We should vote with a Christ-informed conscience. “As Christians, we should be politically active. “When Jesus said he is going to build his Church, something brand new, something unique that’s not going to fit in any of the buckets,” continues Stanley. He was attacked from all three sides and he refused to go way. He refused to get in any of those buckets. ![]() He had Rome, local priesthoods and religions and then the temple. He notes, “Differences of opinion are a reality, but division is a choice… The solution or the perspective that should be maintained, is throughout the New Testament… The apostle Paul shows up in a culture where he had three. “ don’t close the door permanently in your mind or your heart about your involvement in the local church,” he encourages, “because new seasons bring new energy and new opportunities.Īs the interview comes to a close, Stanley discusses the importance of maintaining unity in the local church despite differing political opinions. You’re not out of the ministry you’re just not working at a church.” You’re being faithful to your family and your sanity. Stanley continues, “You’re not being unfaithful to God. “If you need a break, figure out a way to get out,” he states, “Because if you stay in too long, you just get cynical, you get critical and you get negative.” In light of this finding, Stanley discusses what pastors should do if they are feeling worn down. Recent Barna data reveals that two in five pastors (38%) have given serious consideration to quitting full-time ministry within the past year. But in terms of energy, there’s no point in trying to talk adults into coming back to church… in terms of reaching unchurched people or re-engaging people who’ve been away from the church for years, we feel the opportunities have never been better.” “Of course, we want people to come back,” he continues, “and people who are going to come back are going to come back. It’s never been easier to attend one of our local churches.’ We have space, we have financial resources, we have people resources and the mission’s the same. “I met with 30 new staff,” Stanley notes, “and said to them, ‘You’ve come to work for us at an extraordinary time. ![]() For pastors who might be experiencing doubt regarding their ministry calling-especially if their church’s attendance is low-Andy Stanley offers a new perspective. Recent Barna data show that one in three pastors (35%) feels more confident about their calling compared to when they first entered pastoral ministry. On Viewing Empty Chairs as an Opportunity Stanley discusses new ways he’s thinking about attendance during the pandemic, the importance of taking breaks from ministry and how to posture oneself when addressing division in the local church. During a recent interview for Barna’s The State of Your Church webcast, Andy Stanley (senior pastor of North Point Ministries) sat down with Carey Nieuwhof to discuss pastoral burnout and political polarization in the Church.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |