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Pastor Left the Church
  • LoveLove
    Posts: 12,849Administrator, Moderator
    So, I was reading a new member's welcome thread @somethingcatchy and I recalled a story I wanted to share with you guys.

    I went home this weekend to see my parents. While I was there, and we were chit chatting about what was new, Momma tells me that their preacher had left the church. As in 'quit' his job there as pastor.
    When I asked WHY, because he's been there over 10 years, she said that one of the long-time member's grandson had started going there a couple months ago. He's around 25 or so, I think. Anyhoo... he has an earring.

    That's it. He has an earring.

    Apparently, Brother Gregg pulled him to the side one Sunday after church and told him that his earring was against the word of God, and that he didn't need to come back to church with that earring on.

    That caused quite a commotion among the family, and as a result, they ALL left and started attending another local church. (This is a REALLY small church, like 50 members on the books, usual Sunday morning attendance around 30 on a good day. This family all together, makes up about 10 of that.)

    I asked Momma if he had preached a sermon against piercings of any kind, or anything of the sort, and she said that he HAD, but it was just regarding men not dressing as women and vice versa.

    Her take on it, is that it was disrespectful of C to wear it, knowing the pastor didn't like it.

    My take on it, is if you're going to nitpick on one sin, and tell people to not come back as long as you are perpetrating that sin, is you better make it ACROSS THE BOARD. Because the last I checked, all those lovely old ladies have pierced ears as well.

    But I fully admit that I don't know a whole lot of scripture regarding piercings, I just can't find any that says it's ok for a woman, but not a man.

    What do you guys think?

    community-manager


  • momofdbbmomofdbb
    Posts: 9,364Member
    I think he ( the preacher ) was wrong. An earing is not a bad thing. I don't believe there is anything wrong with it. There is the bit about treating your body like it is a temple so officially your not supposed to alter your body in any way, piercings or tattoos. But that is not really followed by that many people theses days. Me included, I love my tattoo!!
    I have been asked/ told not to come back to a church. Not for my tattoo this was when I was a teen. The chuch had a large youth group , ok , large for the size church. We had at least 50 or so showing up every Tuesday night. We bought tires for the van and took an offering up. They decided we were not officially church members because we met on Tuesday. They chose that day so more people could come. We were " making too much noise" we were HAVING FUN learning about GOD!! So they fired the youth director, kicked him out of his home ( the church owned his house) and told all the youth not to come back. It was a few years latter the church disbanded too many members died and there wernt any youth to take their place. Karma!!!
    " Wibbly wobbly timey wimey ......." The Doctor
    " I'm a leafe on the wind..watch how I soar ." Wash :((
    " Oh the wall had it comming.' Sherlock Holmes
    yea I am geek !!
  • AloneOverseasAloneOverseas
    Posts: 2,248Member
    Sounds like an out of touch pastor!
    I love purple; I love cats. Imagine if cats were purple ...
  • AnonUser28
    Posts: 2,083Guest
    I am deleting all my content.
  • Peace
    Posts: 2,262Member
    To understand the pastor, I would think we'd have to channel him.
    His deep commitment to his religion, his desire to spread the word.

    So let's imagine Jesus is circling the globe, witnessing the 2012 world.
    Sees everything. The wars, the strife, peace, prejudice, acceptance, the whole physical & psychological condition of earth. He sees the jails, the homeless, the drug addicted.
    He sees the crack babies born, the hate crimes, the children committing suicide, the women being beaten & raped, children molested, abducted, killed, & thrown in a trash receptacle.

    And then he comes upon one tiny little church. That is being sustained by 50 members.
    So he focuses in. And watches lifelong members assemble weekly in the Lord's name.
    And in this small group one man catches his attention. The man has an adornment in his earlobe.
    This young, 25 year old man entering the church to worship the Lord alongside his grandparents.

    I think Jesus would hug him.
    And when he heard the pastor speak, I think Jesus would weep.
  • beambeam
    Posts: 1,083Member
    @peace - lovely !!

    and just to be snarky - didn't Jesus wear a "dress" and have "long hair"? I know, not body mods but very effeminate look... I wonder if he checks to see if the men are "cut"! (lol)

    Edit : or if the womens' breasts are all real! I wonder what happens if a child gets braces!
    "Magic things are fond of deceptions.” ― Tom Robbins
  • Katescrazymom
    Posts: 1,901Member
    Most of the churches around here have large signs out front 'welcoming' new members and big ads in the papers, too. They'd love to have him, earring and all. But, religions and churches make their own rules and have to deal with the consequences. Seems like a small thing for the pastor to feel so strongly about.
  • loveitloveit
    Posts: 1,738Member
    That is ridic!!!!
  • Happy_JackHappy_Jack
    Posts: 91Member
    I am always amazed that churches focus so much on outward appearances when the Bible focuses on actions and attitudes (Jesus told the religious leaders, paraphrased, that outside you are whitewashed toms, but inside you are dead men's bones).  While I do believe that appearances count for something, it should not be the primary focus.  The enforcement of "rules" is not what church is about - it is about a relationship with God and fellowship with like-minded people.  That is why there are so many flavors of churches because we have so many different opinions.

