That is a very good post, Pastor Foster-- your best, perhaps, though it's just a story. I am a professor, and a Substacker, and I should worry about the same thing, particularly as I sometimes say unusual things boldly. Part of it is Office, but part of it is Ideas too. The two things you said to the boy were true, and can immediately be understood and believed when someone says them, but nobody had ever said them to him.
On the other hand, Office and Ideas have a synergistic effect. Precisely because you are a Pastor, you have an extra duty to tell people things, and combined with the duty everyone has (which we can usually evade because it is so diffuse), that made you tell him something I would be too chicken to tell him unless he asked for advice.
With Substack, you can always rewrite. That's what I've been doing with my absentee voter post, as I get comments and more data. You might add to this post that a Pastor/Professor/Idea's surprising influence means we should be careful not TO MISS the chance to slip a sentence in.
I am reminded of what a policeman once told me, "Be kind. You never know what inner turmoil someone may be going through". Similarly, you never know when someone is at crossroads in their life, where a butterfly's wing flap might determine the outcome.
God’s wisdom given to you early on. It takes humility and self-control to not use a gift or position beyond its intended purpose. I’m really thankful for this insight.
Well said. I remember my first church council meeting as a student pastor. Took about 5 minutes to figure out that an authority came into the room with me that didn’t belong to me. In my tradition pastors have no vote but we do have voice. The authority remains however and must be honored and obeyed. I was in my late 40s at the time. I can’t imagine what that’s like for someone in their mid 20s. Thanks for challenging our comfort.
That is a very good post, Pastor Foster-- your best, perhaps, though it's just a story. I am a professor, and a Substacker, and I should worry about the same thing, particularly as I sometimes say unusual things boldly. Part of it is Office, but part of it is Ideas too. The two things you said to the boy were true, and can immediately be understood and believed when someone says them, but nobody had ever said them to him.
On the other hand, Office and Ideas have a synergistic effect. Precisely because you are a Pastor, you have an extra duty to tell people things, and combined with the duty everyone has (which we can usually evade because it is so diffuse), that made you tell him something I would be too chicken to tell him unless he asked for advice.
With Substack, you can always rewrite. That's what I've been doing with my absentee voter post, as I get comments and more data. You might add to this post that a Pastor/Professor/Idea's surprising influence means we should be careful not TO MISS the chance to slip a sentence in.
I am reminded of what a policeman once told me, "Be kind. You never know what inner turmoil someone may be going through". Similarly, you never know when someone is at crossroads in their life, where a butterfly's wing flap might determine the outcome.
Oh-- and the ballots post is at https://ericrasmusen.substack.com/p/329614-election-crimes-were-detected . I make a comment myself for collecting revision links and ideas.
God’s wisdom given to you early on. It takes humility and self-control to not use a gift or position beyond its intended purpose. I’m really thankful for this insight.
Well said. I remember my first church council meeting as a student pastor. Took about 5 minutes to figure out that an authority came into the room with me that didn’t belong to me. In my tradition pastors have no vote but we do have voice. The authority remains however and must be honored and obeyed. I was in my late 40s at the time. I can’t imagine what that’s like for someone in their mid 20s. Thanks for challenging our comfort.
Matthew 12:36 sobers me
This is really good. Lots of pastoral wisdom.
Thanks for the gentle reminder. I know sometimes I have a loose tongue. And even though I am not a church leader, I will still be accountable.