"What I've noticed about politicized clergy is that they often take great pride in their educated wisdom, master’s degrees, PHD's, BA's, and such, and while they are fascinating creatures at cocktail parties, I have to say, very often they remove themselves from the very essence of the message they are supposed to be delivering. Half the time they strike me as a bunch of brown-nosers trying to impress the teacher (in their case God), in hopes of receiving the ultimate pat of approval on the head instead of properly ministering to their flock in accordance with God's wisdom." - Doreen Elizabeth Wells
There exists two distinct ways of understanding the role of presider in the Liturgy: "in persona Christi" (in the person of Christ) and "in persona …show more content…
· replace the traditional apostolic tension between ordained ministry and lay authority with an uneasy détente
· are uncomfortable with the Gospel's uncomfortable aspects
· offer benign teaching homilies that are overwhelmingly familiar in content and style
· seek consensus through patient manipulation and political trade-offs
· believe the use of apostolic authority inevitably leads to a fight
· protect only the richest and most powerful parishioners in worship
· are suspicious of parishioners who are devoted to right practice
· rarely challenge other "men of the cloth" because they relish the fraternal aspects of being a priest
So, why shouldn't pastors formulate Christian worship according to congregational expectations and preferences? Why be so harsh? The answer is simple: Priests cannot “serve two masters" (Luke 16: 13). What matters to God is, "Is everyone being fed?" To simply say, "These are the people whom God has given me," is simply too Calvinistic to be catholic. To complain, "How can I lead if no one is left to follow?” is too timid to be …show more content…
Accordingly, they try to slot the so-called trouble-makers and malcontents back into the community while scolding them, "Your ideas are true and wonderful, but only in principle. You're not being realistic.” They further accuse reformers of wanting to be priests.
Political priests either dismiss unwanted basic spiritual gifts as untrustworthy and divisive, allow them to dissipate, or have them serve the status quo. But God's Spirit bestows charismata (i.e. gifts, energies or natural aptitudes) on each believer. The gifts of the Holy Spirit equip individual Christians and the worshipping church for specific tasks as essential ingredients of restoring and strengthening the foundation of the local Church. Accordingly, no parish lacks sufficient gifts within its membership to build itself up as the Body of Christ.
Nonetheless, political pastors tend to fear fire. Fire is hot. Fire burns. Fire purges wrongdoing. Yet fire is also irresistible. When stoked, fire offers warmth, gives great comfort, casts a bright light, and kills the
There exists two distinct ways of understanding the role of presider in the Liturgy: "in persona Christi" (in the person of Christ) and "in persona …show more content…
· replace the traditional apostolic tension between ordained ministry and lay authority with an uneasy détente
· are uncomfortable with the Gospel's uncomfortable aspects
· offer benign teaching homilies that are overwhelmingly familiar in content and style
· seek consensus through patient manipulation and political trade-offs
· believe the use of apostolic authority inevitably leads to a fight
· protect only the richest and most powerful parishioners in worship
· are suspicious of parishioners who are devoted to right practice
· rarely challenge other "men of the cloth" because they relish the fraternal aspects of being a priest
So, why shouldn't pastors formulate Christian worship according to congregational expectations and preferences? Why be so harsh? The answer is simple: Priests cannot “serve two masters" (Luke 16: 13). What matters to God is, "Is everyone being fed?" To simply say, "These are the people whom God has given me," is simply too Calvinistic to be catholic. To complain, "How can I lead if no one is left to follow?” is too timid to be …show more content…
Accordingly, they try to slot the so-called trouble-makers and malcontents back into the community while scolding them, "Your ideas are true and wonderful, but only in principle. You're not being realistic.” They further accuse reformers of wanting to be priests.
Political priests either dismiss unwanted basic spiritual gifts as untrustworthy and divisive, allow them to dissipate, or have them serve the status quo. But God's Spirit bestows charismata (i.e. gifts, energies or natural aptitudes) on each believer. The gifts of the Holy Spirit equip individual Christians and the worshipping church for specific tasks as essential ingredients of restoring and strengthening the foundation of the local Church. Accordingly, no parish lacks sufficient gifts within its membership to build itself up as the Body of Christ.
Nonetheless, political pastors tend to fear fire. Fire is hot. Fire burns. Fire purges wrongdoing. Yet fire is also irresistible. When stoked, fire offers warmth, gives great comfort, casts a bright light, and kills the