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September 8, 2011
Out of Context: Eugene Peterson
The modern temptation to depersonalize ministry.
"If people don't know their pastor, it's easy to put the pastor on a pedestal and depersonalize him or her. It's also easy for pastors, who don't know their congregations, simply to classify congregants as saved or unsaved, involved or not involved, tithers or non-tithers. These impersonal designations allow you to treat people not as they are, but as sociological or psychological categories."
Excerpted from "Pastor in the Present Tense" in the Summer 2011 issue of Leadership Journal. To read the full quote IN context be sure to subscribe to Leadership today by clicking on the LJ cover in the left column.
Eugene Peterson is the author of The Pastor.
Comments
There are lots of ways to turn people into objects. And categorizing them is one.
This leads to "using people and loving things," rather than "loving people and using things."
Eugene does get at the heart of pastoring.
Posted By: Jarrod | September 8, 2011 10:04 AM
"If people don't know their pastor, it's easy to put the pastor on a pedestal and depersonalize him or her."
I think that the pedestal is more of a default setting due to the title rather than the individual. Everyone loves the Pastor...till he upsets the apple cart by doing what a pastor is suppose to do...you know...teach from the bible.
(sorry, just thinking of a couple of pastors who loves themselves popularity more than scriptural teaching)
However, I have to agree with the second part...
"simply to classify congregants as saved or unsaved, involved or not involved, tithers or non-tithers."
I've talked to a few pastors who have "tailored" their messages to the various "groupings" in their church, and in mine.
Kind of odd now that I think about it...hmm...a good call.
Posted By: sheerahkahn | September 8, 2011 11:38 AM
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