Jun 19 2007
Bad News on the Doorstep, I Couldn’t Take One More Step
UPDATE: ‘Pink slip’ is probably too strong a phrase. Following a conversation over the issue at hand, the Pastor and I agreed that we were better off in a church where we could have more freedom to express our views regarding our interpretation and understanding of Genesis 1-3. We were not ‘given the boot,’ but it was clear that the age of the earth was not an issue about which we could agree to disagree.
ORIGINAL POST: Ever gotten the pink slip? From your church? I was just given, by my pastor, ‘the freedom to look for another church.’ To my mind, the issue was nothing earth-shattering, but it did involve a matter of Scriptural interpretation. Unfortunately, he felt it was not an issue over which we could agree to disagree. So, after eight years, we’re church-hunting again. We were deeply attached to the congregation and were deeply involved in the business and administration of the church, so it’s a painful step.
I was tempted, for about a third of a second, to swear off all churches, but instead, we are prayerfully considering where to go from here.
June 19th, 2007 at 10:40 am
Wow. Holy cow. That stinks. I’m glad, though, that you haven’t sworn off all churches. I’ll be praying that you find the right place, where you can worship, learn, and contribute…
June 19th, 2007 at 14:32 pm
Yes, that is harsh. We had to do that a while back (although we weren’t asked to leave - it was more our decision) and it wasn’t fun. But now we’re at a very biblical and strong church and we are glad for it. Pray.
There’s no way you’re going to tell us the issue, is there?
June 19th, 2007 at 14:56 pm
C’mon. I already did.
June 20th, 2007 at 13:26 pm
Thanks, I see. As I’ve stated, I’m a bit of an agnostic on this one. So would the pastor not want anyone to a member who is old earth, or just in (teaching)leadership?
Or is that too specific a question to answer in this forum?
In any case, a weird issue for him to be so dogmatic on.
June 20th, 2007 at 14:11 pm
J,
Certainly not in teaching or leadership. Since membership implies agreement with the doctrines of the church, I’d assume he would be against membership. It was an amicable divorce, if I can put it in those terms, but painful nonetheless.
June 20th, 2007 at 21:56 pm
I’m disappointed with this. It seems a funny issue on which to take a stand if the rest of your theology is in line. Last Sunday my pastor’s adult daughter spoke (along with her two brothers) about her father to celebrate father’s day. Before she started she spent a couple of minutes recommending a cd set about creationism, saying “It’s important to believe that God created the world in 6 literal days or everything gets called into question.” How about looking at the Bible itself for an inkling that the creation story wasn’t meant to be a scientific treatise? There are, after all, two accounts and they don’t agree. How did the world come about? I don’t know exactly, but I know that it was a result of God’s will and that’s plenty enough for me.
June 25th, 2007 at 17:17 pm
Let’s be honest Steve, I doubt that the Pastor could be opened-minded about the interpretation of those scriptures because his retirement plan may be through the church. Having said that, I see nothing wrong with a “home church” until you find something you like.
I am one of those who believes that the world “became” void and without form. Needless to say that doesn’t go over well with some … lol
July 9th, 2007 at 11:12 am
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