A Plea to Pastors

I was first inclined to title this post, “But I Digress, Part Two,” but felt the Holy Spirit’s correction because this is not a digression or even a rant. It is a simple plea to pastors. A conversation I had with a young woman about her church experience left me feeling sad at what is happening in churches, and how it is causing people to turn away from anything related to Christianity and Jesus.

I realize everything I share will not apply to all pastors, so please do not throw the baby out with the bathwater. Also, I ask that you see this through, even if you have feelings that would incline you not to continue to read or listen.

My plea is simple.

Please seek truth. Please teach truth. The ENTIRE truth according to God’s Word, the Bible. Do not add anything. Do not take anything away. Teach people to not look to you, but to take full responsibility for their relationship with God. Teach people the priority of living a life that is fully led by the Holy Spirit. Teach people the true message of God’s Kingdom according to the Bible, and how we should live according to what Jesus taught when He walked the Earth. Please stop operating from a place of fear.

This goes way beyond the holidays of Christmas, and Easter, but I must use them as an example because of what I heard one pastor say. There is no way I could list everything churches and organized religion are doing that is against what the Bible says, and I thank God it is not my assignment to do so.

Regarding Christmas and Easter, I cannot tell you to stop celebrating. The revelation cannot be forced even though God’s Word is clear that we should not celebrate. I pray you will share the true origin of these holidays. People should make decisions based on truth and the leadership of the Holy Spirit. Not traditions, rituals, or warm fuzzy feelings. Some of these warm fuzzy feelings may lead to much warmer, less comfortable conditions in eternity…but I digress. Each person must decide whether they want to worship God their way, or the way God instructed us to in His Word. Here is what one pastor said.

“Some people are not comfortable having a Christmas tree at Christmas. I am. Doesn’t bother me to have a Christmas tree. It doesn’t bother me that we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ on what we call Easter when really, that is not scripturally correct. We celebrate the resurrection of Jesus if we were doing it right, on the Feast of First Fruits. We would start with the feast of Passover, we would look forward to the Feast of First Fruits, and that’s when we would come in and we would celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We wouldn’t use the Pagan word ‘Ishtar’ which we get Easter from, but I don’t have any qualms about that because if I start talking about the Feast of First Fruits, then I’m not gonna be able to get very many people to my church, and then I can’t give the gospel. So we call it Easter, and I’m fine with that, and I have faith in doing that. I don’t feel like I’m gonna be judged when I get to Heaven, so I have faith, and if I didn’t have faith in that, then that which is not of faith is sin, but I have faith.”

On one hand, I was disappointed because I have learned a lot from this pastor. On the other hand, I appreciate his candor. What he said aloud is what many pastors believe. Sadly, it reeks of fear, arrogance, ego, greed, and pride. It is like saying “I know God’s Word says we should not do these things, but God is not doing enough to get people’s attention. I have no choice but to mix with the world to get people to show up so I can preach the gospel.” This man, like many others, has convinced himself he is doing the right thing. Without using the word “fear,” he admits that he fears if he teaches what God’s Word says, people will not show up. Let’s take it a step further and be completely honest. If people don’t show up, they also will not give money.

Here’s the thing. Jesus is not a President or Prime Minister. He is a King. The Bible is not a book about democracy. It is a book about a King and His Kingdom. It is important now more than ever that we take this seriously. The Bible makes it clear that Jesus brought a Kingdom, not a religion – and He made it clear that we are to follow Him.

2 Corinthians 5:20 reminds us we are Christ’s ambassadors. If we say Jesus Christ is our Lord, Savior, and King, we are to represent His Kingdom according to His will and His Word. We had no right to make up denominations or other religions to make it comfortable for us and serve our agenda. That includes the title of “non-denominational.”

The conversation I mentioned with the young woman made me realize she is one of many who have not only experienced financial manipulation but many other deep dark things in a place where they should have been able to find refuge. The term “church hurt” should not even exist.

Myles Munroe said, “Nothing can hide God more successfully than religion. It becomes God. People worship their religion rather than God. Religion is so powerful; it will keep you out of the Kingdom.”

Many pastors wonder why church attendance is down and some blame it on the so-called, “YouTube pastors who never went to seminary or Bible school.” Then these pastors lead their congregation to believe none of the people online are speaking the truth, and that they are all dangerous. Please consider that people have likely turned away because they are not learning the truth in most churches, so they seek it elsewhere. They feel the Holy Spirit telling them something is not right when they are sitting in church or watching online each week. People are hurting and they are tired of the manipulation, deception, and withholding of truth. Not all, but many of these people online are sharing the truth and more importantly, encouraging people to seek for themselves and be led by the Holy Spirit.

One of the best messages I have heard lately about what church should look like was an episode of The Nightlight Podcast with Christopher Glyn on YouTube. It was episode 101 with Lorenzo Delaurentis titled, “The Mystery of the Church Revealed! Living Organism or Organization?” Please listen to it with an open heart and mind, then consider, “Is my church an organization or a living organism?”

Unfortunately, every one of us has been deceived. Our enemy the devil is the god of this world, and he is enjoying this time where it is easier than ever to make the truth seem like lies and lies seem like truth. He wants to keep us trapped in fear. The deception runs deep. You woke up this morning, so you have another opportunity to start peeling back those layers of deception.

I find myself trying to understand what went wrong with some pastors. I may be wrong, but I concluded that they began with a pure heart intent on following God’s will. At some point, they got caught up in the world’s definition of church, people pleasing, and the financial pressure of running that church. Rather than truth, they begin to compromise. Some still speak the truth, but only a feel-good version of it. They understand that people want to feel good, and most do not want the truth.

At this point, I am piecing it together. One thing this journey has taught me is that I should not be attached to any single pastor, teacher, or anyone at all. The Bible and the Holy Spirit are my guide, and with each person I listen to, I am thankful the Holy Spirit tells me what to keep and what to discard. I am not complaining about having to piece it together. I realized that piecing it together, based on God’s Word and the leading of the Holy Spirit for each of our journeys is exactly what we all need to be doing.

There is so much more to be said on this topic but hopefully, the point has gotten across. I pray you understand my heart. This is not an attack or a plea for perfection. I heard one pastor say he felt so stupid about what he had previously been teaching. What is important is that when he discovered the truth, he took responsibility for his part in the deception, and he began to preach the truth as he learned it.

We are blessed to live in a time where right now, information is easy to access if we want it. The Holy Spirit is standing by waiting for us to look to and trust Him fully as our helper and guide who will lead us into all truth. We can no longer plead ignorance. It may be embarrassing to admit one’s participation in misguiding people, but the eternal price is far worse than what any human being could ever do to us. We must have courage. As a pastor, you have a bigger responsibility than most. People are following you down a path. Where are you leading them?

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