All personal power threatens the Gospel (CLM 526)

From: "Ken Davis"

Tue, 2 Dec 1997

My congratulations ... on the excellent article. It is excellent guidance for those who have to deal with power issues. One stone however was left unturned. That is the issue of personal power for the Pastor. A godly leader once stated their were three main dangers for men in their forties. Money, sex and power. We have all seen plenty of highly publicised examples of how the first two have brought down a prosperous ministry. What appears to be hidden and rarely discussed is how the third can harm a gospel ministry. Ministers are given a serious charge to lead the people of God. Most start of with the very intention of doing that. It does not take long to become disappointed with the lack of progress of the flock. Discipline and desire for holiness seem to be low priorities. With the fire of passion, the Pastor exhorts and encourages. Expositions of the Pastoral Epistles with an emphasis on the requirements of Christian Living become the staple. To increase the effectiveness, the OT prophets and dire warnings of judgement are recruited to the front lines. Still change is slow. A personal approach is needed. Pastoral counselling and disciplinary visits are added to the armoury. A group of supportive "yes men" are recruited to share the Pastor's vision for the Biblical church. It sounds thoroughly Biblical, and initially appeals to the Average Christian's sense of guilt and inadequacy. BUT before long the train has started rolling down the long and slippery slope into legalism, spiritual abuse and POWER. The cross slips from the centre into the wings. Confident Christians begin to doubt their salvation. Anyone who confronts the Pastor is the famous TM mentioned and needs more discipline, control, and if they persist in their independence, then expulsion from the fellowship. When this happened to the trouble makers in the church I applauded the Pastor's determination to pursue a Biblical church. When it happened to my friends I was saddened and a bit puzzled. When it happened to me I was angry. When it kept happening I knew something was wrong. It was only when I left, that I became sure that the gospel had been largely displaced and replaced by legalism. Despite the pain it led to a personal renewal and rediscovery of the freedom of Grace. For a long time I told no-one. But once I was able to talk, something frightening began to happen. A myriad of frightened and hurt people who had all endured the same abuse in "evangelical" churches emerged from the woodwork. It then became obvious that personal power is a huge threat to the gospel and can destroy or damage sensitive and strong souls. What's more a valuable gospel and Bible focused ministry can be completely derailed without the Pastor even being aware. I am simply a Music Leader, I would be interested to hear the view of senior Pastors on this matter. ************************************************** Hi-I'm Ken Davis. I'm a 36 y/o Aussie. I'm an evangelical Christian musician and songwriter. I suffer from CFS/ME. I love pizza, coffee, the ocean and the blues! http://www1.tpgi.com.au/users/kcd/ c Inside Out Music Production ************************************************* ____________________________ Clergy/Leaders' Mailing List (Moderated) This mailing list is open to all Christians via Internet e-mail and most fax destinations. Submissions welcome: clergy@pastornet.net.au To unsubscribe, e-mail to: clergy-request@pastornet.net.au with SUBJECT reading UNSUBSCRIBE Copyright: Postings may be re-sent ONLY with all copyright notifications intact. A PastorNET ministry: manager@pastornet.net.au

Clergy Mailing List Index | Mailing List Index | PastorNET Home Page | John Mark Ministries Home Page