What is your view of the majority of Christian pastors/preachers/priests?

[Blackpowderduelist]

So I read a survey that said that about 70.6% of Americans identify as Christian, and about 40% attend church regularly. This is down from what it was just one generation ago.
So this is my point; while I don't know most pastors, or any where near most pastors, there is a serious deficit in the pulpits.
From what I have witnessed of church attendees admittedly that's not a drop in the bucket considering the shear number, there is definitely a deficit of teaching. They don't know what they believe, or how to get from Sunday to Monday.
Of those (as i have witnessed) who seem at least somewhat educated in doctrine, I hear mostly very bad doctrine.
I think the situation is quite dire.

 

[Scribe]

99.9999% of Preachers are preaching another Jesus that is not in the Bible. Matthew 7:14

The narrow way is the Cross! The preaching of the Cross is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18

That number might be a little high don't you think? What a pessimistic view of

I once read about a woman who was so displeased with her church and asked God why His church was so fallen. She said one day she was very perplexed and comtemplating on this while in church when she heard God's voice answer...

He said, "My preachers are not perfect. But I AM."

I have found myself critiquing preachers and heard God say, "He's doing a better job of it than you are so Shut Up" and I repented. True story.

 

[Scribe]

So I read a survey that said that about 70.6% of Americans identify as Christian, and about 40% attend church regularly. This is down from what it was just one generation ago.
So this is my point; while I don't know most pastors, or any where near most pastors, there is a serious deficit in the pulpits.
From what I have witnessed of church attendees admittedly that's not a drop in the bucket considering the shear number, there is definitely a deficit of teaching. They don't know what they believe, or how to get from Sunday to Monday.
Of those (as i have witnessed) who seem at least somewhat educated in doctrine, I hear mostly very bad doctrine.
I think the situation is quite dire.

If we are going to guess at statistics I would guess that most pastors don't believe they need to be Bible Scholars, or Bible College Professors, they believe they need to love people and be interested in people and take time to care about the daily real life issues of each member of their church. This seems to be the emphasis most pastors hold as priority. Their philosophy is that anyone can read books on the bible and doctrine and that the pastor should know the bible and have at least the equivalent of 3 years of basic bible courses but beyond that the majority of their ministry is not going to be teaching Bible knowledge to their members but rather helping them deal with life issues.
This attitude produces many pastors that are not Bible Scholars and even somewhat weak preachers. Many members complain about "not being fed" because they expect their pastors to be Bible College Professors.

Should Pastors be Bible Scholars? Is it necessary to Feed the Sheep? Can the pastor simply preach the basics and be feeding the sheep?

 

[Blackpowderduelist]

If we are going to guess at statistics I would guess that most pastors don't believe they need to be Bible Scholars, or Bible College Professors, they believe they need to love people and be interested in people and take time to care about the daily real life issues of each member of their church. This seems to be the emphasis most pastors hold as priority. Their philosophy is that anyone can read books on the bible and doctrine and that the pastor should know the bible and have at least the equivalent of 3 years of basic bible courses but beyond that the majority of their ministry is not going to be teaching Bible knowledge to their members but rather helping them deal with life issues.
This attitude produces many pastors that are not Bible Scholars and even somewhat weak preachers. Many members complain about "not being fed" because they expect their pastors to be Bible College Professors.

Should Pastors be Bible Scholars? Is it necessary to Feed the Sheep? Can the pastor simply preach the basics and be feeding the sheep?

I preached to a church one time about how they needed to be able to provide real biblical answers to a generation of youth that are going to have some sophisticated questions. That they are competing in a vast market of ideas competing for the minds of young adults, and they had better be able to give an answer. I got told afterward that this particular church did need to be scholastic at all and that the simple gospel would suffice. I thought to myself, well, the majority of this church is over 60, and the three or four families that were not elderly, their children are leaving once they get out on their own, so good luck with your pending closing.

 

[MessageOfTheCross]

I have found myself critiquing preachers and heard God say, "He's doing a better job of it than you are so Shut Up" and I repented. True story.

Paul said to call them out (those who are spiritual judge all things). In Romans 16 it says to mark them.

14 Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to [d]strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers.

15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

16 But shun profane and [e]idle babblings, for they will [f]increase to more ungodliness.

17 And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort,

18 who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some.

19 Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of [g]Christ depart from iniquity.” 2 Timothoy 2

 

[Scribe]

I preached to a church one time about how they needed to be able to provide real biblical answers to a generation of youth that are going to have some sophisticated questions. That they are competing in a vast market of ideas competing for the minds of young adults, and they had better be able to give an answer. I got told afterward that this particular church did need to be scholastic at all and that the simple gospel would suffice. I thought to myself, well, the majority of this church is over 60, and the three or four families that were not elderly, their children are leaving once they get out on their own, so good luck with your pending closing.

I believe Jesus message to Peter, "Feed My Sheep" and also Peter's teaching stating that as a new born desires milk so ought we to desire the Word, that this is a shepherds number one priority. Feed the Sheep the Word of God.

The greatest preachers were known to pray for hours until they knew they had heard from God and who studied the scriptures most of their waking hours. Out of such devotion to the word of God and prayer came a "prophet" that would step to the pulpit and deliver "a word from the Throne of God" and people would remember it for the rest of their lives. This kind of preaching costs men something. It does not come from just wanting it bad enough or being emotionally worked up. It comes from hours and days and months and years in the book and on the knees. May God give us more like these.

 

[TheIndianGirl]

We have to keep in mind that being a pastor is a very difficult and time consuming job. The pastor cannot please everyone.

