#pastors — Public Fediverse posts

Loving Our Neighbors When We Cannot Fix Everything

I sat down in my pastor’s office in high school as he listened to the church voicemail. It felt like every single message was from a poor stranger in tears, needing large amounts of money by the end of the day.

I can tell you now that every pastor is familiar with these calls. We feel horrible about them. After all, we’re supposed to be answering the phone on behalf of Jesus Christ, who cared deeply for the poor. We want to help! However, there’s just not enough money or wisdom in our ministries to heal every moment of poverty that comes our way. And unfortunately, our inability to do so can sometimes create some rather tense situations with the very people we want to help.

For example, when I didn’t arrange a bus ticket for a stranger on the phone, he yelled, “Well, then I’m just going to die in this hospital, and when you get to Heaven, you’re going to have to answer for it!” Then he hung up.

Another time, I agreed to pay part of a stranger’s rent, but I needed to know they could find the rest of the money, so their landlord wouldn’t take our limited funds and kick them out anyway. They yelled at me for doubting them and hung up.

And still another time, I could only give someone part of the money they needed out of my family’s own pocket, and they launched into a very long monologue that targeted me and my pastoring.

These are the unusually extreme reactions, not the typical ones. I share them to illustrate a strange kind of dynamic that can come with serving those in poverty. These reactions are not born out of entitlement as much as they are out of fear, anxiety, and stress. You have to remember that many impoverished people are constantly trying to make ends meet. They are stressed out of their minds. When things start getting desperate, they have to weigh all the intense variables before them. 

What if they lose electricity? How will they cook without electricity? Can they even afford food? They know they need to get a job, but does their car work? Can they even afford gas to get to a job if they get the car fixed? And if they go to work, who will watch their kids? Does daycare cost more than their job pays them? Do they have another credit card they can max out for now? Or do they have any friends left who they don’t already owe money to?

The life of an impoverished person is incredibly heavy, and it feels like everything is working against them. When a pastor can’t do anything to help, it’s always possible there will be a natural feeling that God or Christianity has now failed them, too. It’s just one more variable that raises the intensity of the conversation.

Some churches handle phone calls well and have the staff they need to get the job done. That is very difficult for many small churches. Even if the request is doable, there’s a lot of organization required to figure out how to handle it. For example, I once spent hours of my workday driving around town, just trying to figure out how to pay a stranger’s electric bill.

May we do our best to navigate the difficult situations around us as we partner with churches, organizations, and local government to create better outcomes for those in poverty. We do not know stress as they do, and it’s no wonder they sometimes come to us already on edge. May we lovingly represent Christ well in our interactions as we step into our neighbors’ difficulties.

Preaching to the Heart, Not Just the Mind

In my early years of ministry I was reading Tim Keller’s book, Center Church, when he said something that I desperately wanted to disagree with, but couldn’t get out of my mind.

A major problem among new seminary graduates is that they don’t know the difference between a theology paper, a political manifesto, and a sermon. But the congregation certainly does! …. A lot of pastors who don’t understand the ways of the heart very well make their sermons into lectures …. They are personally more comfortable making arguments than healing souls.

As someone who has read quite a bit of theology, I enjoy a good lecture and some Scriptural debate, so I assume others do too. Indeed, I’m apt to look for a church where the pastor has their hermeneutics in line to offer me a proper exegetical commentary on the text. And if you found that line to be boring as heck, then you are proof that Keller is right. After 15 years of preaching, I see that more clearly now too.

About a year ago I needed to start a new sermon series and I was struggling to decide which book of the Bible to dive into. Sunday was quickly approaching, and I needed to settle somewhere, so I decided to land on Genesis. I had studied that book a lot and could easily preach on it for over a year if I wanted to. I could have spent several months on the first three chapters alone.

As I prayed over this possibility, the term “posturing” came to mind. I looked it up and saw that it was about impressing people, which felt relevant. Though I truly wanted my congregation to experience the Bible in the deep ways that I had, I realized I also wanted them to recognize my knowledge. Indeed, I had given myself grandiose hopes of people inviting their friends to a church where they could hear about Scripture more deeply than they had before.

It’s not that God doesn’t care about biblical scholarship, theology, and research, but my heart was in the wrong place and my Bible knowledge was probably not going to disciple people in the way that I hoped it would. People need messages that meet them where they are, and scholarship doesn’t always do that. As Keller recognizes, sermons are “more edifying—more oriented to the affections and less oriented to detailed cognitive arguments.” Nothing has taught me that quicker than preaching at Promise Church, which was created to minister to adults with special needs.

It can be difficult sometimes to be a theologian-pastor. There will be times when you’re dying to go to the deepest depths of the Bible, but much of the room just wants to know that God still loves and forgives them as they figure out how to overcome sin. And for those who want to go deeper, local pastors can’t really compete with the podcasts, videos, and free online classes that many scholars and theologians offer these days. Sure, you can start your own podcast, but there’s no promise it will go anywhere, even if you try to integrate it into your ministry.

Your Bible knowledge is important and your sermons aren’t to be void of such things—even Keller agrees with that. But while biblical education is important, dry scholarship may not be the main component of your pastoral role or sermons, despite the fact that colleges and seminaries put almost all of their effort into teaching pastors such things. People often need a sermon in a spiritual form more than an educational one.

And even when we want to take people deep into theology, we have to do it carefully. A twenty to thirty minute message is hardly enough time to help people see and experience everything they need to get on board. Pastor Brian Zahnd offers great advice here:

I’ve been gradually dazzled by Christ into a much more hopeful and glorious theology. But along the way I’ve also learned that I have to tell it slant. I can’t always expect someone to see in five minutes what it’s taken me fifty years to see. In our pilgrim journey we need to be careful not to blind others with what we have seen. We dazzle … gradually.

Look for other places in ministry that deep Scripture and theological debate can exist. I’ve found those spaces to fit best in open Q&A church gatherings, community gatherings where conversations naturally happen, Bible studies, and inner healing sessions. Why inner healing sessions? Because bad theology kills, and people find that renewing their mind to Christ as he’s presented in Scripture gives abundant life, which they’re especially open to when they’re hurting.

https://www.europesays.com/africa/374600/ Oppressed Christians in Algeria go underground, Evangelical Focus #AfricaChristianNews #Algeria #AlgerianProtestantChurch #arrest #Christians #ChurchNews #churches #closure #DigitalEvangelicalNews #EvangelicalNews #FreedomOfWorship #muslims #pastors #ReligionNews #ReligiousFreedom #Restriction #SalahChalah #SecretChurch #underground

When #ministers, #pastors, and #preachers of all ilks throughout time have been able to publicly bastardize their literature and have people accept what they say, you cannot be confused about why the world is so fucked up. We made a shit hole. #God didn't do it. Did God make #China hate #Uryghurs?

Aren’t We All Bible Churches?

A while back, I had a couple visit our church as they were looking for a new place to plug into. I was excited that they were testing us out, but they kept mentioning a church down the road that they were especially interested in.

