Not Supporting is a Shame

“For the Scripture says, ‘You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing,’ and ‘The laborer is worthy of his wages.’” (rf. 1 Tim. 5:18–19 NASB)

“And He summoned the twelve and began to send them out in pairs, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits; and He instructed them that they should take nothing for their journey, except a mere staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belt—but to wear sandals; and He added, ‘Do not put on two tunics.’ And He said to them, ‘Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave town. Any place that does not receive you or listen to you, as you go out from there, shake the dust off the soles of your feet for a testimony against them.’ They went out and preached that men should repent. And they were casting out many demons and were anointing with oil many sick people and healing them.” (rf. Mk. 6:7–13 NASB)

“He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ…” (Eph 4:11–12 NASB).

I was very disturbed recently by an article that was forwarded to me regarding the growing trend among both evangelical and mainline Protestant churches and denominations toward bi-vocational, rather than full-time, pastorates. Do not get me wrong! I do not have an aversion toward nor do I think myself above being a bi-vocational minister! Indeed, for over the first half of my ministerial career, I was in bi-vocational ministry, serving as pastor to churches too small to afford a full-time minister while working full-time as a bookstore manager in both college and Christian retail stores. So, I am well-versed in the demands of being a bi-vocational minister. My hat is off to my fellow servants in Christ who have two or more jobs to do to supply the needs of their families!

I knew my calling, in particular, was to eventually be in full-time ministry, wherein I could totally focus my time and energy on the needs of the flock that God had given me to serve. Toward that goal, I strived to get the education that was necessary at the lowest possible financial cost to the family since I had a wife and five children to consider. Had I gone the “normal” route of education, I would have attended one of the larger seminaries, accruing a sizeable debt, and, if my plans had come to fruition, would have exited with the desired Ph.D., ready to seek the place of service that would accommodate both my family’s needs and the ability to pay off the educational liability. The Lord, however, had other plans for me and my family. I am happy to say that I was able to get my education without any residual balance of educational costs to pay. We were very blessed. Unfortunately, this is not the case for so many present and future ministers today. Their prospects are dim, indeed, as this article recounts.

No, my disappointment is found in the fact that medium and large churches are choosing to require their pastors to go into bi-vocational ministry. If this has been done solely for financial reasons, then there is a shame and blight on the Church as a whole, a direct reflection on the fact that we have assuredly lost our way. A very large contingent of the flock of Christ has been so consumed with being “relevant” to the surrounding culture that we have sold our soul “for a mess of pottage”. We have followed hard after the latest fads to attract the crowds, purchased the latest equipment to keep “current”, and polished the presentation to make sure the “optics” are excellent and on par with those of the best the culture has to offer. All the while, we have become Biblically-illiterate, doctrinally-deficient, and totally self-absorbed and preferential in what we blithely perceive to be known as “worship”. As a result, those who come to our churches give little during the offering, know little in terms of Scripture, and portray little in terms of holiness in their personal lives.

If my words appear harsh and a scathing indictment, it is not because I despise any corner of Christ’s Bride, for I do not. Indeed, I love His Church with a great passion and what I see is unachieved potential because of the selling of a birthright for the sake of the acceptance of the world and its ways. The Church of Jesus was NEVER meant to be popular with the culture (rf. Lk. 6:22-23; Jn. 15:18-20). When we do things that make us attractive to the culture, we inevitably compromise the teachings of Scripture (rf. I Jn. 2:15-17). And when we do not follow Scripture, curses, not blessings, will come from Almighty God to get our attention. Guaranteed. Loss of the financial ability to provide for the shepherds of His flock is surely one of those in my opinion.

In the Old Testament, when the Levites who served God in the Tabernacle or Temple were not provided for by God’s people, this was due to the disobedience of the people to God’s commands in the Law. By the same token, God has set up provision for His servants through His Church, that all of their needs be met by His people so that their primary focus should be their calling to serve God and His people (see the above Scripture passages). When the servants of God are lacking, God’s people are sinning by not giving as they are supposed to give to His Church (i.e. tithing, a Biblical truth not taught in many churches today). Their priorities are out of sync with God’s Word. Only when repentance takes place will the situation be corrected and His blessings be restored, both financial and spiritual.

If the Church is failing in the area of finances toward her ministers, it is but one of many areas that needs addressing and correction. May the Lord of Hosts grant us the grace necessary to see clearly our errors as His people, provide the Spirit of repentance required to turn from our self-centered and self-focused ways, and the boldness to make the changes in our lives to begin putting Him first once more in our giving, our lives and our testimonies before the world, understanding that this will mean a sure disconnect from the culture around us and the resulting rejection by many of us and the Savior we serve. But, as Jesus rightly stated, that comes with the package, if we are truly His disciples.

Creating Legacies

“The Lord knows the days of the blameless, and their inheritance will be forever. They will not be ashamed in the time of evil, and in the days of famine they will have abundance.”

(rf. Ps. 37:18–19)

“A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, and the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.” (rf. Prov.13:22)

“A good name is to be more desired than great wealth, favor is better than silver and gold.”

(rf. Prov. 22:1)

            Do you have the goal of leaving behind a legacy?

            Lori and I watch a number of British dramas and murder mysteries. Quite frankly, the quality of their work often is better than what we have in the States. There is also the challenge of having to listen closely to the language and to translate their difference use of words from our own. It becomes an intellectual exercise for the brain.

            One term used by the Brits is “legacy”. Their definition of this term is that which is given after the death of a person, usually in the concrete form of physical property, material items, or financial remuneration. This is one nuance of “inheritance” in the above passage in Prov. 13:22, “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children…”, with the implication that one who is not “good” or righteous in God’s sight leaves his descendants nothing after his passing. I bring the latter up because of the pervasive self-centeredness in our own culture which teaches our senior citizens, not to lay up anything for their children and grandchildren, but to spend all of their resources on themselves and their desires. As a bumper sticker I saw once on a very nice expensive vehicle stated, “I am spending my children’s inheritance”. According to the writer of Proverbs, such persons are not “good” persons at all.

