I’ve always appreciated Detweiler’s approach and find that those who can teach through media, both awesome and awful, will be able to credibly address the needs, concerns and identity of communities and congregations.

But it is still just information. Understanding is what so many people are lacking. Proverbs makes it clear that there is a difference and that we should seek after understanding (and wisdom of course)

But it is still just information. Understanding is what so many people are lacking. Proverbs makes it clear that there is a difference and that we should seek after understanding (and wisdom of course)

When you said “most pastors I know are so busy ‘tending to the flock’” I almost fell out of my chair….haaa.

I totally agree with the rest of your statement, but I’ve always felt, especially recently that most pastors aren’t tending to the flock, but rather to CEO matters, and meeting with those that they see as most influential (i.e. those who have money, power and status). I know…a pretty grim outlook. But I think a lot of pastors have lost the ability to care pastorally, and have left it to those at the bottom of the hierarchy chart.

But it is true that we can become so isolated in Church land that we don’t even interact with non-Christians, let alone have them as friends.

Obviously a pastor shouldn’t participate in everything those in the congregation do (that could get sketchy knowing what goes on in some places), but I agree that much preaching seems out of touch from what the rest of the congregation does the rest of the week.

I like what you said about extracting info. as being easy…being an observor, and discerning is more difficult.

Karl Barth always talked about preaching with a Bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other. So now I guess it’s the Bible in one hand, probably on a mobile device, and the internet in the other, probably on a mobile device as well.

rhett

When you said “most pastors I know are so busy ‘tending to the flock’” I almost fell out of my chair….haaa.

I totally agree with the rest of your statement, but I’ve always felt, especially recently that most pastors aren’t tending to the flock, but rather to CEO matters, and meeting with those that they see as most influential (i.e. those who have money, power and status). I know…a pretty grim outlook. But I think a lot of pastors have lost the ability to care pastorally, and have left it to those at the bottom of the hierarchy chart.

But it is true that we can become so isolated in Church land that we don’t even interact with non-Christians, let alone have them as friends.

Obviously a pastor shouldn’t participate in everything those in the congregation do (that could get sketchy knowing what goes on in some places), but I agree that much preaching seems out of touch from what the rest of the congregation does the rest of the week.

I like what you said about extracting info. as being easy…being an observor, and discerning is more difficult.

Karl Barth always talked about preaching with a Bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other. So now I guess it’s the Bible in one hand, probably on a mobile device, and the internet in the other, probably on a mobile device as well.

rhett

This keeps them so far out of touch with what the world thinks, that as they sit around with their collective think-tanks trying to come up with ideas for reaching the world, the ideas are often old and used.

All that to say…extracting information is easy, it’s simply being an observer. Discerning information is more difficult, it requires participating. This is where the church is falling down, IMHO.