I was talking with a pastor yesterday. Sort of a get acquainted opportunity.
We shared our backgrounds. I’m a networker and tried to find geographic or relational connections. There were no significant points of contact.
Other than the running theme of being/having been pastors.
The business of pastoring connected me with a local church and congregation for many years. Management, membership, money, and many other administrative tasks were a part of the job.
Then I retired and found that I was still connected to the church. By people and passion, and perhaps the personality of a pastor.
I believe in Jesus. I believe that God has swung wide a door to his living room through Jesus. I want others to know about this opportunity. I guess that’s why I am called a Christian.
Not all fellow pastors are as passionate or even as dogmatic as I am.
So, back to meeting the pastor.
We came to a point in our conversation as we talked of being Christian pastors. He outlined the “at least” question.
“Do you believe in the resurrection of Jesus?”
Spiritual leaders nowadays allow for Jesus in their worldview, but dig no deeper than good teachings. Scratch the surface of their beliefs and if they do not believe in the resurrection of Jesus they are not Christian. They may be moral, cooperative, nice people. They are not Christians.
Both of us affirmed that we believed in the resurrection of Jesus. More discussion will follow, I am sure. And perhaps more “at least” questions.
But right now, at least, we start in the same book, while enjoying the journey of figuring out if we are on the same page!