My pastor blew it today. I really like our small church, the intimacy, knowing all the people in it, their searching for God's will, and our study of the Bible. And our pastor. l

But today our good pastor spoke about something he is truly ignorant of. His ignorance resulted in his mischaracterization of someone, and of the reasoned beliefs of many Christians.

For most people this would be of little importance. It will pass. God will have his way regardless. But it diminishes and casts doubt on the truths that he has regularly spoken and could cause rejection by seeking unbelievers or a crisis of faith by a conflicted beliver.

Anyway, if this is not appropriate for this forum please go ahead and delete. Don't want to hurt the pastor's feelings by speaking to him (he tries hard) but am happy to get it of my chest.

-- carlos (clb@dixienet.com), October 22, 2001

Answers

Carlos, if EVER there was a time to speak to your pastor, this is it. I'm sure you can convey your concerns to him without being critical. He'll probably appreciate the input and the opportunity to clear up whatever misconceptions he may have created. I hope this helps.

-- Gary in Indiana (gk6854@aol.com), October 22, 2001.

I agree. Ask to maybe study it with him.This way he can either prove it or learn from it. I would hate to see a good man go down without a chance.

-- Thomas Calloway (Calfarm@msn.com), October 22, 2001.

this is a time that you have to talk with your pastor about our thoughts, without being critical. Tell him your concerns. share with him. He is, after all, only human and I'm sure he rather hearit face- to-face than through gossip. And...it will travel through gossip...human nature being what it is.

-- Ardie from WI (ardie54965@hotmail.com), October 22, 2001.

Pray first! So often we have good intentions, but our words don't match what our heart is saying. If you still feel led to talk to him after much prayer, go ahead. You might also take another with you, if others feel as you do. It's Biblical and it insures a third party to listen to what is being said on both sides.

-- melina b. (goatgalmjb1@hotmail.com), October 22, 2001.

Speaking from a pastor's wife's point of view, I am going to totally agree with everything said so far. Do NOT worry about hurting your pastor's feelings. If he's the good man you say he is, he would rather you talk it out with him. We have had some people leave our church over misunderstandings. They would not talk to my husband about it much, yet they blamed him for some of the reasons they left. Sometimes people have to leave a church, but always they should talk it out with the pastor first.

-- Cathy N. (keeper8@attcanada.ca), October 22, 2001.

I know the feeling, and agree with the other posters who have remarked that a pastor is just a human being like the rest of us, who sometimes does not have the facts straight. Our Minister, two weeks ago, misspoke concerning the tenets of Islam. He had been misinformed and passed that misinformation on as if it were truth. When several of us discussed it with him, he corrected himself at the next service. I have never met any religious leader worth his salt who would willingly instruct his congregation falsely, so go ahead and discuss this issue with him, rather than let him continue believing a falsehood ans passing it on. God bless.

-- lesley (martchas@bellsouth.net), October 22, 2001.

Everybodies advice is well-taken. I will pray, then have a talk with him. Thanks very much for your inputs.

-- carlos (clb@dixienet.com), October 23, 2001.