what about all this shepherding?

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[carmel]

How do people who were involved in the recent college programs feel about all the shepherding? It seems like these people are given a lot of influence over students. Last question today, I promise!

[carmel]

How much individual spiritual guidance is appropriate in the college setting?

[EverAStudent]

Hello again carmel.

It is my opinion that "shepherding" has nothing to do with telling another what life decisions to make on a day to day basis.  Spiritual shepherding, according to the apostle Paul, is about delivering good doctrine and rebuking people for becoming entrenched in gross sin. 

When "spiritual shepherding" begins to provide strong-armed "counsel" on how much time to spend studying, who to date, what schools to go to, and what jobs to take it is no longer "biblical shepherding" but rather it is becoming the overlord of another.  Being overlords is something expressly forbidden by Scripture.  Overlords are unworthy of being anyone's pastor.

Pastors are teachers of the Bible, not mega-parents or mini-dictators.  They watch over the souls of the flock by ensuring the flock avoids overt sin, not by making regular decisions for them. 

[carmel]

I agree. I am uncomfortable with the knowledge that such "counsel" is going on, and it may NOT line up with what God wants. How does someone listen to and respond to God when someone else is interfering and filling in the lines with what they think the college student should be doing?

[blonde]

I knew a woman that was told by Ken Johnson, an ECC handler, I mean 'pastor', not to get married to a chap she was dating.  This was only said since the woman, Cassie, was dating a guy who DID NOT go to Evergreen.  Ken thought it was a very bad match and told her that much, since he did not attend.  They never got married.  Cassie left the man.  Ken broke up a fine couple.  In a sense, most pastors at ECC or GCx I see as handlers.   

And I agree.  It's a just a bunch of idiots that run that church out in Bloomington.  They hurt peoples lives without even trying. 

[BTDT]

How does someone listen to and respond to God when someone else is interfering and filling in the lines with what they think the college student should be doing?

Hi, carmel -- I can only speak from my own experience (which was post-college), but maybe it can help.  All the while I was hearing (and following) what turned out to be bad advice, I felt this small, internal voice saying, "This isn't right.  Something's wrong here."  I know now that it was the gentle voice of the Holy Spirit.  I was a very young Christian when I started with GC, and I hadn't learned how to discern God's voice and will, so I didn't listen when I should have.  Romans 8:28 is still true, and always will be, so God will take whatever we get ourselves into, and work it for good.

In my opinion, the key is learning how to recognize the voice of the Holy Spirit speaking directly, and learning to put that above what mere humans say to do.

-Ed-

[carmel]

Thanks. I think that is true. If we stay in tune with the HS, He helps us with discernment.

[blonde]

I feel that there was a lot of shepherding going on in the Evergreen church.  Mark and Brent did it all the time, and even had "exit interviews" with people in New Life (a University of Minnesota group circa 1990).  These interviews were late into the morning until 4-5am with people that shared they wanted to leave the church.  Mark Darling headed this discussion with a few students who wanted to leave.  I should have left back in the 1990's when I heard of this.  I heard it from the girl it happend to.  Sad that Mark treated us so bad.  -Blonde