|
|
What Keeps Us From Practicing Corrective Discipline?
Anatomy of Neglect
Fear of Man
- Reputation - Many pastors and lay leaders are more concerned
with what people will think of them if they attempt to lead the church in
disciplining a member than they are with what God will think of them if they
do not.
- Popularity - Many pastors and lay leaders are more concerned
with being liked by the people in their church (albeit under the guise of "preserving relationships") than they are with being found blameless
in the eyes of God when He calls them to account for how they've shepherded
His flock (Heb 13:17).
- Conflict - Many pastors and lay leaders are more concerned
with avoiding the discomfort and potential disunity of conflict than they
are with preserving the moral purity of the church, the regeneracy of the
membership rolls, and the blessing of God on the congregation.
- Misperception - Many pastors and lay leaders are unwilling
to risk being misperceived as tyrants, heavy-handed shepherds, or power hungry
autocrats.
- Job Security - Many paid pastors are afraid that if they
upset the apple cart of the primary contributors, they will be left without
a means of income with which to provide for their own families.
|
 |
|