“It just feels like a really solid Bible church,” they kept repeating.

I nodded in agreement, all the while thinking to myself, Did I not just preach the Bible?

That’s when I realized that “Bible church” does not mean “biblical” or “theological” to the average congregant. What many mean by “Bible church” is that the pastor preaches what they think the Bible says.

This is the same vibe I get when I advertise our church at local events. There will always be another church somewhere that advertises itself as a “Bible Church.”

Are there churches that don’t consider themselves Bible churches? I often think to myself. Aren’t we all Bible churches? Isn’t that a given?

The implication, of course, is that their church actually follows the Bible and does what it says, while the rest of us don’t take it seriously. The rest of us are either hindered by tradition and doctrine or we’ve twisted Scripture to appease the beliefs of modernity.

It can be hard to love the Bible, because solid Bible study sometimes force us not to settle for the simple answers we see on the page. Sure, at first glance it looks like Paul says women can’t be in ministry, but then Paul does ministry with lots of women who happen to be evangelists, prophets, and apostles. Sure, it looks like the Bible says a woman should be silent in church, but have you ever tried evangelizing or prophesying in silence? Sure, it looks like Paul says they can’t be pastors, but then why are they allowed to be higher church authorities like prophets and apostles? It is not unbiblical to recognize that something is off here and come to a different conclusion than the conservative view.

If you really love the Bible, you must wrestle with all of the Bible. This ancient omnibus spans various cultures, times, and languages and demands you to struggle with it. It is cheap to settle for theology that doesn’t acknowledge the many variations all throughout Scripture.

You must also wrestle with the Holy Spirit who inspired it. As Christians, we have access to the author whose name is on the front page. Why do we try to study it on our own?

All churches are Bible churches. All Christians are expected to grapple with the Bible. I know it feels like it’s faithfulness to stick our foot down on one verse, but that’s not how proper Bible study works. There is less of a chance that we will have a full meltdown into deconstruction if we have gotten used to wrestling with the various views the Bible can present us with.

Yes, know the safeguards so you don’t venture off into heresy, but certainly wrestle with the Bible, for that is a mark of every good theologian.

How Pastors Can Discuss Controversial Issues Online

Talking about controversial subjects is tricky, and it’s important that you do it well. Yes, Jesus said people would hate us for following him, but he didn’t mean people would hate us because we’re a bunch of jerks.

If you cannot see the humanity in your opponent, then you cannot love them. If you cannot love them, then you can prophesy all you want, but you are nothing more than a clanging gong and have gained nothing. You need to be able to speak the message God has put in your heart with love so that it might possibly be received. That will not happen if you put more stock in being right than in loving the friend, acquaintance, frenemy, or enemy in front of you.

The prophetic often works differently corporately than it does personally. You can speak to a generic crowd a bit more intensely than you can speak to an individual. I learned this from my mentor in college—a fiery professor who was willing to passionately talk about anything from the front of the classroom but was kind and gentle when you met him in a personal setting.

If your argument is online, don’t be sarcastic. Don’t let other online commenters make fun of your opponents. Defend the honor of your enemies. They, too, are made in the Image of God. Pay attention to how the social dynamic is changing if you garner more likes on your comments than they do, as that will make them feel more insecure.

If the conversation isn’t going anywhere, tell them you’ll make one more reply, and then be done. Don’t let people bait you into additional unhealthy conversations through mockery. Don’t stir the pot just to stir the pot. Don’t get high off of fighting people—that’s called bullying. Stay away from rage bait.

If the person you’re trying to dialogue with is getting amped up and angry, maintain a good attitude. When people spiral out of control, they make your point for you. As others read your conversation, they’ll recognize your levelheadedness. Online battles are not always about the person you’re talking with—they’re often more about the people who are silently reading your conversation.

Whatever they say, keep cool and love on. Your interaction as a pastor can be healing and evangelistic, but you don’t always recognize it. When I run into people I rarely see in real life, they sometimes thank me for my posts. I’ve also received messages and comments from deconstructing Christians who have found my online interactions to be healing and one of the reasons they haven’t given up on Jesus. These are reasons worth speaking up about the kinds of issues that pastors often stay silent about.

How Pastors Can Discuss Controversial Issues Online

Talking about controversial subjects is tricky, and it’s important that you do it well. Yes, Jesus said people would hate us for following him, but he didn’t mean people would hate us because we’re a bunch of jerks.

If you cannot see the humanity in your opponent, then you cannot love them. If you cannot love them, then you can prophesy all you want, but you are nothing more than a clanging gong and have gained nothing. You need to be able to speak the message God has put in your heart with love so that it might possibly be received. That will not happen if you put more stock in being right than in loving the friend, acquaintance, frenemy, or enemy in front of you.

The prophetic often works differently corporately than it does personally. You can speak to a generic crowd a bit more intensely than you can speak to an individual. I learned this from my mentor in college—a fiery professor who was willing to passionately talk about anything from the front of the classroom but was kind and gentle when you met him in a personal setting.

If your argument is online, don’t be sarcastic. Don’t let other online commenters make fun of your opponents. Defend the honor of your enemies. They, too, are made in the Image of God. Pay attention to how the social dynamic is changing if you garner more likes on your comments than they do, as that will make them feel more insecure.

If the conversation isn’t going anywhere, tell them you’ll make one more reply, and then be done. Don’t let people bait you into additional unhealthy conversations through mockery. Don’t stir the pot just to stir the pot. Don’t get high off of fighting people—that’s called bullying. Stay away from rage bait.

If the person you’re trying to dialogue with is getting amped up and angry, maintain a good attitude. When people spiral out of control, they make your point for you. As others read your conversation, they’ll recognize your levelheadedness. Online battles are not always about the person you’re talking with—they’re often more about the people who are silently reading your conversation.

Whatever they say, keep cool and love on. Your interaction as a pastor can be healing and evangelistic, but you don’t always recognize it. When I run into people I rarely see in real life, they sometimes thank me for my posts. I’ve also received messages and comments from deconstructing Christians who have found my online interactions to be healing and one of the reasons they haven’t given up on Jesus. These are reasons worth speaking up about the kinds of issues that pastors often stay silent about.

How Pastors Can Discuss Controversial Issues Online

Talking about controversial subjects is tricky, and it’s important that you do it well. Yes, Jesus said people would hate us for following him, but he didn’t mean people would hate us because we’re a bunch of jerks.

If you cannot see the humanity in your opponent, then you cannot love them. If you cannot love them, then you can prophesy all you want, but you are nothing more than a clanging gong and have gained nothing. You need to be able to speak the message God has put in your heart with love so that it might possibly be received. That will not happen if you put more stock in being right than in loving the friend, acquaintance, frenemy, or enemy in front of you.

The prophetic often works differently corporately than it does personally. You can speak to a generic crowd a bit more intensely than you can speak to an individual. I learned this from my mentor in college—a fiery professor who was willing to passionately talk about anything from the front of the classroom but was kind and gentle when you met him in a personal setting.

