Pastors need to know what's going on in the world and what has been going on for 4,000 years. We need a way to read Scripture which is imaginative, interpretive. Eugene H. Peterson 000imaginativeinterpretive Change image and share on social
Religion is a very scary thing, because a pastor is in a position of power. And if you use that power badly, you ruin people's lives, and you ruin your own life. Eugene H. Peterson badlylifelive Change image and share on social
I get asked, 'What do you miss most about being a pastor?' I think it's the intimacy, the incredible gift of intimacy. You go through death with somebody, with their families, and there's an intimacy that comes through that that is just incomparable. Eugene H. Peterson askdeathfamily share on social
People learn to shop for churches; there is no loyalty to the church. They're consumers being attracted to one product or another. I think it's sacrilege, to tell you the truth, it really is. Eugene H. Peterson attractchurchconsumer Change image and share on social
One way to define spiritual life is getting so tired and fed up with yourself you go on to something better, which is following Jesus. Eugene H. Peterson definefeedjesus Change image and share on social
When you are part of a megachurch, you have no responsibility to anybody else. Eugene H. Peterson megachurchpartresponsibility Change image and share on social
The most important thing a pastor does is stand in a pulpit every Sunday and say, 'Let us worship God.' If that ceases to be the primary thing I do in terms of my energy, my imagination, and the way I structure my life, then I no longer function as a pastor. Eugene H. Peterson ceaseenergyfunction share on social
The minute the church and pastors start saying what do people want and then giving it to them, we betray our calling. We're called to have people follow Jesus. We're called to have people learn how to forgive their enemies. Eugene H. Peterson betraycallchurch share on social
If you keep the Sabbath, you start to see creation not as somewhere to get away from your ordinary life, but a place to frame an attentiveness to your life. Eugene H. Peterson attentivenesscreationframe Change image and share on social
If people don't know their pastor, it's easy to put the pastor on a pedestal and depersonalize him or her. It's also easy for pastors, who don't know their congregations, simply to classify congregants as saved or unsaved, involved or not involved, tithers or non-tithers. Eugene H. Peterson classifycongregantcongregation share on social
