"The happy result of a theological understanding of people as sinners is that the pastor is saved from continual surprise that they are in fact sinners. It enables us to heed Bonhoeffer's admonition: 'A pastor should not complain about his congregation, certainly never to other people, but also not to God. A congregation has not been entrusted to him in order that he should become its accuser before God and men."
- Eugene Peterson, The Contemplative Pastor
I read that very part of the book a little while ago. Great reminder, great quote.
ReplyDeleteI have a suspicion that for most pastors it's much more of a (pleasant) surprise when their congregations are not sinners than when they are.
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