If your argument is online, don’t be sarcastic. Don’t let other online commenters make fun of your opponents. Defend the honor of your enemies. They, too, are made in the Image of God. Pay attention to how the social dynamic is changing if you garner more likes on your comments than they do, as that will make them feel more insecure.

If the conversation isn’t going anywhere, tell them you’ll make one more reply, and then be done. Don’t let people bait you into additional unhealthy conversations through mockery. Don’t stir the pot just to stir the pot. Don’t get high off of fighting people—that’s called bullying. Stay away from rage bait.

If the person you’re trying to dialogue with is getting amped up and angry, maintain a good attitude. When people spiral out of control, they make your point for you. As others read your conversation, they’ll recognize your levelheadedness. Online battles are not always about the person you’re talking with—they’re often more about the people who are silently reading your conversation.

Whatever they say, keep cool and love on. Your interaction as a pastor can be healing and evangelistic, but you don’t always recognize it. When I run into people I rarely see in real life, they sometimes thank me for my posts. I’ve also received messages and comments from deconstructing Christians who have found my online interactions to be healing and one of the reasons they haven’t given up on Jesus. These are reasons worth speaking up about the kinds of issues that pastors often stay silent about.

How Pastors Can Discuss Controversial Issues Online

Talking about controversial subjects is tricky, and it’s important that you do it well. Yes, Jesus said people would hate us for following him, but he didn’t mean people would hate us because we’re a bunch of jerks.

If you cannot see the humanity in your opponent, then you cannot love them. If you cannot love them, then you can prophesy all you want, but you are nothing more than a clanging gong and have gained nothing. You need to be able to speak the message God has put in your heart with love so that it might possibly be received. That will not happen if you put more stock in being right than in loving the friend, acquaintance, frenemy, or enemy in front of you.

The prophetic often works differently corporately than it does personally. You can speak to a generic crowd a bit more intensely than you can speak to an individual. I learned this from my mentor in college—a fiery professor who was willing to passionately talk about anything from the front of the classroom but was kind and gentle when you met him in a personal setting.

If your argument is online, don’t be sarcastic. Don’t let other online commenters make fun of your opponents. Defend the honor of your enemies. They, too, are made in the Image of God. Pay attention to how the social dynamic is changing if you garner more likes on your comments than they do, as that will make them feel more insecure.

If the conversation isn’t going anywhere, tell them you’ll make one more reply, and then be done. Don’t let people bait you into additional unhealthy conversations through mockery. Don’t stir the pot just to stir the pot. Don’t get high off of fighting people—that’s called bullying. Stay away from rage bait.

If the person you’re trying to dialogue with is getting amped up and angry, maintain a good attitude. When people spiral out of control, they make your point for you. As others read your conversation, they’ll recognize your levelheadedness. Online battles are not always about the person you’re talking with—they’re often more about the people who are silently reading your conversation.

Whatever they say, keep cool and love on. Your interaction as a pastor can be healing and evangelistic, but you don’t always recognize it. When I run into people I rarely see in real life, they sometimes thank me for my posts. I’ve also received messages and comments from deconstructing Christians who have found my online interactions to be healing and one of the reasons they haven’t given up on Jesus. These are reasons worth speaking up about the kinds of issues that pastors often stay silent about.

How Pastors Can Discuss Controversial Issues Online

Talking about controversial subjects is tricky, and it’s important that you do it well. Yes, Jesus said people would hate us for following him, but he didn’t mean people would hate us because we’re a bunch of jerks.

If you cannot see the humanity in your opponent, then you cannot love them. If you cannot love them, then you can prophesy all you want, but you are nothing more than a clanging gong and have gained nothing. You need to be able to speak the message God has put in your heart with love so that it might possibly be received. That will not happen if you put more stock in being right than in loving the friend, acquaintance, frenemy, or enemy in front of you.

The prophetic often works differently corporately than it does personally. You can speak to a generic crowd a bit more intensely than you can speak to an individual. I learned this from my mentor in college—a fiery professor who was willing to passionately talk about anything from the front of the classroom but was kind and gentle when you met him in a personal setting.

If your argument is online, don’t be sarcastic. Don’t let other online commenters make fun of your opponents. Defend the honor of your enemies. They, too, are made in the Image of God. Pay attention to how the social dynamic is changing if you garner more likes on your comments than they do, as that will make them feel more insecure.

If the conversation isn’t going anywhere, tell them you’ll make one more reply, and then be done. Don’t let people bait you into additional unhealthy conversations through mockery. Don’t stir the pot just to stir the pot. Don’t get high off of fighting people—that’s called bullying. Stay away from rage bait.

If the person you’re trying to dialogue with is getting amped up and angry, maintain a good attitude. When people spiral out of control, they make your point for you. As others read your conversation, they’ll recognize your levelheadedness. Online battles are not always about the person you’re talking with—they’re often more about the people who are silently reading your conversation.

Whatever they say, keep cool and love on. Your interaction as a pastor can be healing and evangelistic, but you don’t always recognize it. When I run into people I rarely see in real life, they sometimes thank me for my posts. I’ve also received messages and comments from deconstructing Christians who have found my online interactions to be healing and one of the reasons they haven’t given up on Jesus. These are reasons worth speaking up about the kinds of issues that pastors often stay silent about.

Pastors, We Have to Preach

Sermons are a heavy thing to create. The teachings of Jesus are generally well received by Christians, but if the pastor tries to make them applicable (especially to modern issues), there’s a decent chance of backlash. The pastor has to deal with the weight of such possibilities: Goodbye friends. Goodbye finances. Goodbye church.

My friend had a vision once that captured this dynamic well. They saw a pastor preaching passionately and a congregant in the front row threatening to hurt themselves if the pastor continued. Seeing the congregant’s reaction, the pastor set aside his passion, and the congregant returned to normal. When the pastor’s passion returned, the congregant returned to the threat, attempting to hold the pastor’s message hostage.

Fear and threats drive pastors to become unprovocative and silent. Instead of writing our messages around what we sense Jesus wants to tell our congregation, we tailor them to what we sense people will accept. We don’t disciple our people to the pace of Jesus, but to the pace of the unhealthy congregant who’s threatening to hurt themselves if we keep talking.

We sell out on our messages just like any politician, as our churches become echo chambers rather than prophetic. Then one day, we wake up to find that our churches are miles behind where they should be in spiritual growth. Forget about understanding new hot topics—sometimes it seems like we’re still trying to understand that racism is bad.

Pastors are afraid to do the spiritual warfare of calling out the other gods that have infiltrated the church. This fear drives us into silence, leading congregants to assume the other gods are right. In time, we’re left with a faith that doesn’t challenge or renew minds. Christianity becomes nothing more than a movement built around a cheap grace that allows us to get worse than we were before we got saved, rather than an invitation toward transformation, transfiguration, and metamorphosis. We raise up spiritual infants who are incapable of moving from milk to meat because the effort to chew is too much, and the sophisticated taste is too bold.

