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THE ALIAS

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HOW TO DEAL WITH ALIAS, ANNONYMOUS CRITICS

alias

By Ken Blue

The American Heritage Dictionary defines alias as; “1. An assumed name: The swindler worked under various aliases.”

During my forty years of pastoring, I have received many letters and notes sent by mysterious souls who refused to attach their names, or they used names of others to hide their identity. My advice to pastors is that they have their secretary screen their mail. If it is of the above nature, have it diverted to the garbage can.

One individual did everything within his power to destroy my family and ministry. The membership list was stolen and letters were sent to them with an alias attached. The nature of all letters was to turn the members against me. He was arrested for stealing thousands of dollars from the church offerings. People who use aliases are usually hiding more than their name.

[perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”People who are ashamed to put their name to their comments, ought to be ashamed to make them.”[/perfectpullquote]

In most cases, I put the alias in the same category with the terrorist. These men and women hide under the cover of darkness while attacking others. Usually, they are self-righteous and hiding something in their own life.

Occasionally, you may receive letters or emails with the only identity; bible believer. Those who use this alias are neither Bible believers nor Bible doers.

You cannot stop the anonymous critics, however, you can refuse to read their dribble, and send it to the trash bin. People who are ashamed to put their name to their comments, ought to be ashamed to make them. Rest assured, God sees behind the mask of the alias. Pastor, don’t allow these vermin to disturb you.

THE DOUBLE MINDED

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THE INCONSISTENCY OF THE DOUBLE MINDED MAN

By Ken Blue

“A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” James 1:8.

James is showing the importance of faith in God’s faithfulness when one is praying. There is no reason to doubt God’s goodness, presence, ability, or love. We must be steadfast in these truths when praying.

However, the malady of the double minded man not only manifests itself in his prayer life; it contaminates all his decisions. The double minded man has difficulty following through on any decision. His only consistency is his inconsistency. He does not see two things that are identical, he see two different options, and can’t stick with either one.

Every church has some of these confused souls. They commit to becoming a member of the choir, but at practice time, find excuses why they did not show up. Others respond in a revival meeting to go to Bible College and prepare for the ministry, but circumstances are never “just right” for them to enroll.

The double minded man must hit the altar every Sunday, promising to live for God. But, on Monday he is right back to his old sins. The double minded man is always going to….but never does.

[perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]The double minded mans only consistency is his inconsistency. He does not see two things that are identical, he see two different options, and can’t stick with either one.[/perfectpullquote]

Let me suggest a few things that may help. Keep a guard on your mouth. Don’t be the first to speak up and be very slow about making commitments or promises. We have all been guilty, in the heat of the moment, of making promises to God; not even the angels could keep.

You don’t have to always say “yes” to people who ask you if you will do such and such. I have seen many of these. They will say yes and respond positively to every need, but they never show up or do it. All this is eroding their confidence.

Pastor, keep your plans, your vision and goals to yourself, until you have prayed and thought everything through. If you announce anything you are planning to do, and then do not do it, your people will lose confidence in your leadership and respect for you character.

James says, “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:” James 1:19. Remember Nehemiah, the great wall builder. He never announced his plans until he had prayed and had the facts. He had a single eye.

SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP AND CHURCH HEALTH

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LEADERSHIP OF THE PASTOR

pastorBy Ken Blue

“(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)” Numbers 12:3.

When searching for an example of a pastor, we cannot find anyone better than Moses. He is called the meekest man on earth. Some people confuse meekness with weakness. Therefore, they assume the pastor must take a position of indifference and never control or correct the church. This is a wrong concept of “meekness” and of the ministry.  We must understand that we cannot give people spirituality. We only have three things to give. We can give:

  1. Advice
  2. Influence, and
  3. Example.

I remember hearing a pastor, who led a large church say, “the two things he was accused of most, were a lack of love and being a dictator.” This is how people who resent leadership see you, and if you take the leadership it is the two things you will be accuse of.

Moses was called of God and he knew it. Moses was not eager to lead nor was he seeking a place of leadership. God called him and took time to convince him of His will for him. There are too many problems facing the pastor for him to not have assurance of God’s calling. Are you God called or are you simply a counselor and a social worker? A secure and confident pastor will have a healthy church; I did not say a perfect one.

[perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]People who resent leadership will always accuse the pastor of two things: Lack of Love and Being a Dictator.[/perfectpullquote]

Moses loved God’s people and showed it. Moses would rather die than see God’s people destroyed. He would endure and suffer anything for them. Many pastors are hirelings and searching for the next best financial opportunity. The pastor who loves his people would pastor them without pay, if he could survive. Loving leadership leads to a healthy church.

Moses proclaimed God’s Word and defended it. The call to pastoral leadership is a call to preach the Word and defend it. Sound doctrine is the key to a healthy church. As time progresses, people will become less interested in sound doctrine. They will search for teachers who will sacrifice doctrine for praise and followers. We live in a day where it is practically impossible for believers to find a church that believes in an infallible Bible. The fault lies at the feet of false teachers and preachers who refuse to believe any Bible is inerrant. If your pastor corrects the Bible, you should look for another church. You can only have a healthy church where people have complete confidence in the accuracy and authority of the Bible.

Moses comforted God’s people. A good pastor must not only know how to comfort people individually, he must be able to comfort the church collectively. Many within the church are suffering from financial, family, health, and world political issues. A large part of the ministry is that of comforting others. Not only are believers soldiers, who are called to spiritual warfare, they are sometimes casualties in need of a nurse to comfort them. A healthy church is one where people can find comfort.

[perfectpullquote align=”left” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]As time progresses, people will become less interested in sound doctrine and will search for praise and followers.[/perfectpullquote]

Moses dealt with sin and exposed it. Most of the problems in our lives are because we are violating some Scriptural principle. Guilt, anger, insecurity, anxiety, gossip, personality conflicts, and a host of other issues are rooted in selfishness and a desire to have our own way. Not only must external sins be dealt with; we must go to the heart of the matter; and usually the matter is with the heart. A healthy church will not only preach against sins, it will help church members who are struggling with them.

Moses knew what people needed for health, and he warned them. There can be no health, soundness, or healing without abstaining from sin and rebellion. Don’t misunderstand me. I am not suggesting that sickness or health issues are the result of your personal sins. Some could be, but not necessarily. However, spiritual sickness is always the result of sin. “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.” 2 Corinthians 4:16.

Moses was human and blew it. Moses may be the perfect example of a pastor, but he was not a perfect man; no one is. He made his mistakes and so will your pastor. That is why all church members ought to pray for and encourage their pastor. Moses felt over-burdened with the many task before him. One of the answers was to involve others in the ministry. The work needed to be divided among the members. He needed someone to hold up his hands when he grew weary. Your pastor is not the Lone Ranger. He must have your help, if you are going to have a healthy church.

Many pastors and leaders keep believers in a state of “sickness” by focusing attention on their problems. That is a mistake. Spurgeon said, “When I look at Jesus, the dove of peace lights on my shoulder; when I look at the dove, she flies away.” Get your people to fall in love with Jesus Christ, and spiritual healing and health will return.

PASTOR, TRAIN YOUR PEOPLE

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TRAIN OTHERS

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By Ken Blue

There are several reasons pastors will not use their people in church ministry.

One, they don’t know how. They might like to use them, but they aren’t sure themselves what really needs to be done. Another problem is a lack of skill in recruiting men and women for service. There is a right and a wrong way to go about this. I have also seen pastors who don’t believe anyone is willing to do the needed tasks. Unbelievably, there are pastors who think none of his members are spiritual enough, or no one is qualified. Some pastors are insecure. They fear others may do a better job than themselves. Any one of the above problems creates mental road blocks to your progress. You must conquer all fears that hinder the training of others.

Pastors must understand that teaching and preaching is not training.

These are a major part of the ministry, but they are only a part of it. Most fundamental churches spend 95% of their time preaching and teaching and the other 5% on soul winning and tithing. We must know the difference between training and instruction. When you train someone, you tell them what and how, and then you show them how to do the task. You then let them do it, and correct or encourage as needed.

[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]When you train someone, you tell them what and how, and then you show them how to do it.[/perfectpullquote]

There are several areas where people need ministry training.

They need to know how to win souls to Christ and how to witness about Him. Men and women must be trained how to prepare and teach a SS lesson, how to usher, how to preach, how to lead songs, how to visit the sick, how to build a bus route, how to pray, how to study the Bible, how to clean the church. Whatever the need in your church, you can train someone how to do it.

