones who seem best able to follow the true shepherd without confusion are saintly, silver-haired ladies and a few others who are left out of the political scene - who care nothing for power, money, prestige, or appearances and think of lime else but devotion to God and service to others. I'm not one of those who follow without confusion, and I long sometimes - not courageously - for a simpler life in Christ. Again and again I face familiar contradictions and define problems without seeing solutions. They are problems that pull often at my roots and have a profound, life-disrupting effect on me and my family. I'm in a quandary shared by many others, judging by the weeping, angry, bewildered sheep who recurrently bleat into our telephone and at our door. Sheep and shepherds alike are suffering. Lovers' quarrels are very painful. God help us all.

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-- Anonymous, May 03, 2000

Answers

Right again Nelta.

At a Bible study a Lady was asking about a confusing book, written by a Radio preacher. "It is so confusing." she said.

I tried to explain to her about the simplicity of Christ. True, Jesus spoke in parables but that was only to confuse the enemy. It was not meant to confuse the disciple. That is the reason we need truly Spirit filled Preachers. Not preachers filled with the spirit of Babylon, where money is the goal.

If you are interested I can email you some info that is never taught in the pulpits of the SYSTEM CHURCH. It will change your thinking re: Christianity.

The few preachers that have attempted to explain the truth have simply been excused. That is the truth.

"The truth always promotes a scandal."

I left the organized church when I was thirteen, joined again when I was 23, kicked out, joined another, it fell apart, joined another searching for the truth and was kicked out of that one because I chose to find the truth re: the Kingdom and that is a no no. "Stop talking that way and you can stay." said the preacher. "Bye Bye." I said.

For example...The Scriptures say we are chosen...(1 Pet 2:9 KJV) "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:"

(1 Pet 2:10 KJV) "Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy."

But the Judeo-Christian says that the Jew is the chosen.

I am not a Judeo-Christian and if your preacher claims that he/you are then he is mixing with the element that was AGAINST CHRIST. That is antichrist. Truth is hard to bare.

(Rev 18:4 KJV) "And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues."

Think about it!

-- Anonymous, May 04, 2000

Mark, please send me that information, pronto.

Nelta

-- Anonymous, May 04, 2000

I can appreciate the thoughts expressed in this. In many cases, so sad, so true. And serves to point out the Great need for God today to send our more Evangelists who will try to work themselves out of a job. It was so refreshing when God sent me to Turlock, Ca. where I met with a number of Godly men (The Pastors of the Church) Who wanted a new beginning, meaning to get back to the pattern found in the word of God. People will not go beyond what they have been taught. So I am digging in to throw out the language of Ashdod and return to Bible words and Bible thoughts, which had to begin with the Pastors of the Flock. After preaching in the Lords Church for over 40 years, I thank God for this opportunity. The biggest problem I have run into is that previous leaders in the Church have contributed to the Pastoral- Clergy bird concept and not ploughed a straight furrow. It takes patience and Faithfulness and Gods blessing to get the job done. I have found so many of my brother preachers who have crumbled and left the work because of being verbally abused. Its sad. But , I have good news, there are still many who have not bowed the knees to baal, and will never do so. I guess that I have been blessed with good role models. Men of God who Stand for the truth regardless of the cost. We could live back in the days when real stones were thrown instead of verbal ones. We are due for a great Revival. And each of us should say, and Lord, let it begin with me. Your affectionate Servant Bro. Jack

-- Anonymous, May 04, 2000

Nelta,

One book that is interesting is called MAN THINKING.

Write to:

The Association of the Covenant People 7730 Edmonds St Burnaby, B.C. Canada V3N 1B8

or: POB 1478 Ferndale, WA. 98246

Another is:

Destiny Publishers POB 177 Merrimac, Massachusetts, 01860-0177

Remember to "Study to show yourself approved..."

(1 Th 5:19 KJV) "Quench not the Spirit."

(1 Th 5:20 KJV) "Despise not prophesyings."

(1 Th 5:21 KJV) "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good."

Years ago I said/prayed, "I don't care what the est. church says, I want to know the TRUTH."

God is a kind Father and he will not bombard you with that which is to hard to bare at the moment. Take your time, be patient and God will guide you via the Holy Spirit. After which you will be labeled certifiably "crazy", by the standards of the world.

When you see something that conflicts with what you have been taught for years study it and prove wether it is true.

Gods plan has been working to perfection.

-- Anonymous, May 05, 2000