Jesus remains faithful to his bride, but admittedly, his marriage is dysfunctional. He’s been begging her to go to counseling with him, but she has no interest. Maybe she’s fine living in the grace that her sweet husband has shown her. Maybe she thinks he’s the one who needs to do the changing. Or maybe she’s still trying to get him to buy into the idea of polyamory, hoping that the other gods can stay the night.

Pastors, we have to preach.

I get it. No pastor went into ministry thinking, “Man, I can’t wait for people to hate me.” We literally took this job because we love people, and we want to see them thrive. We are here because our hearts are for others. We want them to like us. They’re our friends and our family. We don’t want to lose anyone. We obsess over such losses for days, months—even years! All pastors know the depressing spirals that come around preaching well, just as the prophets of old did.

But many of the American church’s modern-day problems stem from pastors cultivating a culture of saying nothing at all. We have sacrificed the passion of our pastoral messages to protect our unhealthiest congregants from their biggest threat: themselves.

Pastors, be faithful to Jesus first. That is where your health and your congregant’s health lie.

The Church’s Political Captivity

The COVID-19 pandemic was ruthless on pastors. Every single decision felt like a “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” situation. You got in trouble if you kept your church open, and you got in trouble if you closed it. You got in trouble if you required people to wear masks, and you got in trouble if you didn’t. Every word of our communications had to be carefully crafted to avoid offending others. We worked our butts off creating online services that nobody really cared about or watched.

But even more difficult than this was the social and political tensions we had to address during that chaotic season. Christians became anti-science and conspiratorial. Instead of advocating for justice and caring for minorities, many in the church fought against such efforts. Instead of calling out political nonsense, the church seemed to defend it or support it.

At the start of the pandemic, many pastors were taking a stand on these issues, but in the end, there seemed to be only a few. Too many of them had been crucified by their congregants early on for speaking out. They were walking on eggshells.

I started hearing a very similar testimony among pastors during that time. They each shared that they once made an online post, and their social networks blew up. At first, they were stunned by the comments, but after enough arguments, they decided that talking was pointless. “People never change their minds online,” they’d say. Or “ I don’t want to sow disunity in the church.” Or “Frank and Mary came after me, and they’re the greatest Christians I know! So maybe I shouldn’t speak.” Pastors used these kinds of logic to shut themselves up.

Many Christians have sacred idols they have not yet deconstructed, and it’s because pastors aren’t addressing the golden calf in the room. We all know the unspoken rule: American political issues are so deeply spiritual and important that pastors are not allowed to address them—unless the pastor shares the opinion of the majority of congregants. That is to say, pastors can generally say whatever they want politically, so long as it leans Republican or Conservative. 

The room is rigged, and it’s because pastors have spent the last several decades only making certain kinds of political statements, using certain kinds of political buzzwords, and addressing certain kinds of political issues. No one has to ask how the church leans, because these “certain kinds” of things have already made it clear. Pastors and congregants who stray from these views often stay quiet for their own protection, lest they be told that they’re not a Christian.

The church needs help. It is not meant to be defined by what a political party thinks, but by what Jesus thinks. And there is no way that any political party anywhere in the world has captured that.

The Church’s Political Captivity

The COVID-19 pandemic was ruthless on pastors. Every single decision felt like a “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” situation. You got in trouble if you kept your church open, and you got in trouble if you closed it. You got in trouble if you required people to wear masks, and you got in trouble if you didn’t. Every word of our communications had to be carefully crafted to avoid offending others. We worked our butts off creating online services that nobody really cared about or watched.

But even more difficult than this was the social and political tensions we had to address during that chaotic season. Christians became anti-science and conspiratorial. Instead of advocating for justice and caring for minorities, many in the church fought against such efforts. Instead of calling out political nonsense, the church seemed to defend it or support it.

At the start of the pandemic, many pastors were taking a stand on these issues, but in the end, there seemed to be only a few. Too many of them had been crucified by their congregants early on for speaking out. They were walking on eggshells.

I started hearing a very similar testimony among pastors during that time. They each shared that they once made an online post, and their social networks blew up. At first, they were stunned by the comments, but after enough arguments, they decided that talking was pointless. “People never change their minds online,” they’d say. Or “ I don’t want to sow disunity in the church.” Or “Frank and Mary came after me, and they’re the greatest Christians I know! So maybe I shouldn’t speak.” Pastors used these kinds of logic to shut themselves up.

Many Christians have sacred idols they have not yet deconstructed, and it’s because pastors aren’t addressing the golden calf in the room. We all know the unspoken rule: American political issues are so deeply spiritual and important that pastors are not allowed to address them—unless the pastor shares the opinion of the majority of congregants. That is to say, pastors can generally say whatever they want politically, so long as it leans Republican or Conservative. 

The room is rigged, and it’s because pastors have spent the last several decades only making certain kinds of political statements, using certain kinds of political buzzwords, and addressing certain kinds of political issues. No one has to ask how the church leans, because these “certain kinds” of things have already made it clear. Pastors and congregants who stray from these views often stay quiet for their own protection, lest they be told that they’re not a Christian.

The church needs help. It is not meant to be defined by what a political party thinks, but by what Jesus thinks. And there is no way that any political party anywhere in the world has captured that.

The Church’s Political Captivity

The COVID-19 pandemic was ruthless on pastors. Every single decision felt like a “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” situation. You got in trouble if you kept your church open, and you got in trouble if you closed it. You got in trouble if you required people to wear masks, and you got in trouble if you didn’t. Every word of our communications had to be carefully crafted to avoid offending others. We worked our butts off creating online services that nobody really cared about or watched.

But even more difficult than this was the social and political tensions we had to address during that chaotic season. Christians became anti-science and conspiratorial. Instead of advocating for justice and caring for minorities, many in the church fought against such efforts. Instead of calling out political nonsense, the church seemed to defend it or support it.

At the start of the pandemic, many pastors were taking a stand on these issues, but in the end, there seemed to be only a few. Too many of them had been crucified by their congregants early on for speaking out. They were walking on eggshells.

I started hearing a very similar testimony among pastors during that time. They each shared that they once made an online post, and their social networks blew up. At first, they were stunned by the comments, but after enough arguments, they decided that talking was pointless. “People never change their minds online,” they’d say. Or “ I don’t want to sow disunity in the church.” Or “Frank and Mary came after me, and they’re the greatest Christians I know! So maybe I shouldn’t speak.” Pastors used these kinds of logic to shut themselves up.

Many Christians have sacred idols they have not yet deconstructed, and it’s because pastors aren’t addressing the golden calf in the room. We all know the unspoken rule: American political issues are so deeply spiritual and important that pastors are not allowed to address them—unless the pastor shares the opinion of the majority of congregants. That is to say, pastors can generally say whatever they want politically, so long as it leans Republican or Conservative. 

