An Open Letter To The Pastor

FOR SUCH ARE FALSE APOSTLES, DECEITFUL WORKERS, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel, for satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works. II Corinthians 11:13-15.

I know that many of you believe that you are due to be worshipped by your congregants, mainly due to the scriptures about "those that have rule over you" and "do noT muzzle the ox that treadeth" etc. In fact it seems to have gone to your head and you feel that you have a right to be placed on the throne of Jesus. For the love of Jesus and for your own soul's salvation, repent and be reconciled to God. The Lord does not share his throne with man. You gladly tell the members that the Word says, "I am the Lord and I change not", when you try to scare them into putting in more money. But please understand that this applies to God at all times and in everything.

I never heard of an assistant-Jesus or a co-Christ. The church belongs to the Lord Jesus He paid the price with His own blood. He did it, and He alone. Your assignment is to look after a portion of the flock, until He returns. You don't own them; you are the overseer. You are to Lead, Teach, and Feed the flock; not misuse and abuse the congregation for sport - nor to make them lift you up (though cleverly disguised) along with or instead of Christ. Yes, it is indeed allowed that the ones who preach the Word should live off of the Word. And the elders who rule well, especially who labor in the Word and doctrine, is worthy of double honor. Think about that. This worthiness comes from carrying out your tasks at an extraordinary level. This is not for having a great "hoop", or being a great speaker, or having a melodious voice, or otherwise being able to make us jump out of our seats.

We are to "give honor to whom honor is due", and this most certainly would include the pastor. But the pastor must guard against surrounding himself with a lot of pomp and grandeur. Even if the congregants willingly try to crown him as King or make him, rather than Jesus, the central figure, he should resist and should teach them that only the Lord is worthy of such. Don't just say the proper sounding words, but mean it, when you say it's about Him.

Pastors are not celebrities/dignitaries. Jesus told His apostles to be Servant Leaders, not just leaders. This writing is not meant to scold or belittle anyone, but it is meant to warn.

STUDY TO SHOW YOURSELF APPROVED.

MAKE YOUR CALLING AND ELECTION SURE

LOVEST THOU ME. FEED MY SHEEP

AND I WILL GIVE YOU PASTORS, ACCORDING TO MY HEART WHICH SHALL FEED YOU WITH KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

WAXING POETIC and Philosophical:

When In The Course of (Self-Destructive) human events; It becomes necessary for a People to dissolve the poison of self-hatred that has conditioned them and led them on a downward spiraling journey for over a hundred years.

It is time for this people to shake off the shackles of distrusting his brother, while blindly following another color.

When one people have been foraging in the filth and decadence of generational poverty, crippling illiteracy, demeaning buffoonery, endless unemployment, covert slavery, systematic imprisonment, and all around conditions of indecency and inhumanity, It becomes imperative for that people to denounce the causes (and purpetrators) that create oand sustain such reprehensible lifestyles and to declare new causes and life pursuits that will impel themselves to the majestic heights of real freedom and human diginity [not only as individuals, but as a people].

LET'S GO FOR IT, Today and Henceforth!