A call to the leaders of the Church...."Are you ready to ruummmmble!!"

Recently some friends of mine found themselves angry at the Church, which unfortunately isn’t anything new especially for ministers who seem to always get burned, but this time it really struck a chord with me. The Church is filled with sinners; it’s an imperfect place because the people inside it are imperfect. However there are few who God calls to ministry. They make it their life work to serve the Lord in his house. These ministers are different than elders or deacons. Most elders/deacons are called to work outside the church and then use the Gifts they have been given to be an “overseer” of the church. The bible says in 1 Tim 3:1, “If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task.” Vs. 8 says this, “Deacons, likewise are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine and not pursuing dishonest gain.” For the ministers, the bible specifies that these men are also considered Elders but they are paid for teaching and preaching. In 1 Tim 5: 17-18, “The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain,” and “the worker deserves his wages.”” The pastors of your churches are paid for the work they do. They are given double honor or elder and preacher/teacher and yet they are the most un-respected and mistreated group in the church! I don’t write this lightly when I say that being a pastors wife is hard, trust me, it down right stinks sometimes. A lot of that reason is because we see our husbands, the Godly men who strive to serve and live their lives preaching and teaching the word of God being treated like stray dogs. People of the church bark and bite and then use God’s name to justify their actions. Shame on you, shame on all of you.

1 Tim 4:12, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.”

Yet filled inside our church buildings are, well we can call them “experienced” Christians (older individuals) who run the church based on their feelings, traditions and frankly their downright stubbornness. We run circles around these people because we don’t want to offend anyone. Well correct me if I’m wrong but I don’t remember Jesus being a people pleaser. No, he was a kingdom worker, a servant and follower of the Law and here to save the lost.

I’ve been reading Job lately and even though I’ve known the story of Job for a long time it’s just the last few days I’ve realized-I think Job and I would have gotten along well. See, Job was this amazing man of God. He knew God’s power and stood in awe of him daily. The devil told God that he could get Job to turn against God.  So God, knowing Job’s awesomeness said to the devil-go ahead and try-just don’t kill him! The devil did everything but kill him. Killed his livestock, family, gave Job sores and made his life horrible. This is where I think Job and I would get along great-see Job loved God but Job had an attitude. I love God, but anyone who knows me, knows I have an attitude (Joel would say a big one!) But God loved Job and he had a plan and even though we couldn’t see his plan we know it’s there! When Job was complaining to God, this is how God responded in Job 38, “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it?” The Scripture goes on, but you see the point of Gods response, you weren’t there. God says, I’m the creator, I made the plans, I know the path, put your trust in me. So we as pastors lean on God, take the beatings and pursue his plans knowing full well, he’s the creator, he’s made our plans we will follow his path. I often relate myself to Jesus, not that I’m anywhere near Jesus but just that as Jesus was beaten and knocked down, cursed, stoned, spit on etc, so should we as his servants bear the Cross.

Ministers, Elders, and deacons, here is my final thought: 1 Tim says you are “to be above reproach.” The job of a minister, elder and deacon don’t have to be as hard as you’re making it. Stop bending over backwards to make others happy. Do what is right according to the Word and your job is easy! Stop people please and start Kingdom seeking.

For those of us hurt by the church, remember this: It doesn’t matter how many times we get knocked down. It only matters how many times we get back up!