Tithing

[Vic]

(07-23-2009 01:10 PM)pastor_chris Wrote:  You know what! You people have no idea what a pastor goes through in a local congregation! It is obvious that there is an anti-clerical bias on this forum. Pastors sacrifice more than any people I know period! In most congregations the member have boats, go on vacations, have nice big houses, and new clothes. The pastor and his family dont have any of those things! Pastors work 40-70 hours a week and are on call 24 hours a day. We do not get days off, we get hammered when we take a vacation, and then we have church members that complain that we make "too much money" when our kids are in clothes from a thrift store and need new shoes.

The above posts are based on pure ignorance. The idea that a pastor works an hour a week plus Sunday is written by someone who hates pastors and has no idea how much study goes into a 35 minute sermon. Maybe I dont belong on this forum!

Chris,

You need to step back and take a deep a breath and ask God to cool you down.

It is very obvious you are having a rough time as a pastor. It appears you are under considerable attack and are struggling. But you need to understand Chris---what you have listed as deficits and issues as a pastor can actually be common for those who actually serve Christ full time, simply as fellow believers.

1Co 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

I can take that list and apply it to my own life---doing my website and forum. Research and writing and taking the heat---daily...and we haven't had a vacation-we don't normally take any ....5 yrs ago---we took a week for our anniversary. We had 3 days last summer. That's leaving on a Friday afternoon and back by Sunday evening.

We don't have a boat, camper, cottage, the big house---still doing repairs and trying to get gyproc on some of the walls of our small bungalow which God provided-it's a bit bigger than the last one---have bought clothing and things from garage sales and thrift stores, couldn't attend our son's wedding due to distance and cost,(which was a difficult thing to deal with) and we support this ministry fulltime ourselves. I do the website, the research, the writing, the forum...it's all my responsibility...and then the emails....I generally am on the computer by early to mid morning to evening, 7 days a week-although as I need a break, I take it now. I used to do 14-16 hr days--but do not do that any longer if I can help it. And God continues to provide all our needs...on limited resources. I am not complaining...I am stating a fact. And I am thankful that it is all in God's capable hands.

You think you are trapped it seems. By an unsupportive congregation that plays the slots and gambles and complains and doesn't support you...or your family. Does it occur to you that they either don't know Christ or have lost their love for Him if that is their focus and attitude? Have you addressed it with them from your heart and the Scriptures?

What is wrong with purchasing at a thrift store Chris? Don't other people buy things there also..for their wives, husbands, children?

Is it pride or coveting what others have that makes it an issue?

Heb 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Heb 13:6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

You know what Chris, it can hurt serving Christ. But He promised He would never leave us or forsake us.

Romans 8:31-39 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32. He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 34. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36. As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39. Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

And He promised to supply ALL our NEEDS. Are you doubting He is doing that? Or is what He is providing at this time simply not good enough for you?

You may be a dedicated pastor Chris, but you don't appear to be a happy pastor or one resting in the Lord. Further, accusing those posters of ignorance is inappropriate.

You don't know what these people have come out of --to feel that way--and relaying those experiences may not feel real nice to you--but if that is their experience, it's their truth of the matter.

Why not show what a Christ loving and Christ serving pastor is really like. Or is how you have presented your post what you really want people to think of as a pastor who loves Jesus, but has no joy serving him and resents anything but a glowing pat on the back simply because you have the title of pastor.

You are on the right forum Chris. You are supposed to be here. Ask God why....and don't leave just because it suddenly got difficult....

We are brothers and sisters in Christ, for those who love Jesus, and we are to help one another. It's up to you if you receive that help and encouragement.

Step back and don't try to be a pastor here, Chris, just be a brother in Christ.