The lecturer told the audience, "My job is to speak and your job is to listen. If you finish your job before I finish my job, my job is over."
This is somewhat true for pastors and parishioners.
The pastor's job (at least part of it) is to shepherd, that is, to feed and lead the local flock of believers.
The parishioner's job (at least part of it) is to submit to spiritual authority and bring lambs, new believers, into the fold.
When the parishioner finishes his job before the pastor finishes his job, the pastor's job is over (at least part of it).
It is possible to have a group of people meet for religious activities, without it being an actual gathering of the local church. When this happens...
It is possible to have a group of people meet for religious activities, without it being an actual gathering of the local church. When this happens...
Believers are robbed,
Unsaved people are abandoned and
God is not glorified.
God wants to have real pastors and real parishioners do His bidding in this evil world. When that happens, there will be great blessing, and probably great suffering.
By the way, when people are finished before God is finished, then corruption and confusion of every kind enters in and the Church loses its salt and light, leaving the world in decaying darkness.
God wants to have real pastors and real parishioners do His bidding in this evil world. When that happens, there will be great blessing, and probably great suffering.
By the way, when people are finished before God is finished, then corruption and confusion of every kind enters in and the Church loses its salt and light, leaving the world in decaying darkness.
