Daily Roundup for May 5, 2017 ⋆ The Parchment

Here are the items and resources for May 5, 2017:

Theology/Christianity:

Stop Hiding in the Building — an interesting read from Randy Nabors.
Reasons to Avoid Churches Who Will Not Practice Church Discipline. — Church discipline is one of the marks of a true church of the Lord Jesus Christ. Useful article.
James Durham on Reading
Hurtful Sheep and Bullied Shepherds — an interesting read from the other side.

I know the ministry isn’t supposed to be easy. There are burdens and anxieties that are particular to pastors (see 2 Corinthians 11:28). Mary Winslow reminded her son, Octavius of this, when she wrote: “When you accepted the pastoral office you commenced a life of trial both from saint and sinner. Oh, do not be surprised at all you meet with.” A good shepherd will bear many of those trials in silence (1 Peter 2:19-23) and endeavor to let love cover a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8). But it’s a painful reality. Pastors are only men, and just because they’re public servants doesn’t mean they don’t have private anguish. It hurts when sheep are meticulous fault-finders in everything a pastor says and does. It wounds when sheep lay all the blame only on a pastor’s shoulders. It’s traumatic when sheep hold their pastor to their unbiblical and unrealistic expectations. It aches when sheep neglect the material needs of a pastor and his family. It’s painful when sheep hold things like time, money, and talents hostage unless the pastor does what they want. It’s miserable when sheep secretly round up the opposition failing to go privately to the pastor. It’s abusive when sheep have no regard for a pastor’s emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being. Yes! Sheep can hurt, wound, abuse, and torture the shepherd.