Preachers - The God Substitute?

[gbh]

There is a phenomenon that occurred when I used to attend a Church that always had me completely mystified, and that is when the priests turned into the demi-god, the God substitute.

After having left the Church for several years, I see this minister worship even more, from people who are good, decent people and who say they worship God and are devout Christians.

Why do people deify their priest, pastor, preacher, minister? I am not learned or educated in matters of theology and dogma, other than growing up in the Church, but it seems that there is something contradictory in their alleged worship of God and then their hanging onto the breath that is breathed by these wo/men. Some are not anymore educated than myself, and yet are placed in a great position of power. I have seen really talented men come from seminary only to be turned into an icon of worship, thus really harming their credibility as a mouthpiece of God.

Please share your thoughts.

[OnceConvinced]

Sad but true. I believe this is the case with every church. The pastor is put up on a pedestal. Many will see them as "always right" and never doing anything wrong. For many, it's an unwritten rule, you don't argue with them. They're the ones put there by God, so God must see them as being worthy.

It is also true, that a church is only as successful as their pastor. If a pastor does not inspire their congregation with their words, they move on to the next church. If a pastor leaves and a new on takes his place, the numbers drop off suddenly (I've seen it myself on several occassions).

The same applies to the worship leader. The worship is only as dynamic as the leader and as alive as the singers up on stage. If the singers are really getting into it, encouraging the congregation, trying to look and sound excited, the congregation will. If they just stand there with very little expression, talking very calmly, singing with no real zeal, the congregation won't either.

The Holy Spirit, unfortunately, has nothing to do with any of it.

[McCulloch]

Most people, if they are honest, do not directly experience the divine. But they somehow fee that they ought to. They can directly experience the person who says that they have directly experienced the diving, the priest, the preacher, the reverend. It is the best that they can do without fully committing.

[Goat]

There is a phenomenon that occurred when I used to attend a Church that always had me completely mystified, and that is when the priests turned into the demi-god, the God substitute.

After having left the Church for several years, I see this minister worship even more, from people who are good, decent people and who say they worship God and are devout Christians.

Why do people deify their priest, pastor, preacher, minister? I am not learned or educated in matters of theology and dogma, other than growing up in the Church, but it seems that there is something contradictory in their alleged worship of God and then their hanging onto the breath that is breathed by these wo/men. Some are not anymore educated than myself, and yet are placed in a great position of power. I have seen really talented men come from seminary only to be turned into an icon of worship, thus really harming their credibility as a mouthpiece of God.

Please share your thoughts.

I noticed in many Christian Churches, it seems to question the minister is very much discouraged. In the Jewish faith, one of the teaching methods is not only to question, but to debate the Rabbi. It is encouraged to be able to research and argue,and to think for oneself.

I am much in favor of the Jewish method myself.