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Re: got mad church disease yet?

A Amos Love — Fri, 14 May 2010 17:15:32 -0000

Is it possible the reason "Burnout" is such
a problem for today's "Pastor/Leader" is
they have found themselves with a
"Title" and "Position" NOT found in the Bible?

Did anyone have the “Title” “pastor” in the Bible?
Was anyone ordained a “pastor” in the Bible?
Any congregations "led" by a “pastor” in the Bible?

And every “pastor” I’ve met also had
the “Title” “Reverend.”

Does anyone have the “Title” Reverend in the Bible?

In my experience...

Titles become Idols.
Pastors become Masters.

Heavy weights on shoulders NOT easy to lay down.

Jesus taught “His Disciples”
NOT to be called “Master/Leader”
For you have “ONE” “Master/Leader” The Christ.
Mat 23:8-10 KJV

Ezekiel 14:1-7, speaks about "Idols of the Heart,"
and now God will speak to us according to
the "Idols of our Heart."

And other sheep I have,
which are not of this fold:
them also I must bring,
and they shall “hear my voice;”
and there shall be "ONE" fold,
and "ONE" shepherd.
John 10:16

One Fold - One Shepherd - One Voice.
If Not Now, When?

Be blessed in your search for Truth... Jesus.

Re: got mad church disease yet?

Bill Dinwiddie — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 22:48:19 -0000

I have been researching the amount of ministers that are fired each month. The number is too large to fathom. A few years ago, I started ministering to ministers and their families as well as Church leaders who have to be the ones to fire them. This is a deep spiritual issue. I have just started a facebook group called "friendly fired". It is my hope to encourage as many of the brethren as possible. I have over twenty years experience in the preacshing ministry

Re: got mad church disease yet?

Bill Dinwiddie — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 22:48:19 -0000

Re: got mad church disease yet?

noah irish — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 00:13:34 -0000

wow mad Church disease seams to have a strong hold on people. it had been in my home.
praise God that it left.

Re: got mad church disease yet?

noah irish — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 00:13:34 -0000

wow mad Church disease seams to have a strong hold on people. it had been in my home.
praise God that it left.

Re: got mad church disease yet?

anne jackson — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 18:55:08 -0000

As I ever flirt with the 30 year old birthday....I appreciate the teenager comment :-)

Re: got mad church disease yet?

anne jackson — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 18:55:08 -0000

As I ever flirt with the 30 year old birthday....I appreciate the teenager comment :-)

Re: got mad church disease yet?

Vince Saunders — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 17:05:16 -0000

The church is mad indeed. when God's people stop reflecting His character, it gives the devil giggles.

Re: got mad church disease yet?

Vince Saunders — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 17:05:16 -0000

The church is mad indeed. when God's people stop reflecting His character, it gives the devil giggles.

Re: got mad church disease yet?

John Albano — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 00:16:19 -0000

"How can we bring hope if we are hopeless, or heal if we are broken?" <-- Thaaaaa't s a darn good point. :) 'Survival guides' for professions and vocations, especially mentally/spiritually demanding ones are a necessity. Anne Jackson's book is a much needed resource right now... and it's got a darn cool name, too. :)

Re: got mad church disease yet?

John Albano — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 00:16:19 -0000

Re: got mad church disease yet?

Dan King — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 23:47:08 -0000

LOL! Yeah, I know how... I was just trying to give Bonnie a hard time for saying that someone else was her favorite blogger...

Re: got mad church disease yet?

Dan King — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 23:47:08 -0000

LOL! Yeah, I know how... I was just trying to give Bonnie a hard time for saying that someone else was her favorite blogger...

Re: got mad church disease yet?

RickD335 — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 21:25:58 -0000

Yep - done inside the dashboard. If you need specifics, BD, shoot me an email (assuming you haven't already sussed the solution out already).

The book looks good!

Re: got mad church disease yet?

RickD335 — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 20:25:58 -0000

Yep - done inside the dashboard. If you need specifics, BD, shoot me an email (assuming you haven't already sussed the solution out already).

The book looks good!

Re: got mad church disease yet?

Dean — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 08:57:07 -0000

I wish I had wrote the book myself back in 1993...when I came out of ministry burned out and abused. Yes abused, by those I worked with, by those I worked for, and mainly myself for not having the healthy boundaries to stop the dysfuctional dynamic that so often operates in Church ministries where guilt and shame are the underlying motivators. As Ann Jackson stated, "I know I was one"

Re: got mad church disease yet?

Dean — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 08:57:07 -0000

Re: got mad church disease yet?

