My former pastor did this on my last Sunday. It was brutal. My friend on the organ kept whispering, "Don't take it personal"
I HATE, HATE, HATE that.
As B_X said it's such a cowardly thing to do. It's passive aggressive and petty. If you have something to say to me, pull me aside, say what you have to say, I'll tell you what I have to say and it's done.
But throwing words from the pulpit? Well, you get to 'let me have it' in a backhanded kind of way, and I suppose you get some satisfaction out of that, so if that's the goal, mission accomplished. Outside of that, nothing good comes of it.
First of all, you're more likely to embarass and offend me. You disrespected me by putting me on blast instead of coming to me and speaking to me...you know...like 'grown' people do.
Second, it's a horrible way to communicate. You get to say everything that's on your mind, but you leave no room for a response...which is probably the motivation for doing it. You want to be able to get it off your chest without hearing my response. You get to 'win' an argument that never takes place.
Third, it demonstrates poor leadership. Being petty, vindictive, and mean-spirited enough to get up and use GOD's pulpit to blast me shows you have some
serious leadership deficiencies. You aren't mature enough to come voice your opinions in the appropriate forum, so you decide to use your pulpit to throw stones at a safe distance and hide behind the fake amens you receive from the fake christians who have issues with me. Not only that, but your flesh is showing. Big time. God didn't tell you to go up there and preach my life story. That was ALL YOU.
If anything I can say it caused me to determine in my heart that I'll NEVER use God's pulpit as a whip get back at someone who offended me. I'm sensitive to what it's like to be on the receiving end.
