Christian Chat

[avant-garde]

@ENKELI 

How do I explain this...

The role of pastor is pretty straight forward, he teaches, he cares, he's the designated undershepherd with theological training and the understanding of what it means to lead a church and care for the flock as Jesus would.

Elders are to assist in the caring of the spiritual wellness of the flock in which they step in and help (for me anyway) with theological understanding and any issues I have, my elder is my first port of call if I need help understanding something or when I am finding attending church harder than my usual hard.

He's also who I contact when I'm in hospital and when things go wrong or when I'm mentally struggling.

Deacons are there to assist in the physical wellness of the flock, like if I needed help getting to church or (supposedly) accommodation.

So Jesus is the Shepherd

His 13 apostles were elders

and then the 7 mentioned in Acts 6 were deacons

I'm otherwise coping, it's a rough day and I have a cold, but i'm ok enough.

[heartathome]

Great news @DownMoreThanUp  

 

[DownMoreThanUp]

@heartathome i added another 40 odd minutes, so i be around 3 hours sleep today, plus 4 last night.

Beaming really. That was badly needed.😁

[heartathome]

I think it could be God's voice @ENKELI  I was talking to God before I came on and asked Him to give me the words to say because I can't do it in my own strength. I don't know what to say! God does. I can't believe you found the verse in the Bible! The words of Jesus! Yes. We are richly blessed! Bless you Enkeli! I'm glad I've come across you on the forum! 💛

[ENKELI]

@avant-garde yes I am well aware of what the Pastors' role is, as well as elders. My mum is an elder. 

What I was trying to determine was the difference between Elders and Deacons.

I've been going to church for 50 years, I'm not a newcomer.

I have also been on church boards, worked as a group leader for an after school church programme for kids aged 5 - 16 and also a Sunday school teacher. So as you can see I'm very well versed on what a Pastor and Elders' roles are.

FYI in mine and mum's churches, the role of Deacon is redundant because the Elders and parishioners do that role.

[avant-garde]

@ENKELI 

I'm sorry... I didn't mean... I'm sorry...

[avant-garde]

@ENKELI 

• I did not mean any disrespect or to upset you in any way
• I answered your question in the only way I knew how
• my mind works differently, you know this
• My history of church leadership means that I don't know how other denominations work in the proper way

I did not appreciate the implications made by your response. It came across as passive aggressive and defensive. 

I have now tried to respond to you in an assertive way, though I acknowledge that it may also come across negatively.

[REDLINEZ750]

when you tube is used to make sure message is recieved

Your pain is nothing compared to what God is preparing for you. 🙏✨Romans 8:18

@DownMoreThanUp  @Bunniekins  @ENKELI  @AlwaysMyself  @avant-garde  @heartathome @AuntGlow  @Blackcloud  @Appleblossom  

[Appleblossom]

@DownMoreThanUp I cant do too much black and white thinking whether it be, sinner /saint, good/ evil, truth lies.  To me it oversimplifies the nuanced complexity of life, and can be very discordant and clangy, even as we strive towards truth, beauty and goodness.

@ENKELI hugs @REDLINEZ750 cheers

@heartathome I really appreciate your good clean humour. 

@avant-garde good luck and keep doing the good work for yourself. I appreciate your Ezekial 34 reference.

So much historical institutional trauma from the church going back to my father, is now morphed into state institutional trauma agin my son. Intergenerational trauma passing on does not feel like god's will to me, but the accumulation of many misplaced abuses of power. Yes I have submitted to various official enquiries and worked in both state and church and genuinely done my best to strive for justice and goodness.

I am mostly conflict averse and do anything to reach and achieve peace, but acknowledge it is the silly 6 year old me idealistic and abandoned and left to care for a 4 year old and 2 year old. So yes heaps of issues in my generation as well.  I know my story is too hard for most to swallow, but there has not been much cushy about it, though i am grateful for the $130 opshop couch I sit on and the opportunity to cover my 25 year old cushions. 

I would rather join my siblings but the time is not right. I still have to be here.  The in real life stresses and triggers are getting to my neck, so I may back off a little, but sending you all individual cooees for anything good we have shared.  Thank you very much.

Discussions about the will of God are tricky at the best of times, but it has been a life path for me to attempt to discern the good way forward.  I dont ever presume to really know what God wants, but many may call me a person of little faith, as I try and be humble about it all, I have just been too much in the lower echelons of life: the people that get endlessly bossed and bullied. It is amazing I am still alive.

Christian love - agape - to you all.

Keeping it real.

Hoping we find our authentic mutual paths amidst the tumult.

[heartathome]

Thanks  @REDLINEZ750  Love it! I'm going to highlight that verse in my bible app on the phone. I like having different versions of the Bible on the ready. 💛