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Posted on 10/12/2009 8:55:45 PM PDT by smokingfrog
The Kentucky pastor who drew notice earlier this year for hosting a God-and-guns event at his church is giving up his flock for his Glock.
Pastor Ken Pagano resigned his post last month at the New Bethel Church in Louisville, Ky., after nearly 30 years in the ministry, saying he wants to focus on Second Amendment and church-security issues.
"Thirty years was a good, long run, but it's time for a change," Mr. Pagano said in an interview with The Washington Times. "If I can write my own ticket, I want to get involved more in Second Amendment issues as they affect the church, and I can do more from outside the pulpit than from behind it."
Mr. Pagano gained national attention when his congregation hosted an Open Carry Celebration a week before Independence Day to commemorate the roles of religion and gun ownership in the nation's founding. About 200 people attended the event, which featured a handgun raffle and firearm-safety information.
Some of them wore their own guns in holsters. Kentucky law allows residents to carry guns openly in public with some restrictions, although gun owners who carry concealed weapons must have permits. The event wasn't supposed to be a big deal, Mr. Pagano said, but "it really struck a nerve."
"I would say 90 to 95 percent of all the correspondence we received was positive, saying, 'We're glad somebody's standing up for this,' " Mr. Pagano said. "There were some who said, 'Oh, it's a bunch of rednecks.' "
Mr. Pagano said he was considering a career change even before the event, but the ripple effect led him to Rabbi Gary Moskowitz of New York, who has long worked with synagogues on protection from terrorist threats.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Good for him. Change is good, most times.
Not too impressed with a man who was supposed to be called by God to preach, giving up the highest possible calling for anything else.
Don’t believe God is too impressed with him either.
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It makes one wonder what his commitment was “to feed the sheep”. I know other things in this world need attention but preaching the Word of God should take precedence if one is truly called.
Thanks for your condemnation. I figured it wouldn’t be too long before a “Christian” stepped up to condemn the good reverend, who is now working to preserve your freedom to self defense. I wasn’t wrong. Post #2.
Now you can feel free to talk smack about me as well.
God is love! Hallelujah.
Sorry, post #3.
?!?!??!?!??!?
Who are you to question his motives and decisions? He gave almost 30 years to the Lord. Get off his butt. His new calling is honorable. Very honorable, and in the best interests of man and Judeo-Christian principles.
There’s a line in the Mel Gibson movie “The Patriot” where the pastor tells his church, “A shepherd must tend his flock. And at times... fight off the wolves.”
It is a shame Pastor Pagano couldn’t manage to do both, but it’s his choice.
God doesn't do wimp.
He must not have been called by God to preach then....
It has lots to say about preaching the gospel to everyone so that they might accept Christ as savior and go to heaven when then die.
I am not given to reading God’s mind...maybe this move is what He wants, for whatever reason He wants...There is no proof that this pastor is not still following God’s commands to him...
Who’s to say that he is quitting spreading the gospel...perhaps there are 2nd amendant folks God wants him to talk to....geeze. Lets not all read the Mind of the Almighty....
For every time there is a season.
It’s time.
All true, but “He must not have been called by God to preach then....” is still a rather strong accusation to make against the man.
A good Shepherd feeds his flock as well as protects them. He's fed the flock 30 years maybe he wants to help protect the flock now. His retirement was between him and The Lord. Retirement is not a sin no not even for a preacher. BTW I know two preachers right now with CCP's. He didn't say he was becoming agnostic or an atheist. Just a career move still in service to GOD. Whats the problem?
We have so many intellectuals in government who are wicked. I hope those 30 years have trained him well for what he will face now. We definately need godly men/women who know their God. I’m glad to hear he is taking a stand for our Constitutional rights.
Pat Robertson lost me the moment he started a run for President. Being the POTUS is not more important than preaching the gospel either.
I believe that is why the world is in such a terrible state because Christians were told their place wasn’t in the marketplace which caused evil to fill those positions and make laws we must live by.
Don’t know if you are a Christian or not.
That being said, the highest calling any man can have in this life is the calling to preach the gospel and lead other’s to Christ and salvation.
