While attending a funeral service for a relative I had the opportunity to listen to a different pastor. Mind you this was in another state and he was from a church that I am not too familiar with. But here you go...
the funeral was for a man who, as far as we know, only God knows for sure, was not saved. He did not attend church and the fruit of salvation was not clearly seen. I did not personally know the man. The problem comes from the pastor doing the service.
He did not know the man either. He even admitted that he did not know him well. He said that over the past 20 years or so, he had seen him maybe about 15 times in the local stores and gas stations and such. The pastor in question is a man in his mid to late 60's and been in the ministry for probably about 30 years.
Tell me what you think of this pastor.
He mentioned the name of Jesus only ONE TIME during the whole service and that was at the very end when he said a prayer "in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."
He read two scriptures but spent the majority of his time talking about this man's fishing exploits.
He told the people in attendance, that no matter who they pray to, to their own gods, that he promised them that this man was in a better place.
No gospel presentation was made. He did not want to offend anyone. The gospel can be presented in a loving way but he chose not to do that. He told them that they could pray to their gods, plural, gods and then to top it off he PROMISED them that he was in a better place. The man was not saved, not a church attending man, no fruit present in him and yet the pastor PROMISED them that he was in a better place.
This might sound blunt, but HELL is NOT A BETTER PLACE!
And even stranger than all of this is to hear "christians" listening to the pastor and leaning over to tell others that the pastor did a wonderful job on the service.
WHERE IS THE DISCERNMENT PEOPLE? DOESN'T ANYONE CARE WHAT PASTORS ARE SAYING ANYMORE? DOESN'T ANYONE WANT TO STAND UP FOR JESUS ANYMORE OR ARE WE JUST TOO SIMPLE MINDED THAT WE DON'T CARE WHAT THEY SAY?
BY ALL ACCOUNTS, THIS PASTOR HAS TO QUALIFY AS ONE OF THE WORST PASTOR'S I HAVE EVER HAD THE MISFORTUNE OF LISTENING TO. HE WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE BY GOD FOR HIS LACK OF TEACHING.
IF GODLY MEN DO NOTHING THEN SATAN WILL HAVE FULL REIGN, EVEN IN THE CHURCHES!
COME LORD JESUS, COME!
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6 comments:
Anonymous said...
So f' what - you judgmental, whinging and self-righteous c. Wasn't it Ned Flanders who said: 'I'm a Christian, it my duty to think the worst of people...'
You sure as hell demonstrate this nasty attribute of the Christian.
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And that my friends is how the world responds when held up to God's Holy Word. The anonymous comment above came from the UK and it still amazes me to this day how hateful people are towards people who love God.
I can almost top your experience! I went to the funeral of my aunt who, as far as I know, has truly been a Christian since early adulthood. Nearly all in the extended family are believers, but not her 2 daughters (1 has since become a Christian). The pastor said, "Where is our dear (name) now? We don't know. She is on a journey." Word for word--I kid you not. God help us.
sadly, I believe what you are saying. Today's pastors are wimpy when it comes to PROCLAIMING THE WORD OF GOD. Might as well put Charlie Brown as a pastor in these churches. They say he was wishy-washy!
Are you saying the pastor was suppose to say that he was in hell, suffering the worst pain imaginable all caused by a loving god's unquenchable thirst of violence and wrath, which could only be quenched by a human sacrifice(Jesus), which is still not enough for him, you must also proclaim him, which he proclaims himself, the ultimate justice, god and love of the entire universe even if he rapes, enslaves, tortures, and murders thousands of children and women so Israel could stay pure.
No, he doesn't have to "say" he is in hell. That would not be the loving thing to do here. But that still is no excuse for not presenting the gospel message. Because when a man is burning in hell, you better believe that he would want his family and friends to here the gospel message so they will not end up in hell with him.
"He told the people in attendance, that no matter who they pray to, to their own gods, that he promised them that this man was in a better place.
No gospel presentation was made. He did not want to offend anyone. The gospel can be presented in a loving way but he chose not to do that. He told them that they could pray to their gods, plural, gods and then to top it off he PROMISED them that he was in a better place. The man was not saved, not a church attending man, no fruit present in him and yet the pastor PROMISED them that he was in a better place."
The Name of Jesus should be preached at every funeral. Believers in Christ know the truth of God's Word. The lost people need to hear the Word preached. When people are at their lowest in life, they are more likely to listen to God's Word. This pastor missed an opportunity to share God's Word and for a pastor to do that is shameful!
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