Reaction to 5 Pastors vs 2 Secret Atheists

I saw this first on Facebook and found it also on Youtube:

Video is called “5 Pastors vs 2 Secret Atheists | Odd One Out.”

It was kind of weird to me. Here’s my thoughts and also some applications.

First off the bat they picked some weird groups of pastors.  But then again I think it might be a slice of the pie of what American pastors looks like.  Which is very concerning.  Now I do think people in ministry can be found in different places in different seasons of their life.  But the guys who picked the pastors for this somehow had guys that weren’t necessarily preaching or in a local church or can describe ministering the sick, etc.  Or maybe we can’t blame the show producers: that’s the pool of people that applied for candidates.  I also think most pastors are also so busy in the ministry to show up for a TV show.

I also thought it was interesting that when the question was raised of what they were preaching there were not anyone that really said what they are studying and preaching on from the Bible.  A big red flag for me.  Maybe there were some that shared what they were preaching on but the show highlighted only the awkward answers.  Which is possible since at one point since the Episcopalian pastor said the rest of the guys were hard on him being more liberal but nothing we see recorded indicate any of those conversations.

I think these shows reveal more of our expectation.  That is what is our metrics of what a pastor should be.  Hopefully it is more than dresses and physical stature.  And hopefully its based upon God’s Word.  1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 are great places to read the qualifications.  Throughout the New Testament we also see the responsibilities and tasks of church elders/pastors.  While everyone’s ministry as pastors would look different depending upon context still I think we must not forget that it means we must do ministry according to God’s Way as laid out in the Bible.

As I watch this I thought about how one time I went to a pastor’s conference and I had someone that use to go to my church that was also present.  He didn’t register but just showed up.  He tried to blend in with all the pastors in attendance.  Now I know that this guy really wanted to be a Pastor; but there were serious concerns he was not called to the ministry from his previous local churches and I too have my reservation from his life (and this is based upon discipleship with him for years).  But he was there and really trying to feel a part of the group; but he wasn’t a pastor. Now no one would exclude him for simply not being a pastor; but internally within his heart he was delighting to be there with guys who are pastors and getting a kick for feeling that he’s included and thought of as being in the ministry.  I think one thing that made people had questions was when we sat around and talk about shepherding people and counseling people and what we were preaching and what were we personally reading from the Word of God.  Obviously he didn’t have to say what he’s preaching through but more disturbing was he didn’t have anything to say about loving people, what he was learning on his own, etc.  If I recall correctly this guy only was talking about liberals, how bad some other seminaries are, how churches compromise, etc.  There was a lot I agree about the problems he mentioned; but a pastor’s pastoral heart isn’t just  bent on talking about errors and compromises.

In real life there will be situations that aren’t reality internet shows.  We have to practice discernment of whose a real pastor and shepherd.  Beware that there are false teachers out there.  The New Testament talks a lot of being aware of that.

Let us hold to the Word and protect our church. Let us not just only be on the defense but also preach the Gospel and apply the Gospel and disciple others to know the Gospel and live out our lives motivated by the implication of the Gospel.