    It seems like people have hang ups on certain things, but ignore big issues or mis-characterize it.  I was going to put some examles down here, but I am sure that would hijack the thread, so I will leave it at this.
  • LoveLove
    Posts: 12,849Administrator, Moderator
    Thanks for your input, and the different perspectives, guys!

    I just feel like, because the congregation IS so small, and the majority of them are grandparents, they need to be reaching out more to the young people. Get them IN and let God convict their heart, and lifestyle changes will happen eventually. 

    And this IS the same church I used to go to---every time the doors were open, I was a Sunday school teacher, and the song director --- with my ears pierced all the way up, tongue ring, nose piercing, and lots of visible tattoos. I was never made to feel unwelcome, and the only time he ever had anything to talk to me about, was when he was concerned about me singing in the clubs (because we ought to not be IN places like that, you know!)

    community-manager


  • LA_PygmyHerderLA_PygmyHerder
    Posts: 1,239Member
    There's only one place in the bible earrings are specifically addressed when it comes to men. It's in Exodus. While Moses was on Mt Sinai recieving the 10 Commandments the men "broke of their earrings" to help create an idol. And the thing about men not dressing as women I believe is in Leviticus iirc. But there are a LOT of things in Leviticus that are more societal laws than the laws of God.
  • Mommyliciousx4Mommyliciousx4
    Posts: 1,769Member
    I think the pastor was out of line. He should've been concerned about making sure that people learn the word of God, not being judged by the messenger.
    To issue an order of remove the earring or don't come back was not his call to make and he should be ashamed.

  • fatchickonabikefatchickonabike
    Posts: 5,638Member
    Crap like this is just one of the many reasons I have no use for religion.
    "The most essential gift for a good writer is a built-in, shock-proof bullshit detector.” - Ernest Hemingway
  • canadamom
    Posts: 867Member
    If Jesus didn't care what the people he preached to wore, what they did for a living. or what illnesses they had --- then why do we now.
  • Sweetpea76
    Posts: 40Member
    I seriously doubt anybody will be "banned from heaven" for having pierced ears.  And if people are going to be kicked out of church or told not to come back for a "sin" they're committing, then no church should have a congregation.  Everyone is "sinning" someway or another.  This is just another example of why I no longer attend church and can't stand religion.  Do I believe in God? Yes.  But if church were just about God and his teachings and how to treat each other like it should be, there wouldn't be the judgmental, hypocritical, mentality that most churches have today.  My take on churches today?: it's just a place for people to publicly display their holier-than-thow attitudes.  I say "NO THANK YOU".
  • [Deleted User]
    Posts: 7,022
    The user and all related content has been deleted.
    well behaved women seldom make history
  • LA_PygmyHerderLA_PygmyHerder
    Posts: 1,239Member
    "Let he who hath sinned not cast the first stone"  I think that passage is a wee bit neglected.
  • [Deleted User]
    Posts: 7,022
    The user and all related content has been deleted.
    well behaved women seldom make history
  • LoveLove
    Posts: 12,849Administrator, Moderator
    @MammaTeeRoll Momma said he felt like the church didn't respect him anymore, so it was time for him to move on...

    community-manager


  • [Deleted User]
    Posts: 7,022
    The user and all related content has been deleted.
    well behaved women seldom make history
  • AnonUser37
    Posts: 1,765Member
    My babysitter is a Christian goth....in a youth group, weara spikes and chains and black and her hair is forever hanging in her eyes. She doesn't like sunlight and she thinks the amount of pink in my room is "totally grossssss "

    She has a more real connection to god than most of the sunday best wearing non modified people i kmow. Her faith amazes me and thats coming from an agnostic who might believe in something but is not real sure. But leans towards nothing.

    This pastor was out of touch. And out of line. I have no doubt many other churches would be happy to have him!
  • StarsStars
    Posts: 1,055Member

    Here's my take on the situation.  I do see the pastors POV if he knowingly wore the earring to flaunt it in his face.  I do not think that was the case.   But for the sake of arguement lets say that is the case I think the pastor should have taken that as a message from God that this young man was a "test" of his   ability to accept and guide rather than just turning his back and virtually disallowing the young man. 

    apsycho

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