June 09, 2009

Pastoral Complaints

"The happy result of a theological understanding of people as sinners is that the pastor is saved from continual surprise that they are in fact sinners. It enables us to heed Bonhoeffer's admonition: 'A pastor should not complain about his congregation, certainly never to other people, but also not to God. A congregation has not been entrusted to him in order that he should become its accuser before God and men." 

- Eugene Peterson, The Contemplative Pastor

Jun 9, 2009 9:33:00 AM | wisdom

3 Comments

Lee Herring

Dear Bob,

Thanks for the reminder.

Your fellow pastor, Lee

Posted by: Lee Herring | June 09, 2009 at 09:58 AM

Tim Krajcar

That Bonhoeffer guy knows his stuff.

Posted by: Tim Krajcar | June 09, 2009 at 10:27 AM

Back To Life Again

I read this quote here a few days ago, and have thought of it several times since. I came back just to read it again :-)

Posted by: Back To Life Again | June 20, 2009 at 09:07 PM

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