QUESTION
A young woman on our praise team has started dressing like Taylor Swift. It’s just plain embarrassing. But, wouldn’t you know it, her mama’s the pianist. How can I address the situation without stirring up trouble?
ANSWER
Have a meeting with praise team members: accompanists, choir, orchestra, and singers. Remind them (as a group) about proper platform deportment, dress, modesty, timeliness, and godly conduct. This will keep from pointing out any one person, but allows you to share standards that are expected. If those standards are violated later, you can approach a person one-on-one, reminding them of what was shared and insist that they follow the rules just as everyone else is expected to do.
QUESTION
A popular Bible teacher just left his evangelical church and joined the Eastern Orthodox church. Should I throw out his books?
ANSWER
I have books by authors with whom I am not in full agreement, however they have some insights that I have found helpful. A pastor needs to be well read and wise about what he studies. Use trusted authors that embrace good theology, but don’t be afraid to venture outside the evangelical circle to discover what others are teaching. Knowing that may help you refute falsehood if you are asked about your position on some specific subjects.
QUESTION
Our biggest Bible study class simply refuses to divide and start a new group. What can we do?
ANSWER
NOTHING! Let them remain as they are. Classes like you describe rarely grow because of their inward focus. Spend your time on classes that are willing to start new units. Celebrate their willingness, talk about it from the pulpit, promote the new classes in the bulletin. After a while the “big class” might just get the idea that’s what healthy classes are supposed to do. Until then, it’s not worth the struggle and will only cause hard feelings. As Matthew 10:16 says, “Be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.”
Pat Pajak is IBSA’s associate executive director for evangelism. Send questions for Pat to IllinoisBaptist@IBSA.org.