The internet is a balkanization of the populace: Everybody finds those they want to listen to. It is exceedingly difficult to teach somebody whose principal input in his life is through the internet. With a flesh-and-blood pastor, you at least can see his sins, his wife, and his children. Generally, with a pastor, you can’t escape his bad smells, but on the internet, everything and everyone is perfect.

The most difficult thing you do in ministry is to call your own congregation to repentance. It is easy to talk about the sins of people outside the church, but exceedingly costly to do so to those within the church. Your job is on the line. A godly church will love you for that. But there are a lot of bad congregations—those congregations that like their ears tickled. We should love our pastors when they make us angry with their helpfulness.

Yet, if pastors will preach to their congregations, their congregations will lead the world. It is not until we are challenged to submit to Scripture ourselves that we will be salt and light in the world. If there is going to be a Biblical church, the most important thing to do is to keep its discipline vivified. But we'd much rather spend our time fighting people who are opposed to Christianity. NETTR protects the "constituents," and casts stones at the world.

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Mentioned in the episode...

From Melville's Moby Dick, chapter 8, "The Pulpit": "What could be more full of meaning?- for the pulpit is ever this earth’s foremost part; all the rest comes in its rear; the pulpit leads the world. From thence it is the storm of God’s quick wrath is first descried, and the bow must bear the earliest brunt. From thence it is the God of breezes fair or foul is first invoked for favorable winds. Yes, the world’s a ship on its passage out, and not a voyage complete; and the pulpit is its prow."

Fundamentalism and American Culture by George Marsden

C.S. Lewis, from The Last Battle: "By mixing a little truth with it, they had made their lie far stronger."

Robert Owen: "All the world is queer, save thee and me, and even thou art a little queer."

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Out of Our Minds Podcast: Pastors Who Say What They Think. For the love of Christ and His Church.

Out of Our Minds is a production of New Geneva Academy. Are you interested in preparing for ordained ministry with pastors? Have a desire to grow in your knowledge and fear of God? Apply at www.newgenevaacademy.com.

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Intro and outro music is Psalm of the King, Psalm 21 by My Soul Among Lions.

Out of Our Minds audio, artwork, episode descriptions, and notes are property of New Geneva Academy and Warhorn Media, published with permission by Transistor, Inc.