Greg Locke and Dr. C... differing opinions

teach · #1 02-21-2007, 06:28 PM

Found this article by Dr. C. on the office of an evangelist which is obviously a touchy subject to many. I don't see in Dr. C's article what has upset Greg so much but here is his comment...
(Greg has left full time evangelism and is pastoring a brand new church.)

I would like to make a simple comment about this post. I am a graduate of Ambassador Baptist College and have travelled extensively in evangelistic work for over ten years. I have been on both sides of the fence in regards to the Evangelist and now the Pastorate. I am the Pastor of a church that God allowed me to start. I think we have over travelled the ministry of the evangelist so much that we are afraid to call him what he is: an itinerant as well as a New Testament church planter. God uniquely blesses some individuals with what I call “double giftedness.” I have the highest respect for Dr. Ron Comfort and I dearly love him as if he were a father. We have spent countless hours together and I value his opinion. However, his opinion about the non-ability of an “evangelist” to Pastor a church is only an outside observation and it is not a statement of totality. It may be an exception to the rule, but I am certainly not “mentally incompetent” nor am I “backslidden.” I realize that was an assessment of his own ministry, but we must be careful not to lump all “evangelists” together. I am more fulfilled at this point in my ministry than ever before. If you were to ask any one of our people at Global Vision Baptist Church if an Evangelist can be a good Pastor, they would certainly side with the one that has wept with them, led them to Christ, baptized them, married them, prayed over them, diligently fed them, visited them, laughed with them, spent numerous hours in their homes, ect. To make a blanket statement about evangelists making bad pastors is a tremendously unfair attitude. God may have never called Ron Comfort to Pastor, but he has called Greg Locke, and I am forever grateful that He did. I hope this helps. God bless.

Here's the link to the article...
http://fundamentalperspective.wordpr...nistry-part-2/

GandJBaker · #2 02-22-2007, 05:53 PM

Evangelists (in the modern definition of the word) can indeed become pastors and vice-versa if that is what God called them to do.

Evangelist Greg Locke · #3 02-23-2007, 11:02 PM

There was nothing in my comments that would indicate that I was upset. I was simply stating my own opinion and assesment of a major two part article that Bro. Comfort wrote. Get it all in context before you start thread with only my response. This was all internet writing and Dr. Comfort and I have never had any cross words over the matter.

teach · #4 03-01-2007, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evangelist Greg Locke

There was nothing in my comments that would indicate that I was upset. I was simply stating my own opinion and assesment of a major two part article that Bro. Comfort wrote. Get it all in context before you start thread with only my response. This was all internet writing and Dr. Comfort and I have never had any cross words over the matter.

No offense, but regardless whether you and Dr. C. have had cross words, it is not very realistic to think that he would be okay with seeing this opinion of his article posted on the web. He is not one known for being okay with people disagreeing with him.
It is a stretch to say that there was nothing in your comment to indicate you were upset. You had a unfavorable reaction to what was said and wanted to share your side, correct? You said, "...To make a blanket statement about evangelists making bad pastors is a tremendously unfair attitude. God may have never called Ron Comfort to Pastor, but he has called Greg Locke..."
This sounds to me that you are upset with Dr. C's opinion since it contradicts your own personal experience.

And, I did include a link to the article for everyone's reference.
I apologize if this offended you, but I don't feel I said anything that was incorrect based on what is there to be read in black and white.
This is forum to discuss what's going on relating to fundamentalism and more specifically, this thread is about Ambassador. Since it is rare to see people in the Ambassador circles openly disagreeing, I thought it worthy of posting.

Imitating Christ · #5 04-11-2008, 11:41 AM

So explain to me how Ambassador can claim that there are only 2 offices in the church (Pastor and Deacon) and then proceed to pump out men in a third "office" evangelist?

I think Scripture teaches evangelism as a spiritual gift for some, and a responsibility of all believers.

Lynnea · #6 04-11-2008, 11:48 AM

I have my own opinions and really no "dog in this fight" but I'm curious. Why would anyone worry about what anyone else thinks? If one truly believes that they are in the center of God's will and that what they are doing is not to glorify themselves or satiate themselves but truly to lead others to Christ, why pay 5 seconds worth of attention to what anyone else says or thinks?

IMHO, it's a matter for God to handle. If one is truly in the center of His will and not out doing their own thing, surely He will handle any naysayers, rendering it pointless to stick up for ones' self in any matter. Allowing Him to handle the opinions of others frees one up to be about His business.

Besides, if we are truly in God's will, He will be blessing us and we won't have to stick up for ourselves against naysayers or doubters.