On wearing masks in church and the ill treatment of your pastor. A thread:
In 30 years of ministry, I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything be so divisive in churches like the mask debate now. I’ve spent a good part of this week talking with young pastors being run through the ringer by their church members regarding masks.
I’m getting hammered pretty hard about the issue as well, but I’m now an older guy whose been at his church a long time and in a position to absorb the heat a little better than younger, new pastors. I feel so much for them.
If you’re a church member, consider that your pastor is in a terribly difficult position on mask wearing in church. Most likely, the church is deeply divided on the issue. He has people sending hateful messages & threatening him about the decisions he makes w/ attendance/tithes.
Christians, we must do better. How shameful on the body of Christ that some pastors are being pummeled to a point of despair and leaving the ministry over a mask! I’m just dumbfounded by some of the stories I’m hearing.
You may disagree w/ your pastor about masks, & that is perfectly fine. What isn’t fine is being ugly to him. At least be respectful/gracious & give the benefit of the doubt that he’s doing his best in circumstances that are unmitigatedly damned if you do & damned if you don’t.
Would it not honor the Lord to set our selfishness aside and be civil? Would it not be best for the church if we let our convictions be made known in kindness and still supported the leadership of our church?
Some of us are losing our testimony on this issue in what we say/post and the way in which we do it. The devil must be laughing. I pray we can put Christ and his church ahead of ourselves.
If you have a pastor, take a moment and send him some encouragement. I am certain he needs it.
