Blog on the Lillypad
Sunday, February 29, 2004
 | More Follow-up by FundamentalDan on the "Outed!" Series
Fundamental Dan is a former member of the Jim Vineyard's church (Windsor Hills Baptist Church). If you've been following the Outed series, you know that Jim Vineyard has behaved with lascivious language towards a young woman and reviled a pastor who rebuked Vineyard for this behavior. Most people on the FFF have been shocked, disgusted, and even alarmed at the detailed pornographic content of what Vineyard (unbidden) said to this young woman and the coarse language he used to revile the man who defended her innocence. FundamentalDan wrote the following verse commentary to shed some light on the situation: |
I Peter 5:1-3, "The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock."
It is interesting to me that the Holy Spirit thought it necessary through the Apostle Paul to warn the early church pastors against using their position of spiritual leadership as a way to gain power. Instead, he spoke of the power that was exercised by simply living an exemplary life in front of the members. He even gives a stern warning against giving airs of lordship over the people of God.
It is equally as interesting that Christ, when walking in the shadow of His coming crucifixion and with a heart grieving over the soon betrayal of Judas, paused to gird himself in a towel and stoop to wash the feet of his disciples. It was His admonition that should be a reminder and warning to all of us about lording over others, "It shall not be so among you." We are not to be seeking honor and fame like the Pharisees did, but rather to serve those who are even in less of a position than we are.
When I was growing up at Windsor Hills, one of the constant things we were reminded of was how the pastor was on a different spiritual plane than we were. For an entire year of Bible college, I documented in my notes that not a single message by a staff member was preached that did not reference how spiritual of a man the pastor was. Yet, we were also frequently warned that the pastor could get away with language in the pulpit that we should not say, or that he could do different things that we should not do because we were not as spiritual as he was. He always told us how much he was giving in the offering, and we were constantly reminded that he got up at least at 5 am every day to read his Bible.
The word "great" was often used in conjunction with his name. He also regaled us with stories about how he did different remarkable things spiritually, always with the same disclaimer that he was "just an ole poor boy from the panhandle of Texas." We were told of everywhere he travelled, how often he preached, how much he gave, and how spiritual he was. Yet we were also taught things like that you should not call the pastor at home. You will not find his number in any phone book. The procedure was to call your staff member (all of their names ARE listed) and, if it was important enough, they would call the pastor.
Someone I know once made the mistake of asking an assistant pastor to perform their marriage ceremony. They were reprimanded because it was not right to ask the assistant instead of the pastor to perform the ceremony. We were also told of how we should remember his birthday and anniversary every year. For about three weeks leading up to both of these sacred events, the head deacon would come up and take up an offering to buy them a Christmas present. The pastor and his wife would wait in his office for about ten minutes during the start of the service as if it were a big secret what was going on. It is also interesting to note that these were the only services all year that did not start five to ten minutes early. We were told of how selfless he was and how he was constantly doing things for others. We were told of how he was always putting others first. We were also told that the parking spaces with the names painted on them were for the pastor and the staff members. The college students were told to park in the gravel parking lot, and on big days to park inside the gated bus area. But the pastor and his wife always parked in the same two spots. At every time there was a banquet or a function where we all were eating in the cafeteria, there was always a special table put up in the front, turned sideways from the rest of the tables. In the middle of that table would be the pastor's seat, and around him would be the staff members.
I could go on but I will not. Example is not just something that has to do with telling everyone how much you read the Bible or how many churches you preach at. It is about putting others first by preferring them above yourself. It is about taking the parking spot in the farthest lot and walking a bit further so that a visitor or some college student's wife carrying two infants, three diaper bags, and trying to coax a toddler to follow do not have to. It is about making yourself accessible to those who need to get a hold of you. It is about doing the things that no one will ever know about here on earth to help someone along. It is about girding yourself in a towel and stooping to wash the feet of your disciples. He that is the greatest among us shall be the servant of all, not just say it at the end of a letter.