The room is rigged, and it’s because pastors have spent the last several decades only making certain kinds of political statements, using certain kinds of political buzzwords, and addressing certain kinds of political issues. No one has to ask how the church leans, because these “certain kinds” of things have already made it clear. Pastors and congregants who stray from these views often stay quiet for their own protection, lest they be told that they’re not a Christian.

The church needs help. It is not meant to be defined by what a political party thinks, but by what Jesus thinks. And there is no way that any political party anywhere in the world has captured that.

The Church’s Political Captivity

The COVID-19 pandemic was ruthless on pastors. Every single decision felt like a “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” situation. You got in trouble if you kept your church open, and you got in trouble if you closed it. You got in trouble if you required people to wear masks, and you got in trouble if you didn’t. Every word of our communications had to be carefully crafted to avoid offending others. We worked our butts off creating online services that nobody really cared about or watched.

But even more difficult than this was the social and political tensions we had to address during that chaotic season. Christians became anti-science and conspiratorial. Instead of advocating for justice and caring for minorities, many in the church fought against such efforts. Instead of calling out political nonsense, the church seemed to defend it or support it.

At the start of the pandemic, many pastors were taking a stand on these issues, but in the end, there seemed to be only a few. Too many of them had been crucified by their congregants early on for speaking out. They were walking on eggshells.

I started hearing a very similar testimony among pastors during that time. They each shared that they once made an online post, and their social networks blew up. At first, they were stunned by the comments, but after enough arguments, they decided that talking was pointless. “People never change their minds online,” they’d say. Or “ I don’t want to sow disunity in the church.” Or “Frank and Mary came after me, and they’re the greatest Christians I know! So maybe I shouldn’t speak.” Pastors used these kinds of logic to shut themselves up.

Many Christians have sacred idols they have not yet deconstructed, and it’s because pastors aren’t addressing the golden calf in the room. We all know the unspoken rule: American political issues are so deeply spiritual and important that pastors are not allowed to address them—unless the pastor shares the opinion of the majority of congregants. That is to say, pastors can generally say whatever they want politically, so long as it leans Republican or Conservative. 

The room is rigged, and it’s because pastors have spent the last several decades only making certain kinds of political statements, using certain kinds of political buzzwords, and addressing certain kinds of political issues. No one has to ask how the church leans, because these “certain kinds” of things have already made it clear. Pastors and congregants who stray from these views often stay quiet for their own protection, lest they be told that they’re not a Christian.

The church needs help. It is not meant to be defined by what a political party thinks, but by what Jesus thinks. And there is no way that any political party anywhere in the world has captured that.

Not All Busyness Leads to Burnout

Many assume that pastors burn out because they’re too busy. While this can be true, I often find that busyness only equals burnout when it’s the wrong kind of busyness, which is different for every person. For example, Pastor Bob may be super into visiting people in the hospital, while Pastor Jen loves writing messages. Bob may get pumped to do a wedding, while Jen can’t wait to put on an outreach event. And then there’s Larry, who loves balancing a church budget and organizing ministry schedules, which neither Bob nor Jen wants to have any part of.

These preferences are not some kind of moral dysfunction. While pastors must be faithful to do the work Jesus requires of them (whether they like it or not), it is human to have preferences in what that work is. But when a pastor is empowered to do the kind of work that accentuates their personhood and abilities, they are more likely to be spared the threat of burnout. 

The pastor should not be responsible for everything in the church. Biblically speaking, their job is to equip the saints for ministry, not to do all the ministry for the saints. Yes, there are a few tasks that some Christian traditions think only pastors can do, but most of the jobs we put on pastors can be delegated to the body of Christ. We must find the people who are skilled for the task and put them there.

When you are busy with the things God has put on your heart, you sometimes soar through it. When I lead spontaneous worship for an hour straight, I can experience rest. When I guide a deliverance session, two hours can sometimes pass without me noticing. When I write books, eight hours can vanish, and I can forget to eat. When I write and record new music, a whole day can be sucked up without me realizing it. Such tasks take energy, but they return energy to me as well.

Again, there will always be things in ministry we don’t want to do, and we have no choice but to do them—every job has such components. Likewise, rest is important, even from the things we love doing. But rest doesn’t always look like binge-watching TV or playing a never-ending video game. Such things can be beneficial for a time, but don’t confuse rest with apathy (which is a kind of rest that burns you out), nor equate all rest with sabbath rest (which is a kind of rest that keeps you in God’s presence).

Whose Yoke Are You Wearing?

Pastors are used to wearing many hats, so why don’t we leave ministry and put on a different one when ministry gets hard? Why can’t we quit?

Because there’s one relationship that never gives up on us and never ends: Jesus. He is the one who called us into this space in the first place and empowered us for it. We might want to quit, but if he doesn’t want us to, we will aim to please him. If he wants us where we’re at, we will stay. If he wants us to preach something that will disrupt the status quo, we will do our best to preach it.

When pastors settle for anything less than Jesus, burnout wins. It’s his yoke that is easy and his burden that is light. When we take off his yoke for a different one, everything gets impossibly heavy. We must turn around regularly to see who’s in the cart. Is it our pain and trauma? Is it someone we upset? Is it our pride? Is it a demon? Is it no one at all? If it’s not Jesus, then we’re going to burn out.

Without Jesus, the pastor is doomed. No one can care for his bride like he can. No congregant can carry the weight of ministry with you as he can. No friendship can equate to the friendship that he can give. No gift is greater than the gift of his Holy Spirit. I promise you: you can’t do ministry without him—and if you try, you will burn out in the most painful way. Jesus is the only one who can fully carry the weight of ministry with you.

We can’t quit ministry because we can’t quit Jesus. This can be a painful, stressful job—but it’s our job. As pastors, we know who we are and why we’re called to this. Yes, we have debated fleeing many times, but it’s never worked out. Where else would we go? What would fulfill us? How could we shut up that fire in our bones? If we ran away, it would just burst out of us in some new ministerial capacity, and we’d be right back in it.

What’s your yoke feel like? How much does your burden weigh? If you can’t handle it, make sure you’re carrying the right master.

Burnout Is a Warning Light, Not a Death Sentence

Colleges, seminaries, books, and pastors have a lesson they will work hard to get into your psyche: do whatever you must do in ministry to not burn out. Statistically speaking, pastors drop out of ministry like flies, so you are generally taught to run from burnout at all costs. 

These instructions throw every pastor into a tizzy. Because they were taught that burnout is the end of their career, when they start to experience it, they see it as writing on the wall—as though their pastoral career has just been diagnosed with cancer. They sometimes react in one of two ways: (1) take a nice long break from ministry via a vacation, sabbatical, or pause in ministry, or (2) call it quits forever. If they choose option 1, they return to ministry temporarily refreshed, often to find that the factors of burnout are still there.

