Picking Presidents and Pastors

Kopp Disclosure

(John 3:19-21)

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    I guess our next President will be an egomaniac or liar.

    Really.

    Choice.

    Do we want our President to be pathologically arrogant or a pathological liar?

    Unless Ben, Bernie, Carly, Joe, John, or Marco get going, I guess our next President will be one of 'em.

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    Thinking about that when it comes to picking our next President caused me to think about picking your next pastor.

    Don't you see the parallels?

    If not, maybe that's why you'd like to keep or get rid of your current one.

    Think about it before reading on.

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    Pastor search committees beg psychoanalysis.

    While one should expect PSCs to be searching for someone who will lead as led by Jesus according to the Bible, over four decades of being "picked" or consulting folks "picking" have betrayed too many PSCers are looking for a best friend, paramour, champion, or, as Dylan sang, "errand boy for their wandering desires" aka a good humor woman/man agreeing with the last person that they've talked to...like a sentence ending in a preposition.

    Of course, when the pathologies of PSCers are not satiated by a new BFF, paramour, champion, or errand girl/boy, they become like Islamofascistnutballs resorting, as Malcolm said, to "any means necessary" to discredit, destroy, defrock, and otherwise...

    Is it any wonder why more and more and more people outside of churches never want to step into 'em?

    "Yeah, I just can't wait to be a part of an organization that shoots its wounded, talks but never extends forgiveness, and tells the world how to get along while cannibalizing each other!"

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    Be that as it is, and acknowledging I may be ushered to glory any time now by an Islamofascistnutball or Matthew 10:22 grudge-holder or get what I deserve for not wearing a helmet, I've got a simple guideline to help PSCs not waste so much time on the minors and get to what should be their major "picking" concern if they really love Jesus by the book; and if they really love Jesus by the book and concentrate on what should be their major concern, they won't have as many problems with the minor ones until the minority who hate their "picking" becomes the majority.

    After opening an initial interview with prayer and asking God to provide clear, compelling, and conclusive discernment for their picking, ask one question and keep asking it until convinced one way or the other: "Who is Jesus to you?"

    If you're one of those phony-baloney churches with Christianity only coincidental to Jesus by the book, you'll know you've picked the right person if she/he chokes on His name and talks about Him with parallel affection to Twain and Maclaine.

    If you're one of those authentic churches trying/praying to honor Jesus by the book, you'll know you've picked the right person if her/his eyes light up when talking about Him with energy and enthusiasm without equivocation.

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    Getting back to picking a President, I remember Cliff blurting out at a meeting of Pittsburgh Presbytery during a very contentious debate before a critical election, "Vote for Jesus!"

    It was great!

    You could see the people who really love Jesus by the book with eyes lighting up and feel their energy and enthusiasm without equivocation.

    Annnnnnnd you could see the people who really don't love Jesus by the book physically recoil with contorted facial expressions of disapproval to disgust.

    Getting back to PSCs, that's why so much time is saved by starting and staying with the only question betraying call: "Who is Jesus to you?"

    Annnnnnnd as for picking our next President, it's time to ask 'em, "Who is Jesus to you?"

    Posing Christians physically recoil with contorted facial expressions of disapproval and disgust by even suggesting that.

    Authentic Christians light up with energy and enthusiasm without equivocation by suggesting that.

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    When it comes to picking a President, shouldn't we want one who loves Jesus by the book?

    Really.

    There'd be a greater chance for Matthew 25 and John 17 compliance.

    Frankly, anyone who wouldn't want a President who really loves Jesus by the book doesn't really love Jesus by the book because loving Jesus by the book would bless everyone as people who love Jesus by the book know.

    Besides, if, as most agree these days, everything is going to hell in America and the world, wouldn't it make sense to embrace the Savior and try following Him by the book for a change?

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    When it comes to picking a pastor, shouldn't we want one who loves Jesus by the book?

    Really.

    There'd be a greater chance for...overcoming all of those pejorative pathologies that mess up those PSCs that mess up their churches.

    Churches don't need BFFs, paramours, champions, and errand girls/boys.

    They need Jesus!

    They need someone who will point 'em to Jesus with energy and enthusiasm without equivocation.

    Besides, if, as most agree these days, churches are dying quicker than Bush and Clinton in the polls, wouldn't it make sense to embrace the Savior and try following Him by the book for a change?

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    Let me put it another way.

    America without Jesus suffers from the pathologically arrogant and pathological liars who say it's better to separate state from the Savior.

    American churches without Jesus suffer from the pathologically arrogant and pathological liars who say...uh, uh, uh,...whatever the hell it is that they're saying these days.

    Really.

    Simply, from Genesis through Revelation, a major message of the Bible is commanding/cautioning: "Return to Me and I will restore you.  If not, not."

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Blessings and Love!

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Sig