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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Prayer	diane	Thursday, October 7, 2010
Question: what dose the bible say about a situation where deacons refuse to pray with the Pastor but say they will pray for him without his presence but not in his presence.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r) Dear Diane: The Bible does not directly address this scenario. I do not understand why the deacons would "refuse" to pray with the pastor. It sounds like there is some sort of argument or ill feelings going on between the deacons and the pastor. On that score, if this is happening, Jesus said: (Matthew 5:23-24) So if you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. St. Paul reminds us: (Colossians 3:13) ...if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. (Galatians 5:15) But if you bite and devour one another take heed that you are not consumed by one another. The deacons may have legitimate reason to pray for the pastor without him present, but I can't imagine a legitimate reason to refuse to pray with the man also. The deacons, pastor, and entire congregation needs to be reminded that division and anger and bickering are encouraged by the devil. He loves it when we fight among ourselves. If these people are not careful, all this could lead to something far worse spiritually. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary P.S. To our readers: Diane is referring to Baptist deacons and pastor. While this sort of thing can happen in a Catholic parish, too, when I was a Baptist I saw it happen with some regularity in the Baptist churches. For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Prayer

diane

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Question:

what dose the bible say about a situation where deacons refuse to pray with the Pastor but say they will pray for him without his presence but not in his presence.

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r)

Dear Diane:

The Bible does not directly address this scenario.

I do not understand why the deacons would "refuse" to pray with the pastor. It sounds like there is some sort of argument or ill feelings going on between the deacons and the pastor. On that score, if this is happening, Jesus said:

(Matthew 5:23-24) So if you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

St. Paul reminds us:

(Colossians 3:13) ...if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

(Galatians 5:15) But if you bite and devour one another take heed that you are not consumed by one another.

The deacons may have legitimate reason to pray for the pastor without him present, but I can't imagine a legitimate reason to refuse to pray with the man also.

The deacons, pastor, and entire congregation needs to be reminded that division and anger and bickering are encouraged by the devil. He loves it when we fight among ourselves. If these people are not careful, all this could lead to something far worse spiritually.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

P.S. To our readers: Diane is referring to Baptist deacons and pastor. While this sort of thing can happen in a Catholic parish, too, when I was a Baptist I saw it happen with some regularity in the Baptist churches.

For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.