June 19, 2012
And now, a word to you who are elders in the churches. I, too, am an elder and a witness to the sufferings of Christ. And I, too, will share in his glory when he is revealed to the whole world. As a fellow elder, I appeal to you: Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly--not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. Don't lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example. -- 1Peter 5: 1-3 (NLT)
In 1Timothy chapter 2, Paul implores Timothy that God wants people in the church to worship God free from anger and controversy. Oh that it would be that simple. The church is always filled with imperfect people trying to follow a perfect God. Controversy seems inevitable but we cannot shy away from it if we are to ever get past it. If we are ever to learn from it. Too often in the modern church we shy away from discussing the really tough subjects for fear of people leaving or being insulted somehow. We do not discuss how Christians bury their wounded so easily. How we are often the most judgmental people on the planet. How we can take the righteousness of Christ and somehow think that it grants us moral superiority over others.
While these may all be true, the even bigger scandal is the behavior of would-be Christian leaders today. Pastors who engage in spiritual abuse of congregants all under the guise of serving Jesus Christ. One of the problems borne out of the mega-church movement is a distortion of the role of the church in the lives of the people. Scripture is clear that the congregants are the church -- we are the body of Christ. The problem is that when churches grow they need people to fill certain roles that they cannot fit into their budgets and that is when the preaching turns to a servants heart. Now, I believe in ministry wholeheartedly. I believe that people should help out but I do not confuse the roles. The church is there for the people, not the other way around. We exist to serve God not a building of stone. Leadership has been chosen by God to tend for the flock, not press them into servitude of a man made vision of "church growth."
Tending to the flock deals with the spiritual well being of the congregation. Their discipleship and spiritual development. How much Bible reading do they do during the week? What is their prayer life like? How is their devotional time spent? Do they have family prayer time? Do they pray with their spouse? Is there any worship of God during the week? How are they handling spiritual warfare in their lives? And the most important question -- are they saved?
Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you. -- 1Timothy 4: 16 (NLT)
In the age of quick and dirty-sinner's prayer salvations the church seems more interested in generating a work profile for someone than really assessing their fruit. We are teaching a new generation that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is insufficient for them. That slick marketing and compromise are how you reach the lost. The result as Paul Washer preaches is that we have churches filled with goats that we try to train to act like sheep. We sell emotionalism as a move of the Spirit of God. People are entertained and think they are going to heaven so the attendance numbers go up and glory hallelujah you have a mega church where thousands upon thousands of people come every week and sing kumbya until Jesus comes"when they find out this:
On judgment day many will say to me, "Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.' But I will reply, "I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God's laws.' -- Matthew 7: 22-23 (NLT)
Break God's laws? I don't remember that being preached to me! I remember a lot about the love of God and how I should expect and in fact demand to be supernaturally blessed but I do not recall a lot about God's law"only it is too late then.
While this is the most egregious case of spiritual abuse -- where people are misled down the broad path to destruction it can also occur on lesser levels. Churches that bully and intimidate their congregants. I read an article this year about a case involving a man in a mega church in the northwest that was caught in some sexual sin issue. The church removed him from his small group and all ministries and started placing all sorts of demands upon him. When he refused they instructed the congregation on how to best ostracize him, including what to say when explaining why they couldn't see him. While the Bible does speak about church discipline, this does not seem to be in the spirit of Jesus Christ but rather the controlling and manipulative spirit of Jezebel -- which is infecting far more churches in this country than we realize. It seems sometimes that we are more than willing to play the mob wanting to stone someone than the Christ who says -- go and sin no more.
Churches where information is kept under tight wraps and not shared with the congregation. Where facts are manipulated. The truth is distorted. Those who refuse to join in are literally told they can leave -- horribly ignoring the parable of the 99 and the 1. Like Public School teachers who think they can decide which kids they will teach, we have Pastors who think they can decide which congregants are truly their sheep. The rest can exit through the pen door please. Those that remain are left with the distinct impression that it is leadership that cannot be questioned -- even though the Bible says to test everything. Further abused into signing covenant agreements where their lives are open to inspection but the church has no responsibility and is somehow above reproach. Agreements that set up a false sense of righteousness that none could truly adhere to in this flesh that forces everyone into the church masks they have grown so fond of. How are you brother or sister? I am blessed and highly favored! Don't peak behind the mask now! I don't want to be threatened with losing my membership or losing my ministry. After all it is all about"God? Right?
That is why the key verse shows Peter appealing to those who
would take on the mantle of church leadership to be very sober minded in how
they approach it. Caring for the ENTIRE flock that God has entrusted to you. A
lot of leaders lose sight of this but God is going to hold us accountable for
every sheep He entrusted to us, not just the ones that stuck around. Peter goes
on to address what is the motivation for the leader? It cannot be a begrudging
situation but rather it needs to be done out of a genuine desire to serve God.
Not to grow the church, earn a decent salary, or any other carnal reason. We
are supposed to want to serve God. The last thing Peter implores them is to not
lord their authority over the people. It is as if Peter saw into the future and
into these times we now live in where Pastors are constantly flexing their
collective pseudo-spiritual muscles while misusing the spiritual authority
Scriptures. What comes first? Obedience to authority or the authority acting
correctly on behalf of Jesus Christ? The latter obviously otherwise it is blind
obedience to a person and not to God. That is what is wrong with the false
calls for unity these days amongst Pastors who are spiritually abusive. Our
unity is only in Christ Jesus. If you are not unifying by that principle -- then
we do not owe you unity. We do not owe you obedience. We do not owe you
submission. In fact -- the Bible says we owe it to God to expose you.
Rev. Anthony
