Give my faith back to me...

    I recently had a conversation with a friend about the difficulties that arise from having a particularly charismatic pastor. We've talked about this in class, we've read about it in books, but nonetheless it's rather alarming to think about what happens if, well, something happens to this charismatic pastor. In my friend's situation, the church fractured after the pastor left because, in his words, the pastor was "guarding their faith." Once he was gone, many the church members felt as though the burden of their faith pressing upon them much more heavily. In Forgotten Ways, Alan Hirsch mentions that true apostolic leadership creates the environment for other ministries to develop. When there is a highly charismatic and people-pleasing pastor, other ministries may exist but it is likely that their impact will be quite secondary to the main event: the pastor's sermon. In apostolic leadership, there is still defined leadership, but the individual and the smaller group are given much more weight. The environment created discourages consumeristic faith rather than encourages it. 
    If we only encourage one type of leader to be a pastor, we are likely to perpetuate the situation that many churches find themselves in: a body of Christians dependent on the faith of another to live fully as followers of Christ. By encouraging and recognizing other forms of leadership, we are much more likely to create an environment where real discipleship and formation can occur.

   Noah P.