How to train others:

The first thing is, you must be clear on what you want done, and how it should be done. To do this, bring specialist to your church that can provide the necessary training. You can also send your people to special conferences where they can SEE and learn these things. Lead people in all areas where you want them to serve and give all the support they need.

Make a list of everything you are now doing that you should give away.

Pastor, it’s not a matter of how large your church is or how many people you have.  Don’t be afraid. Go through your list carefully and circle every task you are doing that someone else could do. Then make a list of all the men and women who could do the task 70% as well as you. Make a plan and then recruit them. If I only had five men in my church, I would find a job for each one of them. If five needs did not exist, I would create a job for the fifth man.

[perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Know, go, show, and grow![/perfectpullquote]

Remember: information, education, and instruction are all necessary, but alone, they train no one.

I have already stated what training is and how it is done. The following Old Testament story illustrates many of the “how” factors of training others. “And Abimelech gat him up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people that were with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it, and laid it on his shoulder, and said unto the people that were with him, What ye have seen me do, make haste, and do as I have done. 49 And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put them to the hold, and set the hold on fire upon them; so that all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women.” Judges 9:48-49.

 

THREE MAIN INGREDIENTS OF A GREAT PASTOR

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IDENTIFYING INGREDIENTS FOR GREAT PASTORING

ingredients

By Ken Blue

Of course there are different definitions of what the word great means. Every man has his own idea, and he is somewhat confident he fits its definition. We are confident we know what a great church or ministry is and what it is not. But what is it?

I am not positive God is as concerned about our church and our ministry as we are. God is far more interested in the man than He is the ministry. He always works at making the man first. By man, I don’t mean your swagger, your truck, your bad manners, or your gun rack. We are hearing a lot today about “developing men,” when we haven’t the slightest clue what we are talking about. Regardless of what you think a pastor must be to “prove” his manhood, there are three things that are indispensable for one to be a good pastor.

The first, not the most important, is personality.

The American Heritage Dictionary says personality is, “The pattern of collective character, behavioral, temperamental, emotional, and mental traits of a person: Though their personalities differed, they got along as friends. Distinctive qualities of a person, especially those distinguishing personal characteristics that make one socially appealing”

One of the weaknesses of pastors is their failure to understand the importance of developing a personality that others can identify with. Every pastor would do well to read How To Win Friends & Influence People, by Dale Carnegie. I am aware that it will not be spiritual enough for some, but they don’t need it anyway.

A guitar has six strings. You must be able to work with all six of them if you hope to strike a chord. Some people can only pick one string and therefore can only relate to those who like that string. Broaden your personality as much as possible so you can identify and relate to as many people as possible. You must be able to adjust your personality to people in order to relate to them. The pastor with the greatest ability in this area will have the best opportunity to widen his ministry to others.

I’m sure you know good men who have the personally of a skunk or a porcupine. They have a stinking attitude and disposition. Also, they are always trying to stick it to someone.

The second necessary ingredient for a pastor is that of competence.

Competence is the ability to do the task at hand. A pastor must first know the Lord, and then he must know His Word. He must learn how to pastor from the best. Some men are great at soul winning. Learn all you can from them. Others are outstanding teachers. Find out what it is that makes people want to hear them. Competent pastors know how to plan, lead, organize, and control growing church ministries. Learn all you can about management and organization.

[perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Competent pastors know how to plan, lead, organize, and control growing church ministries.[/perfectpullquote]

Again, you must learn these skills if you hope to move forward in the ministry. Competence can be learned. Look to those who are doing the best job in each phase of the ministry, and then learn all you can from them. Don’t be satisfied to just pick one string.

Finally, your most important quality is your character.

A former pastor of mine told me, “If you want your people to jump a foot, you must jump ten feet.” Another pastor said, “Don’t expect people to show up on work days, if you are there.” If a pastor asks his people to give money for a special project, he must be the first to give.

Discerning people can spot the blemishes in your character right away. One major sign of weak character is to excuse ones failures and blame someone else. I have heard preachers lie about matters, they thought were unimportant. I have watched them make themselves the hero of their sermons. Your mouth may be your greatest liability.

Personality, competence, and character are the three indispensable ingredients for the pastor. On the other hand, the following three habits guarantee your failure. One is the “I don’t care” habit. The second is the late habit. The third is the “I quit” habit. The first three will insure your success. The last three will insure your demise.

[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Personality, competence, and character are the three indispensable ingredients for the pastor.[/perfectpullquote]