First Timothy Chapter 3 (4 of 7)
Series: The Epistle of I Timothy
Harley Howard
Many years ago, in my presence and in the presence of a so-called bishop, a young man was discussing his opinions about the ministry. I found it interesting to listen just for a moment and to hear what he had to say. He said that for a successful church to raise millions of dollars for its programs required the pastors to market the church and the message of the gospel. He also said that preachers cannot any longer give the message to everybody, but to be effective, they must target specific peoples to reach. Otherwise, he maintained, the message would have to be changed to reach the various other peoples with whom he should not have to be bothered. After all, they do not bring in the money. He said that God wants His pastors to run the church this way because the church is a business, and pastors have to sell the gospel and the church - and that's the way it is.
Now what makes this opinion so repulsive, so damnable, and so revolting, is that it is totally contrary to Biblical principles of church structure and the ministry of pastors. But what this man said is the very thing that many so-called pastors are attempting to do. They have abandoned the Scriptures and are now trying to sell the gospel and the church. It has been, and always will be, my intention as a pastor to teach what the Word of God says regardless of the results, especially in the area of Biblical leadership. The church has been ruined in many ways because of unqualified leadership, unbiblical leadership, uncalled leadership, and ungodly leadership. What qualifies one for pastoral leadership today? Some would say charisma qualifies an individual; others would say the man's ability to move the emotions of the people. Others say that one must make people feel good about themselves. Others, that if he agrees with what they believe, then he is a qualified pastor.
One of the church's sacred cows t ...
Series: The Epistle of I Timothy
Harley Howard
Many years ago, in my presence and in the presence of a so-called bishop, a young man was discussing his opinions about the ministry. I found it interesting to listen just for a moment and to hear what he had to say. He said that for a successful church to raise millions of dollars for its programs required the pastors to market the church and the message of the gospel. He also said that preachers cannot any longer give the message to everybody, but to be effective, they must target specific peoples to reach. Otherwise, he maintained, the message would have to be changed to reach the various other peoples with whom he should not have to be bothered. After all, they do not bring in the money. He said that God wants His pastors to run the church this way because the church is a business, and pastors have to sell the gospel and the church - and that's the way it is.
Now what makes this opinion so repulsive, so damnable, and so revolting, is that it is totally contrary to Biblical principles of church structure and the ministry of pastors. But what this man said is the very thing that many so-called pastors are attempting to do. They have abandoned the Scriptures and are now trying to sell the gospel and the church. It has been, and always will be, my intention as a pastor to teach what the Word of God says regardless of the results, especially in the area of Biblical leadership. The church has been ruined in many ways because of unqualified leadership, unbiblical leadership, uncalled leadership, and ungodly leadership. What qualifies one for pastoral leadership today? Some would say charisma qualifies an individual; others would say the man's ability to move the emotions of the people. Others say that one must make people feel good about themselves. Others, that if he agrees with what they believe, then he is a qualified pastor.
One of the church's sacred cows t ...
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