Once God calls a man, he does not “uncall” him. That man can, however, turn his back on this gift from God to choose a lessor path.
I believe that Christians should run for public office but you need God called Pastors to build them up and sustain them too.
That’s the foolish thing about callings many times God doesn’t tell everybody else what He wants you to do. I believe He promised that He wouldn’t allow us to be put to shame. Now that takes trust.
So you’re saying they can’t do both and be effective?
The same calling a different mission field.
Ah, but "the highest calling any man can have in this life is the calling to preach the gospel and lead other’s to Christ and salvation."
So if you're not doing that, then sorry buddy, you don't have the "highest calling." You weren't picked, so move to the back of the bus, please.
And if you WERE picked, then you're stuck with that career for life. God will NEVER tell you to do something different. Anything different is a "lessor path." And if you leave ministry for any other career, you're worthy of contempt.
I know all of this is true because SoConPubbie knows the mind of God and assures me it is so.
"The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."
You have no idea what God is doing with this man.
LOL
Let's see now. Two were tent makers, four were fishermen and continued to do so, one was a physician, I'm just thinking about careers and some of the most known names in the Bible.
Preaching The Gospel is not necessarily a lifetime calling. It can be a 15 minute calling. The duration is up to GOD not man. You can be called to preach one minute and have it lifted from you the next. Why do you suppose that would happen? A test? Or a preparation for something else but to get your mind focused on the Gospel to prepare you for it. Something you may not realize for years.
GOD works in many ways in persons lives including preachers and I don't think He needs our help by second guessing Him on things or judging a persons decision that is actually GOD and that persons to make and not ours. I'd say the man hasn't left the pulpit forever and even Christ took time away from preaching. He'll likely be seeing about as much time behind it but to more people before he's through. The Gospel can be spread in very many ways.
would be cool to have a FRee-neighbor...
afterall it IS the highest calling and everything else is 2nd rate foolishness...
He gave 30 yrs to the pulpit, my guess is that he is serving the church in a different capacity...ie security ...
Yep. God and guns is one thing; guns over God is something else entirely.
Almost reminds me of Easau selling his birthright for a mess of pottage.
Show me book chapter and verse where GOD says that in that context. Preachers are human. Preachers can burn out. Now I'm gonna feed you a taste of your own medicine. Have you ever help a position in church that you no longer hold? Ever been a Sunday School teacher, sing in the Choir, Deacon, Usher, Janitor. or such? If you have and no longer do it then you have no business judging this man because those too are callings.
We all who believe are led down paths GOD wants us or needs us to be in. Those paths and places can change but still be on the same heading. Preachers can loose their ability to preach sermons or write them and not loose their faith. It happens. They can burn out as easy as any other man as they are human beings and deserve to be treated as such with some compassion. If/When it happens they need to step aside till they are either able to return or led by The Lord to return.
Who is anyone to determine the duration of a mans labor for The Lord? Yet several in this thread doing this.
I know a preacher who devoted decades to his ministry. He went through some rough times seeing some people he loved die and was facing problems including his own health. He had one problem he could not stand to see loved ones suffer. It was labeled being uncaring by some who felt slighted. Ironically the families of the very ones he loved. One day he got up to speak and it just wasn't there anymore. He walked away from the pulpit. Naturally Brother and Sister Betterthanu had a field day with it treating the man with contempt for being a human.
What church do you pastor?
As far as I can see, by SoConPubbie's beliefs and logic, if he or she has, then he or she is guilty of engaging in "pure foolishness."
What an astoundingly ignorant statement. I mean it's absolutely breathtaking in the length, breadth, and depth of it.
You're to be congratulated. I've never seen anyone so succinctly sum up "stupid" before. Nice work.
You’ve got a point there, since the 2nd secures the other liberties, however, I still am sticking to my main point,
The liberties secured through Salvation, are much more important than liberties secured here on earth, and will much more likely lead the man who secures the liberties granted through Salvation to seek those that are merely of an “earthly” nature.
If the First Amendment is stomped to the point of oblivion, how would anyone help anyone secure liberties through Salvation?
I'm not trying to cause an argument or anything, but would you share with me your biblical reference for that?
Please share with us what scripture states that. Thanks.
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