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
I think pastors are the worst listeners. We're so used to speaking, teaching, giving answers. We must learn to be quiet, quit being so verbal, learn to pay attention to what's going on, and listen. Eugene H. Peterson answerattentionbad Change image and share on social
That's the whole spiritual life. It's learning how to die. And as you learn how to die, you start losing all your illusions, and you start being capable now of true intimacy and love. Eugene H. Peterson capabledieillusion Change image and share on social
There's nobody who doesn't have problems with the church, because there's sin in the church. But there's no other place to be a Christian except the church. Eugene H. Peterson christianchurchplace Change image and 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
Spirituality is no different from what we've been doing for two thousand years just by going to church and receiving the sacraments, being baptized, learning to pray, and reading Scriptures rightly. It's just ordinary stuff. Eugene H. Peterson baptizechurchhave share on social
The Spirit works through community. Somebody will have a stupid, screwy idea. That's okay. The point of having creeds and confessions and traditions is to keep us in touch with the obvious errors. Eugene H. Peterson communityconfessioncreed 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 cannot fail to call the congregation to worship God, to listen to his Word, to offer themselves to God. Eugene H. Peterson callcongregationfail Change image and share on social
The role of the pastor is to embody the gospel. And of course to get it embodied, which you can only do with individuals, not in the abstract. Eugene H. Peterson abstractembodygospel Change image and share on social
