Article addresses community/church/school size inadvertently. Primary focus is on investing in the disciples instead of the crowds. You see Jesus doing this all the time—going off into the boat or wilderness to keep from losing the audience that really mattered.
good point, which is the exact opposite of the influenced pastor. No pastor will be a cultural influencer unless he himself has been influenced. It is a pathogen.
A good topic to worry about for more than just pastors. Two thoughts:
1. I wrote a substack recently that strongly rebuked a certain public action by a committee of people some of which I'd known for a long time. This was good for me. Better than if I hadn't known them personally because I worried what they would think. I had to overcome fear. also sent a copy to each of them. (I got back no nasty replies, but two polite ones. I haven't met any of them in person since then). This is very different from writing a criticism of people generally.
2. I am teaching 7th grade math. I also write a substack. I get ideas from my class on how to explain interesting things and I put them on my substack for the entertainment and edification of others. In doing so, I hve to write them up. So I give my class the substack as a handout later. The local helps the general and vice versa. This is well known in academia, research and consulting are synergistic with teaching.
"Third, influencer culture trains pastors to become personalities rather than simply people."
I think this is an underrated danger. Personalities adopt beliefs based on the personality's principles rather than critical thinking from the person. In other words, a personality will probably not "change their mind" or have a good faith argument because there are predetermined beliefs that come as a package once you become a personality. If you disagree with the "personality," you will be shunned. Insular personalities become unaccountable and dangerous.
Michael, what you write is always profitable for me, but with this article your comments comparing pastoral work with a craft have really struck a chord. After 30 years I am having my craft taken from me and it is devastating. I can’t turn off my craft, so I really don’t know what I am going to do. Thank you for understanding.
Michael, this is a wonderful message. Your comment on having a trade brings up the question: how many people from the middle-class truly have a "trade" of their own? Thousands in debt, yet none equipped with practical skills to prepare us for life. How do we even begin?
Edited: I know that was not the point of your essay, but I can't help but believe it is this very lack that induces reasonable people to conform to absurd policies and hateful work, because they've prepared themselves for a safety net this whole time.
Article addresses community/church/school size inadvertently. Primary focus is on investing in the disciples instead of the crowds. You see Jesus doing this all the time—going off into the boat or wilderness to keep from losing the audience that really mattered.
good point, which is the exact opposite of the influenced pastor. No pastor will be a cultural influencer unless he himself has been influenced. It is a pathogen.
Great Article brother
Good thoughts
Good thoughts brother!
This might be the greatest problem in church today; it’s plaguing the church with sophists and simonists
Good stuff, Michael. Some good principles for the laity as well.
A good topic to worry about for more than just pastors. Two thoughts:
1. I wrote a substack recently that strongly rebuked a certain public action by a committee of people some of which I'd known for a long time. This was good for me. Better than if I hadn't known them personally because I worried what they would think. I had to overcome fear. also sent a copy to each of them. (I got back no nasty replies, but two polite ones. I haven't met any of them in person since then). This is very different from writing a criticism of people generally.
https://ericrasmusen.substack.com/p/expelling-larry-summers-from-the
2. I am teaching 7th grade math. I also write a substack. I get ideas from my class on how to explain interesting things and I put them on my substack for the entertainment and edification of others. In doing so, I hve to write them up. So I give my class the substack as a handout later. The local helps the general and vice versa. This is well known in academia, research and consulting are synergistic with teaching.
"Third, influencer culture trains pastors to become personalities rather than simply people."
I think this is an underrated danger. Personalities adopt beliefs based on the personality's principles rather than critical thinking from the person. In other words, a personality will probably not "change their mind" or have a good faith argument because there are predetermined beliefs that come as a package once you become a personality. If you disagree with the "personality," you will be shunned. Insular personalities become unaccountable and dangerous.
Michael, what you write is always profitable for me, but with this article your comments comparing pastoral work with a craft have really struck a chord. After 30 years I am having my craft taken from me and it is devastating. I can’t turn off my craft, so I really don’t know what I am going to do. Thank you for understanding.
Gold! Thank you!!!
Perhaps this piece I wrote relates?
https://open.substack.com/pub/joshuabovis/p/attn-clergy-online?r=2ao9ts&utm_medium=ios&shareImageVariant=overlay
This is so good and insightful! It really made me think about why I’m writing on substack and a great heart check!
Michael, this is a wonderful message. Your comment on having a trade brings up the question: how many people from the middle-class truly have a "trade" of their own? Thousands in debt, yet none equipped with practical skills to prepare us for life. How do we even begin?
Edited: I know that was not the point of your essay, but I can't help but believe it is this very lack that induces reasonable people to conform to absurd policies and hateful work, because they've prepared themselves for a safety net this whole time.
This was fantastic. Thank you so much.
Repentance, pride, discernment!!
Thank you for this. Much obliged to you for these thoughts.