I read this article over at Pyromaniacs today and decided to link it here for the edification of DefCon’s readership.
I was struck and my heart was pricked by the simple truth of the piece and I sadly realized that I too often stand guilty of the error pinpointed by the author, Dan Phillips. At this point it would be worth clarifying that I’m referring to the LATTER error mentioned, and not the FORMER – you’ll understand what I mean when you read the article.
Note: Don’t let the original article’s title deter you, the piece is 100% Team Pyro tested and approved and safe for viewing.
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About Coram Deo
Greetings! By way of introduction I am a born-again Christian who seeks to live in the presence of, under the authority of, and to the honor and glory of the Triune Yahweh Elohim Shaddai–the One True and Living LORD God Almighty Who is the self contained, self sufficient, and unique infinite Creator of all things.
I believe the historic, orthodox, Biblical Christian faith as found in the 66 books of the Holy Bible is the only true and right religion that has been revealed to mankind and all other faiths and extra-Biblical sources of revelation are absolutely false and without any eternal merit or redemptive power.
Through this medium I hope to share my worldview with any who are interested, and in this manner I hope to expand my witness to the lost, and extend whatever ability I’ve been given to edify the believer to the praise of the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ, the risen Savior.
Sola Scriptura! (Scripture alone), Sola Fide! (faith alone), Sola Gratia! (grace alone), Soli Christo! (Christ alone) - Soli Deo Gloria! (to God alone be glory)
Pilgrim
thejunglemissionary
Bill
Manfred
abidingthroughgrace
Chris Hohnholz
Amen – I read that article yesterday and thanked the Lord for it. I’ve been taught and have taught this principle to men, regarding marriage but did not have as clear an application of it to elders. I have wondered why some pastors point to Piper, et. al. as their own standard – rather than the Scripture. My guess is they are just as susceptible as “normal people”.
This was a really good article. I think the author succinctly addressed the issue of laymen expecting their pastors to perform like the greats of the faith and that they have this incorrect view that the greats had no shortcomings.
However, I think this article missed an even greater problem: One that perhaps the author can address in a future post. The problem I speak of is not the paper pastor, but the Golden Calf Pastor.
It’s when people place a pastor on such a high pedestal that when he begins to stray from sound biblical doctrine, use profanity from the pulpit (or in promotional videos), endorses worldly shepherds, begins acting like the world, plays AC/DC music for the Easter service, etc., the pastor worshipers simply look the other way. And worse, when anyone else dares to address this issue, the pastor idolaters vehemently defend their Golden Calf with a vitriolic fervor unparalleled in any other aspect of their spiritual life (with the exception of their defense of Christian music perhaps).
They place their admiration and adoration of their favorite pastor (whether they’re under his direct influence or not) above and beyond the very commands of Scripture.
I will only sit under the teaching of a pastor insofar as he steadfastly remains faithful to Christ, His Church, and His Word.
This my-favorite-pastor-can-do-no-wrong mentality is increasingly becoming a problem in Christendom and only serves to fulfill Christ’s warning that many false prophets will arise and mislead many. We see time and time again how prevalent and insidious this problem is, and how easily and subtly it is accomplished.
- The Pilgrim
@Pilgrim,
And many people rightly say, “Ouch!” This is a ditch on both sides of the road – the man-pleaser pastor who woes goats to adore him and the godly pastor who is obedient to Christ and is mistaken for Him by those who ought to know better.