TOPIC:
Pastors - Lording it Over the Sheep11 February 2002 - 7.10 am
It has been my experience to have been under a Pastor who was very controlling. The way that he gained this control was by always wanting to help you with a problem, no matter how small. Through this means he became a constant confidant and as you became more unable to think for yourself you automatically turned to him. He even expressed this by saying that he bore the burden for us all as a Father and he longed to be as a Father to us and comfort us in our afflictions.
This may sound nice, but in reality he knew all your secrets and sins and used these to control everyone. He was able to pat someone on the knee and they would cease from talking and would not resume until he gave permission. People were afraid to disagree with him for fear of having their sins exposed. If you did disagree with him he would tell you that you had a spiritual problem, even though you were disagreeing over something theological.
I do not remember him ever praying with me or for me in all the trials I went to him with. I do not remember him using the Scriptures either. His were soothing words and basically band aid remedies based on Psychology.
So, I think that Pastors have to be very careful when dealing with their flocks as it is so easy to abuse that position and become a substitute Christ. Then this becomes no better than the Roman Confessional.
Well , thanks be to God that I am free from all that now and I have learned some very valuable but hard lessons. Look not to Kings and Princes but keep your eyes focused firmly on Christ and seek contentment from Him, then these bad circumstances will not happen.
Mary
diaconas@hotmail.com
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