Rest is good, necessary, and even dictated by God, but you can’t rest your way out of all your problems. If there’s pain in your life causing the burnout, then it’s the pain that needs to be addressed. If it’s too much work that’s causing the burnout, then it’s delegation that needs to be created. If it’s drama causing the burnout, then it’s the drama that needs to be worked through. Rest might keep these wounds from bothering you for a bit, but if you don’t treat the infection, you’ll feel the pain when you start moving again.

Burnout is not the end of your pastoral ministry career. More often than not, it’s a sign that you need to address something. What I think pastors should be taught is that, in long-term ministry, you will likely burn out many times. You will want to throw in the towel. You will want to quit and find a normal job somewhere. Every few years (if not more), you will feel like the writing is on the wall again.

And that’s okay. As you rest and heal through the things causing the burnout, the Spirit will help you regain the strength you need for the job he appointed you to. And you will remember why you like it and why you don’t want to do anything else.

Learning to Discern Criticism in Ministry

I once sat down for lunch with a congregant, only to be blindsided by the opening comment: “You preached the worst Easter message I’ve ever heard.”

During the pandemic, when our church was online, a congregant told me they sometimes turn the service off when they don’t like what I’m preaching.

In ministry, you must learn to discern the critique you’re given. You must be humble enough to listen, but also recognize that you can’t please everyone in our very opinionated world, where visitors leave Google reviews and online ratings of churches. Many of our criticisms do not come from the Holy Spirit (though some will make it seem so), but from our own pain, preferences, and hardness of heart. These kinds of critiques will eat us alive if we’re not careful.

Be humble enough to hear critique openly—even invite it, especially with people you trust—but don’t assume every single critique you’ve ever received is correct. And even if it is correct, it may not always be substantive. For example, I once put a Bible passage on the screen with the wrong verse reference, causing someone to come to me in tears. Did I not respect the Bible enough to proofread the slides? Was Scripture not sacred to me? The criticism was correct, but this was an over-the-top response to a copy-and-paste issue on the slides.

On top of all these external voices of critique, pastors also face internal ones.

Jim looked at me weirdly when I said that thing in my message last week, and now they’re not here today. 

I tried to be faithful to what I thought I was supposed to preach, and now attendance is down. 

I know that worship song stretched people a bit, but it was perfect for the message, and now that couple is probably never coming back. 

Did that person leave the sanctuary to use the bathroom, or did I say something wrong?

Maybe I didn’t make that new person feel comfortable enough. 

Maybe I did too much of this. 

Maybe I did too little of that.

Pastors carry a heavy weight in their minds. We all know that a big part of what people look for in a church is whether or not they like the pastor. When people visit your church and don’t come back, it’s hard not to take it personally. When people who usually go to your church disappear for a month, you wonder what you did. 

Some critiques are nothing more than preference. Some critiques are fair. Some critiques are very important, and you should make the necessary changes immediately. But use discernment as to what’s what.

Jesus faced criticism all the time. Try to learn to process it and deal with it like he did. There have been so many critiques I needed to hear that have made me a better person, a better preacher, and a better pastor. But there have also been some that have been so painful that I’ve needed inner healing to get them to stop constantly replaying in my mind. Bring all critiques before Jesus in prayer and humility, and he’ll help you discern through them and heal from the toxic ones.

A Word for Small Church Pastors

“You don’t have a competitive bone in your body, and you’ll labor in the same vineyard as others,” a stranger once told me, having sensed the Holy Spirit wanted them to pass along this word.

This is fairly true of me. I am happy to work alongside other churches, organizations, and city officials wherever we overlap in mission. Anything that is a win for the Kingdom of Heaven is a win for all of us.

But like many pastors, I struggle with church jealousy. I have a strange habit of torturing myself by opening YouTube on Sunday nights to watch live streams from large churches in my city. What does that pastor have that I don’t? I think to myself. What is that church doing that we’re not? If I do what they’re doing, will more people show up?

Comparison is something that all pastors have to face. There will always be a church somewhere doing something better than you or that has more people than you. You need to be faithful to what God is doing in your church—not to what he is doing in someone else’s. Surrender any jealousy that you have to Jesus as quickly as possible. It is not healthy for your soul or your ministry. If you are a true church, then you are a force to be reckoned with in the spiritual realm, regardless of size. Stand firm.

Once, during a chaotic deliverance session, the manifested demon kept reminding me of how small our church was. A strange thing happened in that moment. Rather than feel defeated by its statements, I recognized that the demon was really annoyed by our small church. Why did it care so much about ripping apart our church if it was so small and pointless? Why did it want me to feel like a failed pastor?

As I often say, figure out what a demon wants and do the opposite. If the demon wanted me out of ministry, then I was right where I was supposed to be. If the demon wanted me to feel deflated and hoped to shut down my tiny church, then I needed to continue to invest in it.

Jesus has built his church, and the gates of hell will not stand against it. That word is for you, too, small church pastors. Stand strong.

Pastoring as the Person You Are | Why Authentic Ministry Matters

Have you ever seen friends who seem to be the same person? I knew two guys like that once. The younger friend became the older one. Then, when the younger one got to college, they became their roommate. They disappeared when they graduated, and when they resurfaced online, they had new interests and a new best friend who looked so much like them that I almost couldn’t tell which one they were in the picture.

Pastors sometimes do this, too. For example, I once met a support pastor who spoke exactly like their lead pastor—their vocabulary, tone, intonation, and pauses were identical. They had become an echo of the lead pastor, and I couldn’t help but wonder who they actually were underneath it all.

I doubt this happens often in local church leadership, but pastors often try to emulate their favorite celebrity pastor. We might change the way we talk or write to mimic the celebrity. We might even change how we dress to adopt their style. For example, I once scrolled across a video of a pastor online that I could have sworn was Steven Furtick in every way, but it wasn’t him. In other cases, I have been to a couple of ministries where I couldn’t recognize my quiet pastoral friends because they were screaming their messages in the style of their favorite fiery preachers.

We worship leaders do this too, when we mimic famous worship leaders we’ve seen. We might breathe deep into the mic, hold our hearts, smile like we’re in on a joke everyone missed out on, or fling our arms around nonstop. My favorite is when we fan the air on the stage out into the crowd, a movement I assume most of us have copied without knowing why.

There’s nothing wrong with being inspired by the people we think do our jobs best. Indeed, it is natural to want to become like them in some way, shape, or form. My thick black rectangular glasses are grounded in my love for Rob Bell, who first brought the Scriptures to light for me. My block paragraph form of writing is also inspired by him. But sometimes, our interests get the best of us, and we think that if we become our favorite church celebrities, we’ll either make a bigger difference or grow our church. When we do this, we decide that our churches need anyone other than ourselves to lead them.

Some go so far as to grow their churches and gain acceptance by legally purchasing the transcripts of famous preachers and reading them to their congregations. My heart breaks for such pastors because pastors today are expected to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers, all wrapped into one. Those who don’t have a strong teaching gift may feel they have to take sermons from others to fit in, even though they may be very gifted at other pastoral roles.