One thing I've noticed where I live is that the nearby pastors like to stand together; it's like they coordinate how to respond to certain issues (but maybe they don't). For example, the pastors in my area put out a statement that they support BLM. Earlier, about 15 of us got tickets to this Christian conference but in the end because of the leader of the conference (Bill Hybels) was involved in inappropriate relations with some women, my pastor cancelled/refunded all our tickets without asking. I had mixed feelings about this decision. Because of these type of observations, I am even more reminded of "groupthink" mentality in churches. I think attending seminary school is an important qualitication to be a pastor; the alternate of not attending one is even worse. That said, I believe there is a lot of "groupthink" going on in seminary schools as well.

 

[MessageOfTheCross]

I believe Jesus message to Peter, "Feed My Sheep" and also Peter's teaching stating that as a new born desires milk so ought we to desire the Word, that this is a shepherds number one priority. Feed the Sheep the Word of God.

The greatest preachers were known to pray for hours until they knew they had heard from God and who studied the scriptures most of their waking hours. Out of such devotion to the word of God and prayer came a "prophet" that would step to the pulpit and deliver "a word from the Throne of God" and people would remember it for the rest of their lives. This kind of preaching costs men something. It does not come from just wanting it bad enough or being emotionally worked up. It comes from hours and days and months and years in the book and on the knees. May God give us more like these.

The Presence of God doesn't mean the approval of God.

Remember, Jesus told Peter to his face, "Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men." Matthew 16:23

Notice: God was in his presence!

 

[Scribe]

The Presence of God doesn't mean the approval of God.

Remember, Jesus told Peter to his face, "Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men." Matthew 16:23

Notice: God was in his presence!

hunh?

 

[Blackpowderduelist]

We have to keep in mind that being a pastor is a very difficult and time consuming job. The pastor cannot please everyone.

One thing I've noticed where I live is that the nearby pastors like to stand together; it's like they coordinate how to respond to certain issues (but maybe they don't). For example, the pastors in my area put out a statement that they support BLM. Earlier, about 15 of us got tickets to this Christian conference but in the end because of the leader of the conference (Bill Hybels) was involved in inappropriate relations with some women, my pastor cancelled/refunded all our tickets without asking. I had mixed feelings about this decision. Because of these type of observations, I am even more reminded of "groupthink" mentality in churches. I think attending seminary school is an important qualitication to be a pastor; the alternate of not attending one is even worse. That said, I believe there is a lot of "groupthink" going on in seminary schools as well.

I think this is a perfect example of how modern pastors have abdicated their duties as a pastor and engaged in things that are not pastoral duties

 

[Scribe]

I think this is a perfect example of how modern pastors have abdicated their duties as a pastor and engaged in things that are not pastoral duties

What are the duties of a pastor?

 

[Blackpowderduelist]

What are the duties of a pastor?

Make disciples, baptise.

 

[laymen]

What is your view of the majority of Christian pastors/preachers/priests?

May you please choose the response that you agree with and may you please also provide a reason for your response.

Open to all views but study to know the truth.

22 to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men,

The New King James Version. (1982). (1 Co 9:22). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

 

[throughfaith]

So I read a survey that said that about 70.6% of Americans identify as Christian, and about 40% attend church regularly. This is down from what it was just one generation ago.
So this is my point; while I don't know most pastors, or any where near most pastors, there is a serious deficit in the pulpits.
From what I have witnessed of church attendees admittedly that's not a drop in the bucket considering the shear number, there is definitely a deficit of teaching. They don't know what they believe, or how to get from Sunday to Monday.
Of those (as i have witnessed) who seem at least somewhat educated in doctrine, I hear mostly very bad doctrine.
I think the situation is quite dire.

There's a lot of confusion . Social media, YouTube ect this is where a lot of Christians get their bible teaching . Which is ok if you discern the differences. The problem is that the predominant theology on their is Calvinsm ,

 

[Lanolin]

I think it gets a bit tiring for some of them to say the same thing over and over..and thats why some like to add extra stuff that isnt there or cut things out.
Otherwise, the three ps could just read the Bible out loud and quit trying to reinterpret it.

 

[Blackpowderduelist]

There's a lot of confusion . Social media, YouTube ect this is where a lot of Christians get their bible teaching . Which is ok if you discern the differences. The problem is that the predominant theology on their is Calvinsm ,

I would be willing to say that the predominate theological view in america is a weird amalgamation of Calvinism and revivalism, which is just so contradictory it blows my mind how dissonant the church mind is.

 

[Dino246]

That number might be a little high don't you think? What a pessimistic view of

Don't waste your time challenging MessageOfTheCross on anything. He's a one-trick pony, and Jimmy Swaggart is holding the reins. He frequently makes outrageous claims about "most Christians" and is quite thoroughly incapable of defending them.

 

[Lanolin]

apparently all baptist preachers go to a bapists college and all presys go to a presy college.
I think its one thing to attend a lecture where someone is just standing up and speaking and another to look after and teach and train people.

There seems to be a disconnect, I recall one pastor constantly refering to scripture as 'the text' as if he just got it from a textbook and not the Bible.

 

[Dino246]

There seems to be a disconnect, I recall one pastor constantly refering to scripture as 'the text' as if he just got it from a textbook and not the Bible.

If he has already identified that "the text" is Scripture, there is no need to say "the text of Scripture" every time... especially if he is addressing issues about the text of Scripture, such as grammar, word usage, translation issues, etc.

 

[Scribe]

If he has already identified that "the text" is Scripture, there is no need to say "the text of Scripture" every time... especially if he is addressing issues about the text of Scripture, such as grammar, word usage, translation issues, etc.

I agree. I use the phrase "the text" often. Meaning the very words themselves. That which appears on the printed page.