Originally Posted by Pilgrim
Today, Elders, especially the so-called "Teaching Elders" are on the same level as a politician. They can't be trusted and they deem themselves to be 'above the law'. Doubtless there are a few here, perhaps many, who have had conversations with their "pastor" over some issue which they disagreed with and it didn't take long before that pride reared its ugly head. Am I not right? How many pastors today wrestle with fear in regard to preaching or teaching? I'm not referring to the fear of standing before a congregation of class of students, aka: stage fright, but rather that healthy, spiritual fear that is present due to the realization that you are responsible for expounding the truth of God to others and that an error could lead someone astray or even result in that person's eternal damnation. Preaching is probably the most important thing any man on this earth could do, surpassing any other act one could ever do. Who is worthy of such a privilege? And what man has within himself the courage to take on that responsibility?

Pilgrim, I agree 100% with you on this! I posted a question on another thread which also relates to preaching. I am not sure that some pastors really understand the enormous responsibility they have to stand in front of the congregation and say "Thus says the Lord".