Timothy Caldwell — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 04:39:02 -0000

We as the church need to remember something which I have seen time and time again as I searched for a home church. If the people and the staff are "only the perfect may come" types, then Burn out is inenvitable. If they are the "Welcome all you who are sick and broken, we are the hospital" type, the burn out is less. We must focus on what we are called to do, we are to minister to those that are in need. I grew up in the church but it wasn't till fairly recently that I started to get serious about my faith. I am learning more everyday and I will continue to search. New resources and information are a must, and are always needed.

Re: got mad church disease yet?

Timothy Caldwell — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 04:39:02 -0000

Re: got mad church disease yet?

Sammy Hughes — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 00:57:03 -0000

Thanks for sharing this book. Every time I have started to feel burned out in volunteer ministry in my local church the Lord has stretched me to do more....things I never thought I would ever do! He continues to grow me spiritually each new day as He requires new things from me to be used for His glory. Most of the time I am afraid, but because He asks I just simply take steps of faith to do what He wants me to. Praise God that He continues to find use for me in His kingdom!!!

Re: got mad church disease yet?

Sammy Hughes — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 00:57:03 -0000

Re: got mad church disease yet?

Mary D — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 17:47:56 -0000

I experienced burnout myself last year teaching classes in a Christian high school that is part of my church. I wanted so badly to quit because it was killing me and my pastor made me feel (not intentionally) like I was going against what God had called me to do. The stress was so great that I got physically sick in March and have not yet recovered because my body is so depleted. It made me never want to teach in high school ever again.

However when I was in Florida at FOB, I was very involved in church activities but they were things that I loved doing. I never felt burnt out doing them. They energized me. I think that was a key for me. People who like to serve often feel that they want to be involved in everything or they feel guilty that they are not serving in a bunch of different ministries. A wise person many years ago told me to stick with one ministry and do it well. I got involved in 2, but only one which really involved a lot of my time and effort. At other times, I would do something to help out temporarily as we all do, but fully committed to only 2 ministries.

For pastors, especially in a small church, they are often expected to do everything and if a pastor happens to be a workaholic and/or a control freak that makes it 10X worse. He will eventually burn out unless a miracle occurs. Certainly his family will burn out and usually long before he does. Pastors' kids often turn their backs on God for a time because they see how their parents get abused by the congregation after they have worked so hard to build something wonderful for God. They certainly have a jaded view of people because they see the ugly things people do to their parents.

I am interested to see what Anne Jackson (who looks like a teenager still!) has to say about church burnout. It's a good subject and like Melissa says in her comment I know several people who are on the Mad Church Disease road.

Re: got mad church disease yet?

Mary D — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 17:47:56 -0000

Ever since I got saved and in every church someone always said to me that 20% of the church does 80% of the work. (We've moved a lot due to my husband's line of work.) I've seen burnout cause people to fall away from God. They think they are lacking in faith because even though they might be good at something and are needed in that position, they find no joy in what they do. They begin to resent the church and then God.

I experienced burnout myself last year teaching classes in a Christian high school that is part of my church. I wanted so badly to quit because it was killing me and my pastor made me feel (not intentionally) like I was going against what God had called me to do. The stress was so great that I got physically sick in March and have not yet recovered because my body is so depleted. It made me never want to teach in high school ever again.

However when I was in Florida at FOB, I was very involved in church activities but they were things that I loved doing. I never felt burnt out doing them. They energized me. I think that was a key for me. People who like to serve often feel that they want to be involved in everything or they feel guilty that they are not serving in a bunch of different ministries. A wise person many years ago told me to stick with one ministry and do it well. I got involved in 2, but only one which really involved a lot of my time and effort. At other times, I would do something to help out temporarily as we all do, but fully committed to only 2 ministries.

For pastors, especially in a small church, they are often expected to do everything and if a pastor happens to be a workaholic and/or a control freak that makes it 10X worse. He will eventually burn out unless a miracle occurs. Certainly his family will burn out and usually long before he does. Pastors' kids often turn their backs on God for a time because they see how their parents get abused by the congregation after they have worked so hard to build something wonderful for God. They certainly have a jaded view of people because they see the ugly things people do to their parents.

I am interested to see what Anne Jackson (who looks like a teenager still!) has to say about church burnout. It's a good subject and like Melissa says in her comment I know several people who are on the Mad Church Disease road.

Re: got mad church disease yet?

Dan King — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 16:37:31 -0000

Can anyone tell me how I delete a comment?
Seriously, she one of my favorite bloggers too. But if you don't win the book, then you can make it up to me by buying it through the BibleDude Store! :-)

Re: got mad church disease yet?

Dan King — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 16:37:31 -0000

Can anyone tell me how I delete a comment?
Seriously, she one of my favorite bloggers too. But if you don't win the book, then you can make it up to me by buying it through the BibleDude Store! :-)