Pastors Can Party
We all have some level of influence over the circles in which we live and operate. The amount of influence, the impacts of the influence, and the lasting effects of our influence varies and sometimes can’t even be felt in our lifetime but, is discovered when looking back at our history.
Dominion
The book Dominion by Tom Holland is a look at the history of Christianity and its impacts on Western culture, thought, and morality. Christianity’s influence over time has been a remarkable feet when considering the other traditions that have been left by the wayside or weeded out as irrelevant. Some of the influence has been positive and sometimes the influence has led to harm. The world has been shaped by Christianity, but what about us?
Mico Level
Of all the monumental ways Christianity has influenced the world, there are daily reminders of how it has influence over each of us. I serve as a pastor in a small-town church, now being a pastor carries its own weight of responsibility, but my goal has always been to be accessible. Just this past week, I was feeling a bit lonely and sought out a friend to maybe plan a camping trip with. This friend responded in a way that made my heart sink but I think reminds us of the depth of influence Christian morality has on individuals. She said, “Well I would invite you but they like to party.” Now there could be lots of reason to not include me in the camping trip, but my role as a Christian Pastor seems to be the barrier to many invitations. Either they would rather “party” without the pastor or they think the pastor doesn’t “party”. Either way, this is an example of the defining lines drawn between groups based in Christian moral thought.
Conclusion
The influence of Christianity runs so deep that even those who say they don’t believe a God exists tend to have morals that would be in alignment with Christianity or they are aware of the moral values to the point they won’t invite a pastor to the party… the influence exists and continues to spread.
In a review of Holland’s book Phil Mitchell of the 401 Prophet wrote this,
Holland ends his book with a section that is poignantly personal. He speaks affectionately of his godmother, Deborah Gillingham, and her determination to raise him in all things Christian. Holland admits that his book is about the lofty peaks of history—the rise and fall of civilizations, popes and theologians, revolutions and reformations. But “the story of how Christianity had transformed the world would never have happened without people like my Aunty Deb.” She provided him with a model of what an individual Christian looked like. And Holland recognized the immense power of such people. “It was always in the home that children were likeliest to absorb that…which has come to be so taken for granted that it seems like human nature. The Christian revolution was wrought above all at the knees of women.”2
The micro influence matters and is were we can see the hope that so many are loosing when they look at the institutional systems. Lets find hope and lets invite the pastor tothe party… they might suprise you!
1.Holland, Tom. 2020. DOMINION : The Making of the Western Mind. S.L.: Abacus.
2. “A Synopsis of Dominion, by Tom Holland.” 2021. Www.the401stprophet.com. May 6, 2021. https://www.the401stprophet.com/a-synopsis-of-dominion-by-tom-holland.
About the Author
Sara Taylor Lattimore
Sara is adopted, a wife of 17 years, a mother to 2 amazing children who give her opportunities to be a cheerleader, dress up like a princess, play soccer in the mud, and go on amazing adventures. With a Bachelors in political science and sociology, Sara worked for Child Protective Services as a legal caseworker before following a call into full-time ministry in 2008. During her time in full-time ministry Sara has served in medium to large size local congregations, as well as camp ministry. Sara has a passion for serving others, writing, and speaking. In 2016 Sara worked on a joint publication as a Curriculum Writer. Sara wrote the Intergenerational/Family & Day Camp Resources in “Beyond Belief” for InsideOut Christian Resources for Outdoor Ministry- Published by Chalice Press- Release Date 2018. Sara is looking forward to writing her own book next. Sara completed her MDiv from Iliff School of Theology in 2019 and is currently working on her Doctorate in Leadership and Global Perspectives from Portland Seminary. Sara currently serves as Lead Pastor of a local church in Southwestern Montana. She has previously served in ministry positions leading congregations in engaging globally in healthy mission and outreach partnerships, living life missionally, building innovative programs, and building relationships as the Director of Missions and Outreach, College Ministry Coordinator, Family and Children’s Ministry Director, Director of Christian Education, and Camp Program Director. She is an innovator and visionary who looks to find empowering and dignity restoring ways of building communities of belonging, while listening and partnering with others to find ways to also address the needs of the communities she is planted in. Beyond her work, Sara dreams of growing her family through adoption, kayaking with Orcas, going on pilgrimage on the Camino De Santiago in Spain, traveling in an RV across North America, and traveling internationally.3 responses to “Pastors Can Party”
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Great post, my pastor is at every party.
Thank you Shonell! Some day I will be too, I mean I did just spend 3 years researching how having fun can build leaders up.
“The influence of Christianity runs so deep that even those who say they don’t believe a God exists tend to have morals that would be in alignment with Christianity or they are aware of the moral values to the point they won’t invite a pastor to the party… the influence exists and continues to spread.”
YES!!!! I love this.