The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1895-11-28
THE CHURCH TO THE PASTOR.

THE CHURCH TO THE PASTOR.
1t is generally conceded that
there is need of close relation
between church and pastor.
However clear individual ideas.
are upon this subject no one is
willing to step upon the plat
form of human differences and
say II am prepared to give to
the world a clear understand
ing of it's duty"
Individual churches treat
their pastor in. some general
ways yet there exists a compli-
cation of relationships, which
widely differ. One would
think from the position some
people take in regard the pas
tor, that he was not at all re-
lated to their church, and there
fore there is placed between
him and his congregation an
impossible chasm.
There is one duty for the pas
tor, there is another for the
church. In some churches the
pastor is expected or at least
left to look after all the growth
in the church. This is not as
it should be. Why will not the
church shake the dust from it's
own mantle and 60 forth as a
mighty army, with the pastor
at it's head? Yet followed so
closely by his churchmen that
not one, on seeing an unpleas-
ant way to tread, could press
out of the ranks. It is the duty
and ought to be the pleasure
of every church member to gen
crate feeling of sympathy for
the pastor, and since he is only
human to look upon any def
ciencies with an eye of charity.
There could be so much ef-
fectual work done if we all
would work with one mind,
though there be many ideas to
tofunite. Difference in opinion
is the result of nature, charity
for others opinions is the re-
suit of a Christlike spirit.
The pastor is the recipient of
the criticism of the church's
failings, yet he retains a char
table nature. He, upon being
criticised, does not lose his
equilibrium as many of his
flock do. He seems to take con-
frontments as a matter of fact,
and if he is called upon to en-
dure them alone, there is no
one who will succeed better.
The church's, which make
the most advancement in spir-
itual growth, are those which
bear their pastor the most
brotherly love. 1t is neither
just nor Christlike to expect
one man to bear the bulk of the
work of seeding, when many
are anxious to share the har-
vest. Success always crowns
unity of effort. In those church
es where every member plays
his part the pastor. is relieved
of the Inconvenience of waiting.
In other churches there seems
to be perpetual financial de-
preston.
1t almost seems unfortunate
that pastors cannot live with
out eating or mourning expens-
es, for in some. cases he. is SO
poorly paid for his faithful SER
vices that he must sometimes
feel that he is either a burden
to himself or the church.
If each church member would
consider himself a stakeholder
in his own interest, he. would
pay something for the church's
support, be the amount large
or small, according to his in
come. A true person should
spurn the idea of being a con-
slant partaker of the dividends
without paying anything to-
ward the capital.
Forget not that though "the
water of life is free to all" it
costs something to run pump
which supplies the world. Not
our money is needed only, but
our voices in the services. We
do not want the clock in our
prayer meeting to tick forth
Eye would not" Can we not
speak for him who loves us SO
well? Are we to be numbered
among those who confess Jesus
among men, Every church
member, as we'll as every pas
tor, is on trial before the world.
/ Pastors have trials and