Our congregants are not always helpful with this dynamic, as they often ask us to become someone else. This request comes in many different ways. Sometimes there’s a wink via comparison, such as, “Our previous pastor would have done that differently.” Or they might make us feel small and insignificant by comparing us to their favorite preacher, with whom we don’t seem to compare.

Sometimes we’re told to be someone else through direct confrontation. “Let’s get coffee sometime,” is often a way of saying, “You did or said something recently that I don’t like, and I think you should change.” Other times, we’re told to stay in a lane. “You’re too this,” or “too that,” and “If you didn’t do that, then maybe our church would grow.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywvRgGAd2XI&list=RDywvRgGAd2XI&start_radio=1

Pastors often feel that they’re given the same advice Weird Al’s mom gives him at the start of the movie, Weird: The Al Yankovic Story: “Honey, I know it’s hard to hear this, but your dad and I had a long talk, and we agreed it would be best for all of us if you just stopped being who you are and doing the things you love.”

You are enough. Ministry is better because you are in it, and you don’t need to completely copy someone else to grow your church or be a good pastor. I’ve been moved by the Holy Spirit during some of the worst messages I’ve ever heard. There are other ways to make up for a lack of skill or to grow than to pretend you’re someone you’re not.

A church that grows by sacrificing the unique image of God in your personhood is not a church that will breathe life into you. Therefore, it’s also not one you can keep up with running. If you can’t be you, you are eventually going to experience an identity crisis and burn out.

https://www.europesays.com/people/133707/ Resisting to the very end – at what cost?, Evangelical Focus #ChurchNews #churches #corruption #DigitalEvangelicalNews #EvangelicalNews #GovernmentChristianNews #pastors #PedroSánchez #Politics #ReligionNews #spain

At a parliament devoted to the Pope, everyone picks the pontiff who interests them most, Evangelical Focus

Just a few days ago, the Spanish Parliament hosted the …
#Europe #EU #EuropeanParliament #churchnews #criticism #digitalevangelicalnews #euthanasia #evangelicalnews #Evangelicals #left-wing #life #Parliament #pastors #Pension #Pope #Pope-Leo-XIV #reconciliation #religionnews #religious-freedom #Right-wing #RomanCatholicism #Spain #visitChristiannews
https://www.europesays.com/europe/64410/

https://www.europesays.com/africa/271882/ Court remands eight pastors accused of staging miracles with hired actors #AnambraState #AnambraStateHighCourt #Awka #FakeMiracle #Nigeria #pastors

Across countries, reflective thinking correlated not only with #atheism, but with apostasy (https://doi.org/10.1017/S0034412525000198).

But what does reflective thinking predict in subgroups? In 120 #pastors from #Nigeria, reflection predicted *stronger* #religious belief: https://doi.org/10.65696/001c.162288

Across countries, reflective thinking correlated not only with #atheism, but with apostasy (https://doi.org/10.1017/S0034412525000198).

But what does reflective thinking predict in subgroups? In 120 #pastors from #Nigeria, reflection predicted *stronger* #religious belief: https://doi.org/10.65696/001c.162288

Across countries, reflective thinking correlated not only with #atheism, but with apostasy (https://doi.org/10.1017/S0034412525000198).

But what does reflective thinking predict in subgroups? In 120 #pastors from #Nigeria, reflection predicted *stronger* #religious belief: https://doi.org/10.65696/001c.162288

Across countries, reflective thinking correlated not only with #atheism, but with apostasy (https://doi.org/10.1017/S0034412525000198).

But what does reflective thinking predict in subgroups? In 120 #pastors from #Nigeria, reflection predicted *stronger* #religious belief: https://doi.org/10.65696/001c.162288

Across countries, reflective thinking correlated not only with #atheism, but with apostasy (https://doi.org/10.1017/S0034412525000198).

But what does reflective thinking predict in subgroups? In 120 #pastors from #Nigeria, reflection predicted *stronger* #religious belief: https://doi.org/10.65696/001c.162288

Christians are turning to AI for spiritual guidance

https://web.brid.gy/r/https://nerds.xyz/2026/05/ai-spiritual-guidance/

Christians are turning to AI for spiritual guidance

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://nerds.xyz/2026/05/ai-spiritual-guidance/

Christians are turning to AI for spiritual guidance

https://web.brid.gy/r/https://nerds.xyz/2026/05/ai-spiritual-guidance/

Christians are turning to AI for spiritual guidance

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://nerds.xyz/2026/05/ai-spiritual-guidance/

Christians are turning to AI for spiritual guidance

https://web.brid.gy/r/https://nerds.xyz/2026/05/ai-spiritual-guidance/

I mean, #adultery is just as punishable by death according to the #OldTestament as #homosexuality is but you don't see #Christian #pastors today inciting #hate #mobs about #divorced people infiltrating our schools and promoting the #secondmarriage agenda to your children. I mean, the #Catholics still care if you've divorced and remarried but we've largely lost this #culturewar. Why can't we stop the hate rhetoric and talk about #God 's #love instead?

I mean, #adultery is just as punishable by death according to the #OldTestament as #homosexuality is but you don't see #Christian #pastors today inciting #hate #mobs about #divorced people infiltrating our schools and promoting the #secondmarriage agenda to your children. I mean, the #Catholics still care if you've divorced and remarried but we've largely lost this #culturewar. Why can't we stop the hate rhetoric and talk about #God 's #love instead?

I mean, #adultery is just as punishable by death according to the #OldTestament as #homosexuality is but you don't see #Christian #pastors today inciting #hate #mobs about #divorced people infiltrating our schools and promoting the #secondmarriage agenda to your children. I mean, the #Catholics still care if you've divorced and remarried but we've largely lost this #culturewar. Why can't we stop the hate rhetoric and talk about #God 's #love instead?

I mean, #adultery is just as punishable by death according to the #OldTestament as #homosexuality is but you don't see #Christian #pastors today inciting #hate #mobs about #divorced people infiltrating our schools and promoting the #secondmarriage agenda to your children. I mean, the #Catholics still care if you've divorced and remarried but we've largely lost this #culturewar. Why can't we stop the hate rhetoric and talk about #God 's #love instead?

I mean, #adultery is just as punishable by death according to the #OldTestament as #homosexuality is but you don't see #Christian #pastors today inciting #hate #mobs about #divorced people infiltrating our schools and promoting the #secondmarriage agenda to your children. I mean, the #Catholics still care if you've divorced and remarried but we've largely lost this #culturewar. Why can't we stop the hate rhetoric and talk about #God 's #love instead?