Of course, “good” people can come across hard times. What they had laid back for their descendants, they were forced by health issues and negative circumstances just to pay bills and survive. I fear, with the expanding older population, rapidly increasing healthcare costs, declining health insurance options and clueless governmental officials, more and more folks will fall into this dilemma, sacrificing the future for the present.

            God’s people are required to have a very different perspective on life, in general, and legacies, in particular. Not only should we plan to leave behind a sizable portion of our earthly goods to our children and grandchildren after we are gone (even wisely considering giving it to them while we live so that we can see them enjoying it and helping them to use and invest such things prudently themselves), but, more importantly, we should pass on to them a legacy of love, generosity, compassion for others, wisdom and instruction, and, above all, faithfulness and obedience to the Lord and His Word. It is being an abiding example of these things that impresses the coming generations far more than earthly riches and material possessions. Those who seek to provide these “living and holy sacrifices” (rf. Rom. 12:1) will be the ones who provide for themselves “good names” during their lifetimes and in their legacies to follow.

            One final note to those in the younger crowd, just beginning this journey into adulthood. Just as our culture deifies materialism and upholds self-centeredness as the standard of success, so it also supports personal experiences as the measure of one’s life achievements. This, King Solomon would say, is pure “vanity”, (emptiness), but also in relation to the motivation of one’s heart in seeking after such things. Remember this: personal experiences can never replace those important relationships that were sacrificed along the way to achieve those experiences. When we come to our deathbed (and each of us will), photographs of our trips over the years or an IPhone with Facebook posts or Twitter feeds will lie cold in our hands, having little meaning to us when our heart’s desire will be for the comfort and warmth of loved ones that only comes when one has invested in a legacy.

I have been at the foot of dying man’s bed, surrounded by his children and grandchildren who loved him dearly. As he passed from this life to the next, this man knew he was blessed. He was a man of meager means, but died very rich in the relationships that he had cultivated. He left behind a legacy that, as the Scripture above states, “will be forever”.

What will your legacy be that remains behind when you depart this earth? It all depends on where your priorities are while you live. If you follow God’s Word, you will invest your life, faith and resources in the lives of your children, grandchildren, and their offspring, providing them a legacy that will endure for generations immeasurable. These are blessings that pictures cannot effectively capture and personal experiences are in no way comparable. It can only be captured by the loving faces that cherish and are called by your “good name” long after you are gone.

Judging Others

“Do not judge so that you will not be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” (rf. Mt. 7:1–5 NASB)

In the light of our time in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount over the last several months, it seemed apropos for us to explore one of His lessons in print. As convicting as His words can be for us all, they remind us how much we need His saving and sustaining grace on a daily basis. This is especially true in our interactions with one another.   

Hypocrisy is a sin that is difficult for us to escape as Christians. In our desire to do what is right, good and pleasing to the Lord, we so often turn a blind eye to our own shortcomings and magnify the mistakes and faults of others around us, especially in those who are closest to us. We justify it by saying that it is only because we want what is best for them. Yet, in reality, in our own pridefulness, we are masking our imperfections by making others feel guilty about theirs. In seeing them squirm, it makes us feel better about how “good” we appear in contrast. Jesus tells us clearly that these motivations are wrong and are not in line with what He desires for His followers.

            In my experience, I have observed some who have struggled with weight issues who were overcome with guilt regarding their inability to drop pounds for their own benefit. This shame which was already well-grounded by their own feelings of pain and self-doubt was even more enhanced by close friends and family members who believed their words of “encouragement” were designed to prod their loved one to better health. However, the ones pointing the finger at their overweight counterparts were themselves in need of getting into better shape, of ridding themselves of unhealthy poundage. The latter, if asked about their own situation, would provide many excuses as to why it was perfectly normal for them to carry their added burden…yet, for others, the extra load must be jettisoned for their own best interest. As the old saying goes, “he who points a finger at others has three fingers of accusation pointing back at him!”

            We must be careful in our assessment of the situation of the people around us. This is Jesus’ point in the above passage. If we are quick to make “judgment calls” on what another should do, we must first ask ourselves if we have already accomplished the same. If we are benefiting from the action, especially in our relationship with the Lord, then it would be fitting for us to suggest this action to another as a blessing to his/her life. If, however, our idea is just that, an idea not personally validated, especially if we are suffering from the same malady, then we have no place to make such a recommendation until we have applied it personally.

            Lastly, we must be very careful in how we approach the predicaments of others. Unlike Almighty God, we do not, nor will we ever have all the information available on another person, what is in his/her heart, what is going on in his/her home/context/work, etc. All we have available is what we see at a given point in time and, quite frankly, that is not enough information to base any determination from our position. Jesus states that when we start judging others based on our limited knowledge, we will be judged “by the same measure” as we judged them. Considering our inadequate and restricted access to information, it would be highly unwise to pursue this course at all.

            Rather, we should focus on the following things. First of all, leave judgment to God. Only He knows all things about us. He alone has the capacity to judge wisely. Secondly, since we are all sinners and in need of grace, let us extend abundant grace to one another. Thirdly, in that same spirit, as fellow believers in Christ, let us be vessels of true encouragement to one another, building up with words that are borne out of our own experiences with His truth. Let us not urge others to do something that we have not done ourselves, especially if we have or have had the same affliction. In this way, the love of Christ finds a reality in and through our lives that is seldom seen and known in this world, yet is desperately needed to be shown.