SNIPPET OF MY UPCOMING NEW BOOK, “IS YOUR PASTOR A SHEPHERD?”

My experience as a travelling minister for over 25 years to hundreds of churches all over the world has been overall very negative. The Bible speaks about many of the exact same wrong things I have encountered in the churches. 

Here are some examples:

Pastors, who in their greed make up clever lies of sowing seeds in exchange for financial breakthroughs and healing, only to get hold of people’s money. (See 2. Peter 2:3)

Pastors, who instead of caring for the congregation that God has entrusted them and making sure to be a good example of a true humble follower of Jesus Christ to them, instead control every aspect of the members’ lives - including their finances, by obligating them to pay tithes (10% of their income) and special offerings. Those who don’t tithe will be excluded from any ministering function in the church, because they are not seen as “faithful.” (See 1. Peter 5:2-3)

Pastors, who are preaching with deceit, impure motives, and trickery. They try to win you with flattery, pretending to be your friend just to get your money! (See 1. Thessalonians 2:3+5)

Pastors, who give special attention and a good seat to the rich person who comes into their church dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, while to the poor person, who is dressed in dirty clothes, they say, “You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor.” (See James 2:2-4)

Women pastors, who teach men and have authority over them, contrary to what the Apostle Paul instructed the church: “I do not let women teach men or have authority over them.” 1. Timothy 2:12 NLT

On several painful occasions, I have also experienced pastors, who love to be the leader, refusing to have anything to do with me and my wife and instead make up evil accusations against us for no reason at all. Not only do they refuse to welcome us, they also tell others not to help us! And if they do help us, these pastors kick them right out of the church! (See 3. John 1:9-10)

Sadly, most of the pastors I have dealt with do not have the gift, the calling, or the qualifications to be a shepherd - a true pastor! Many, who call themselves pastors, have no business shepherding people because their actual gift is that of a teacher, prophet, evangelist or other! Only those whose gift is to be a pastor (including the apostle, who operates in all the gifts) should be shepherding. If a man is pastoring without the specific gift of a pastor or apostle, he will not be able to lovingly shepherd/care for the people, but will instead end up wounding them! It is no wonder there are so many dysfunctional churches out there.

Here are the qualifications a pastor (also called a bishop) must have:

“He must be faithful to his wife. He must exercise self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must be able to teach. He must not be a heavy drinker or be violent. He must be gentle, not quarrelsome, and not love money. He must manage his own family well, having children who respect and obey him. For if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church?

He must not be a new believer, because he might become proud, and the devil would cause him to fall. Also, people outside the church must speak well of him so that he will not be disgraced and fall into the devil’s trap.” 1. Timothy 3:2-7 NLT

A pastor must care for the flock that God has entrusted to him. He must watch over the people willingly, not grudgingly—not for what he will get out of it, but because he is eager to serve God. He should never lord it over the people assigned to his care, but lead them by his own good example. (See 1. Peter 5:2-3)

     

  

DREAMING BIG? | Edwin Christiaan

 

Nowhere in the Bible does it say, that we are supposed to “dream big” for God and demand of Him to use us big league in the area of leading others. Why? Because those God has chosen to be His children, He works in them, giving them the desire and the power to do WHAT PLEASES HIM! (See Philippians 2:13)

Yes! God works in His children, transforming them by changing the way they think and in doing so, they learn to know His will, which is good and pleasing and perfect! (See Romans 12:2) 

God’s children then become like His Son, Jesus Christ, who did not come to this earth to be served, but to serve others! (See Romans 8:29, Matthews 20:28)

As Jesus taught His disciples: “Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.” Mark 9:35 NLT

And, “Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant!” Mark 10:43 NLT

WARNING: BE AWARE OF JUST SUBMITTING TO A CHURCH LEADER | By Edwin Christiaan

The church, or the Body of Christ, today is split and fractured into literally countless denominations, fellowships, associations, and the like. Many of them will not allow fellowship with a brother or sister from another church or denomination. Many pastors, church leaders, and ministers tend to be very judgmental and look down their noses at others, who do not belong to the same group as they do. They are proud and arrogant. Too many are prone to “judge their brother” because of doctrinal errors on minor points (or what some might call “major points”), when they themselves have major problems with attitudes, hidden sins, and a wrong spirit. They control the flock with false teachings and doctrines, fleecing them financially, and in doing so, these leaders cause major wounds and hurts in the people!

So, before you commit or submit yourself to a church and its leader or leaders and support them financially, it is important that you should follow these guidelines:

·      First of all, a church leader or pastor must be a man and not a woman! (See 1. Timothy 3:1) Why? Because the Bible does not allow women to teach men or have authority over them!  (See 1. Timothy 2:12)

·      Secondly,

“A church leader must not be a new believer, because he might become proud, and the devil would cause him to fall!” 1. Timothy 3:6 NLT

·      Thirdly,

“A church leader or pastor’s life must be above reproach. He must be faithful to his wife. He must exercise self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must be able to teach.  He must not be a heavy drinker or be violent. He must be gentle, not quarrelsome, and not love money.  He must manage his own family well, having children who respect and obey him.  For if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church?” 1. Timothy 3:2-5 NLT

·      Furthermore, a church leader must care for the flock of God that is entrusted to him. He is supposed to watch over it willingly, not grudgingly — not for what he will get out of it (moneywise), but because he is eager to serve God. He should never control the people assigned to his care, but lead them by his good example. (See 1. Peter 5:2-3)

·      A church leader should never impose the Old Testament Law of Tithing on the people, obligating them to pay 10% of their income, and in doing so, binding them to his church or ministry. Why? Because the Bible clearly says in the New Testament that, 

^“You must each decide in your heart how much to give!” 1. Corinthians 9:7 NLT

And,

“On the first day of each week, you should each put aside a portion of the money you have earned!” 1. Corinthians 16:2 NLT

·      A church leader must preach the word of God! He must be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. He must patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage the people with good teaching, leading the people into a closer relationship with Jesus Christ! (See 2. Timothy 4:2)

·      A church’s leaders’ responsibility is to equip the people to do God’s work and build up the church, the body of Christ! (See Ephesians 4:12)

ONLY if a church leader or leaders pass the above qualifications, can you obey them joyfully and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your soul, and they are accountable to God. (See Hebrews 13:17)

The Bible says that you should,

“Remember your leaders who first taught you the word of God! Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and trust the Lord as they do.” Hebrews 13:7 NLT

It also says,

“Those who are taught the word of God should provide for their teachers, sharing all good things with them.” Galatians 6:6 NLT

And furthermore that,

“Elders who do their work well should be respected and paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain.” And in another place, “Those who work deserve their pay!” 1. Timothy 5:17-18 NLT

Conclusively, we should always be like the people of Berea in the Book of Acts, who searched the Scriptures day after day to see if what the apostles Paul and Silas were teaching was indeed the truth! (See Acts 17:11)