#US #Pastors Told To ‘#Prepare Now’ For #UFO Disclosure

https://www.patreon.com/posts/us-pastors-told-157678083

https://www.europesays.com/africa/222835/ Bushiri, Omotoso named in SIU probe into Home Affairs visa syndicate #android #AssetForfeitureUnit #DepartmentOfHomeAffairs #DepartmentOfHomeAffairs'AntiCorruptionUnit #HomeAffairs #IolNews #ios #NationalProsecutingAuthority #NewzroomAfrika #OmotosoTheSpecialInvestigatingUnit #pastors #Pretoria #SelbyMakgotho #ShepherdBushiri #SIU #SouthAfrica #SouthAfricanRevenueService #TimothyOmotoso #WhatsApp

Pastors Convene in Secret Over Looming UFO Disclosure, Faith Under Scrutiny

Pastors met US intelligence officials to discuss upcoming UFO disclosure. Learn how this could affect faith and what happens next.

#UFODisclosure, #Pastors, #FaithCrisis, #USIntelligence, #UAP

https://newsletter.tf/pastors-meet-us-officials-ufo-disclosure-faith/

Pastors are reportedly meeting with US intelligence officials to prepare for potential UFO disclosures. This follows recent congressional hearings on alleged secret programs.

#UFODisclosure, #Pastors, #FaithCrisis, #USIntelligence, #UAP
https://newsletter.tf/pastors-meet-us-officials-ufo-disclosure-faith/

https://www.europesays.com/africa/217692/ SIU report exposes sins of foreign pastors #CrlRightsCommission #ECG #EnlightenedChristianGathering #HomeAffairs #pastors #ShepherdBushiri #SouthAfrica #SouthAfricanChurchDefenders #SpecialInvestigatingUnit #TimothyOmotoso

Planting 100 new churches: FIEIDE’s mission goal for Spain, Evangelical Focus

Around 270 representatives from over a hundred congregations and mission points of the Federation of I…
#Spain #ES #Europe #Europa #EU #Christianleadership #churchnews #churchplanting #conference #Congress #denominations #digitalevangelicalnews #evangelicalnews #Evangelicals #evangelism #freechurches #FreeevangelicalchurchesChristiannews #Mission #pastors #religionnews #Valencia
https://www.europesays.com/spain/13309/

60% of churchgoers worried about AI’s influence on Christianity https://www.byteseu.com/1965653/ #AI #AIAndChristianity #ArtificialIntelligence #ChurchAndTechnology #Congregations #LifewayResearch #pastors #ProtestantChurchgoers

@whitehouse-47.bsky.social You really don't make any sense at all, do you understand that? You compare yourself to #Jesus in front of a bunch of #cowardly #pastors, and you #degrade #veterans that got #injured, so how will you explain to yourself crawling up on a #tree because you did #justice?

#MissKittyPolitics #AI #research Yes, on April 1, 2026, the White House accidentally published and then quickly deleted an hour-long video feed of president Donald #Trump speaking at a private Easter luncheon with a group of #pastors. The video was captured and saved by Business Insider reporter ...

#MissKittyPolitics #AI #research Yes, on April 1, 2026, the White House accidentally published and then quickly deleted an hour-long video feed of president Donald #Trump speaking at a private Easter luncheon with a group of #pastors. The video was captured and saved by Business Insider reporter ...

#MissKittyPolitics #AI #research Yes, on April 1, 2026, the White House accidentally published and then quickly deleted an hour-long video feed of president Donald #Trump speaking at a private Easter luncheon with a group of #pastors. The video was captured and saved by Business Insider reporter ...

#MissKittyPolitics #AI #research Yes, on April 1, 2026, the White House accidentally published and then quickly deleted an hour-long video feed of president Donald #Trump speaking at a private Easter luncheon with a group of #pastors. The video was captured and saved by Business Insider reporter ...

#MissKittyPolitics #AI #research Yes, on April 1, 2026, the White House accidentally published and then quickly deleted an hour-long video feed of president Donald #Trump speaking at a private Easter luncheon with a group of #pastors. The video was captured and saved by Business Insider reporter ...

🎙️ Episode 298 is available now! Here's a short cut.
#Pastors lay hands on #Trump during #nap.
🎧 Listen wherever you get #podcasts or 📺 Watch on YouTube!
🔗 https://linktr.ee/theallaboutnothingpodcast
🔗 https://bit.ly/AANEp298

🎙️ Episode 298 is available now! Here's a short cut.
#Pastors lay hands on #Trump during #nap.
🎧 Listen wherever you get #podcasts or 📺 Watch on YouTube!
🔗 https://linktr.ee/theallaboutnothingpodcast
🔗 https://bit.ly/AANEp298

🎙️ Episode 298 is available now! Here's a short cut.
#Pastors lay hands on #Trump during #nap.
🎧 Listen wherever you get #podcasts or 📺 Watch on YouTube!
🔗 https://linktr.ee/theallaboutnothingpodcast
🔗 https://bit.ly/AANEp298

There's a remarkable overlap between churches that cover up corrupt church leaders and churches that support Donald Trump. They are surprisingly willing to overlook evil to make money at the expense of their followers. #church #christianity #trump #pastors

https://youtu.be/JWjA-ysQS2s?si=t0mIhvlggtwLM1c_

There's a remarkable overlap between churches that cover up corrupt church leaders and churches that support Donald Trump. They are surprisingly willing to overlook evil to make money at the expense of their followers. #church #christianity #trump #pastors

https://youtu.be/JWjA-ysQS2s?si=t0mIhvlggtwLM1c_

Another #PastorAlert Don't let your #KIDS near #PASTORS #FFS

Another #PastorAlert Don't let your #KIDS near #PASTORS #FFS

#Maine - Several people arrested after pray-in outside Sen. #SusanCollins' office in #PortlandME

Police said they charged nine people with criminal trespass after they refused to leave and "asked to be arrested"

by Adam Bartow, Updated: 5:54 PM EST Jan 27, 2026

Excerpt: "Police say there were about 50 people protesting and the group was told people would be charged if they did not leave. Police said after several warnings, most people left, but nine stayed 'and asked to be arrested.'

"The First Parish Congregational Church of #GorhamME shared on Facebook, calling it faithful action with 'a large group of #FaithLeaders and people of faith and #conscience, demanding that she use her power to end funding to #ICE and put an end to their campaign of #terror. If you’re on Facebook, please follow #FirstParishCongregationalChurch of Gorham and share widely to amplify this action.'

"Local faith leaders released a statement Tuesday afternoon calling it a #PrayIn.

" 'Masked federal agents using their anger as a tool, causing harm in already vulnerable communities, is the opposite of loving our neighbor,' said Rev. Sara Bartlett, Pastor at Second Congregational Church (#UCC) in #NorwayME.

"The list of people arrested includes the #pastors at #FirstParishCongregationalChurch in Portland, First Parish Congregational Church of Gorham, #BracketMemorialChurch on #PeaksIsland and the #CongregationalChurch in #CumberlandME."

https://www.wmtw.com/article/several-people-arrested-faith-led-demonstration-susan-collins-office-portland/70162632

#FaithLeaders #WWJD #Maine #USPol #MainePol #ICEOut #ICEOutMaine #AbolishICE