tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28988815.post995929283793900486..comments2023-08-15T06:44:05.705-05:00Comments on Pure Church: What A Good Pastor Is To Do, 5FellowElderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08590139703839397873noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28988815.post-1927025431169134422006-12-13T13:11:00.000-05:002006-12-13T13:11:00.000-05:00I am a young pastor (26 years old) and have found ...I am a young pastor (26 years old) and have found that my peers in ministry often throw this verse around in order to justify themselves when accurate criticism comes along. Rather than heeding advice from those older and wiser, they let the input bounce off with this verse in mind, "Oh, the elders are just looking down on me because I'm young, but scripture says they shouldn't, so I'm right, they're wrong." This attitude so dangerous and feeds arrogance. The balance is knowing the difference between legitimate criticism and what's not legitimate and heeding the what's said with wisdom.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28988815.post-71270575284286723772006-12-13T09:58:00.000-05:002006-12-13T09:58:00.000-05:00Very timely post related to what I looked at this...Very timely post related to what I looked at this morning in Jeremiah 1.<br /> <br />In response to God's call to Jeremiah to be a prophet to the nations, Jeremiah says, "Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth" (1:6).<br /> <br />About this response, Philip Graham Ryken writes:<br /> <br />"God did not disqualify Jeremiah on the basis of his youth and inexperience. In fact, he treated him the same way he treated Moses. He did not deny the basis for the prophet's objection. He did not argue with Jeremiah about his speaking credentials or quiblle with him about his age. Jeremiah may have had reasonable doubts. But God exposed his false humility for what it really was: a lack of faith. <br /> <br />Jeremiah had forgotten that God is not limited by human weakness. God himself possesses everything Jeremiah needs to answer his call. In fact, enabling weak tools to do strong jobs is God's standard operating procedure. His entire work force is comprised of dubious candidates. When God calls someone to do a job, he gives him or her all the gifts needed to get the job done. With God's calling comes God's gifting."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28988815.post-29777583797623275302006-12-13T06:08:00.000-05:002006-12-13T06:08:00.000-05:00Thabiti, these are very wise words on a topic not ...Thabiti, these are very wise words on a topic not often discussed. Like Scott, I am a young pastor, beginning four years ago with my church, aged only 22. It certainly brings peculiar pressures from both outside and within. I'll be sure to take this wisdom to heart.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28988815.post-58070866057863123682006-12-12T15:23:00.000-05:002006-12-12T15:23:00.000-05:00Thank you so much for this! I am a young pastor a...Thank you so much for this! I am a young pastor and I needed to hear this today desperately. May God continue to be glorified in your ministry.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com