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Cojak

Baptist preachers and deacons.

01000001 01100011 01110100 01110011 Posts: 24282 **4/10/16 11:31 am**

Just to clarify, ‘Some of my best friends are Baptist.’ Very Happy

When I was in business we had an account at a local ‘full service station.’ Joe always came out to service my trucks. Pleasant friendly guy, a Christian by all signs. One day I missed Joe, and asked Jim Groner the owner, ‘Hey, where is Joe?’

"You don’t know? Old Joe is now the pastor of Unity Baptist."

You could have pushed me over with a feather. From pumping gas to the pastor of the 2nd largest Baptist church in town.

Being COG I remembered, ‘We had to climb the ladder, pay our dues, etc. (Even knowing some one helped a lot) Here this Baptist church takes my friend, who had NEVER pastored a church as the senior pastor. I did not know when Joe pumped gas, that he was a graduate of a Baptist seminary.

Joe has been there now over 20 years. Great guy. My son and grandsons have all served as the church music directors.

I said that to explain what I have learned, Baptist preachers know how to preach and pray. BUT the deacons are a different story. We have visited Joe’s church and many Baptist churches around the country and the Baptist Deacon can pray the longest prayers I have ever heard. Once at a church in Pennsylvania the deacon prayed so long (naming every legislature state and federal methinks) that the preacher basically dismissed after reading a text.

I said that to say, Unity Baptist Church sure knew how to pick a good preacher/pastor, but I am not sure of the process of selecting deacons!

(I attended a Baptist church this morning, the subject was prayer, the pastor said, “Using the scripture as an example, brief and to the point gets results.”)

I am not sure the deacons know that.
Shocked

_________________
Some facts but mostly just my opinion!
jacsher@aol.com
http://shipslog-jack.blogspot.com/

Old Time Country Preacher

Re: Baptist preachers and deacons.

Acts-pert Poster Posts: 15570 **4/10/16 1:12 pm**

Cojak

Re: Baptist preachers and deacons.

01000001 01100011 01110100 01110011 Posts: 24282 **4/10/16 3:49 pm**

c6thplayer1

Hon. Dr. in Acts-celeratology Posts: 6385 **4/10/16 7:44 pm**

I guess some havent spent any time in a spirit filled baptist church.. Cool

Old Time Country Preacher

Re: Baptist preachers and deacons.

Acts-pert Poster Posts: 15570 **4/10/16 9:30 pm**

Cojak

01000001 01100011 01110100 01110011 Posts: 24282 **4/10/16 10:10 pm**

c6thplayer1

Hon. Dr. in Acts-celeratology Posts: 6385 **4/11/16 6:38 pm**

my uncle was a deacon in a baptist church. He could take on any of the responsibilities of a pastor. He was a man of honor.

Da Sheik

Acts Enthusiast Posts: 1865 **4/11/16 8:08 pm**

Theology aside, I like the Baptist model of church government. Most churches are autonomous although they identify with a bigger movement. Either way you look at it we all answer to someone. For some it's the AB. For others, it's the chairman of the deacons.

One thing I don't particularly care for in the Baptist model, is the prevalent view of a deacon's role. I think the biblical model is that the deacon is a servant leader. However, many deacons I have encountered consider themselves "church bosses ". But again , we all answer to someone.

c6thplayer1

Hon. Dr. in Acts-celeratology Posts: 6385 **4/11/16 8:51 pm**

Da Sheik

Acts Enthusiast Posts: 1865 **4/11/16 9:39 pm**

I agree C6th and I didn't mean to paint with a broad brush. I just mean that many Baptists have a much more "elevated" definition of a deacon than what is biblically stated. Paul says that being a deacon is definitely something that should be honorable though.

And as an aside, I have many Baptist pastor friends and they seem far less frustrated than the average COG minister. Not sure what inferences can be drawn from that, if any.