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INDEPENDENTLY FREE

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PASTORING INDEPENDENTLY

By Ken Blue

I was born on the Bible belt in northern Arkansas. Our little town could not afford a church or pastor, so we had Sunday school and revival meetings in the one room school house. I managed to get through those early years without getting saved. Our little church belonged to the Southern Baptist Convention.

At age 17 I accepted Christ in a Baptist Church in Wenatchee, Washington. The church belonged to a fellowship called the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches. I spent several years with them and was told that the Southern Baptist had gone liberal. I was instructed to avoid them.

After Bible College, I enjoyed sweet fellowship with many in the Bible Baptist Fellowship. However, some believed our church was not in the bride and made group fellowship impossible, and so I moved on.

[perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]There is not a group of churches that will allow you to be independent and retain fellowship with you![/perfectpullquote]

I then searched for those who were truly independent. But I found to my dismay, that such hopes were impossible. I discovered that there is not a group of churches that will allow you to be independently free and retain fellowship with you. The leaders will smear you and their followers will fear you and you will be independently alone.

Although there are many good men in all the above groups; my advice to young pastors is to stay home. Stay out of groups, conventions, and fellowships. Invite into your pulpit those who will help your church. Don’t have men in just because they are “your crowd.” Preach where you are invited, but don’t become ensnared or enamored. There is a subtle addiction that develops here. You will be wined and dined, courted and promoted, so you will do the same for them. If being your own man, pastoring your own church and choosing your own friends forces you out of their nest, so be it. Freedom and independence are great!

PEACOCK PREACHERS

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THE PREACHER OF TITLE

preacherBy Ken Blue

“Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; all is vanity.”

I have observed some repulsive and disgusting behavior in my time, but none is as revolting as the preacher who fancies himself important because of station or position. Some men are intoxicated with their title. They think themselves infallible because they hold an infallible Book. I have witnessed these men as they prance back and forth across the platform like trained show-horses.

[perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]There is no behavior more disgusting and revolting than the preacher who fancies himself important because of station, position or title.[/perfectpullquote]

These preachers are the same when out of the pulpit. They must tell all in the group just where to sit. They seek the chief seat at the table, and they cannot be ignored because of their domineering demeanor and voice. Their vanity and insecurity drives them to dominate every conversation and to answer every discussion before it has left the lips of another. A show of true wisdom would be for them to sit still and be quiet.

The great preacher, Charles G. Finney could identify these pretenders, and he gave advice that preaches and evangelist would do well to heed. Don’t kid yourself; people with discernment can see the vanity.

Finney said, “Take heed that you be not vain. Vanity is a besetting sin of many persons. And scarcely any thing is more disgusting or wicked than vanity in a minister. And it is wonderful to witness the extent to which even ministers sometimes indulge vanity. Their affected pronunciation–their mincing–their gestures–their attitudes–and the whole costume of their services and pulpit address, as well as their manners and habits out of the pulpit, testify to their insufferable vanity. Their egotism and constant efforts in seeking adulation and flattery, in angling for compliments upon their services and talents, all conspire to render them odious and ridiculous in the estimation of thinking men, and of God.” Charles G. Finney.

THE STALLED CHURCH

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REASONS WHY CHURCHES BECOME STALLED

business man making a puzzle isolated over a white background
business man making a puzzle isolated over a white background

By Ken Blue

As Joyce and I traveled from Seattle to Phoenix, we noticed several cars stalled along the interstate. Some had flat tires and the drivers were in the process of installing their spare. On the Grapevine, we saw a car stalled with steam boiling from under the hood; perhaps a blown water hose or a bad water pump was the problem. Another car was being loaded on a wrecker to be hauled away. Of course, we had no way of knowing what all the issues were, but we couldn’t help but notice them as we passed by. For some, the problem was obvious; for others, further investigation would be needed. A few appeared ready for the junkyard.

Several years ago, I arrived at church were some men were working on one of the church buses. They had taken the fuel line and the fuel pump off because gas was not getting to the carburetor. I ask, “Has anyone checked the gas tank?” They looked at each other for a moment; then they inserted a broom handle down the neck of the tank. It came out dry as a bone. They had worked for hours, while overlooking the obvious.

It is not always apparent why churches get stalled, but like the autos along the interstate, you don’t have to travel far before you spot them. It is important that a diagnosis be performed before you start dismantling the fuel lines and or removing carburetors. The question is, what are we apt to find when we search for reasons some churches get stalled?

Some stalled churches can’t be fixed. If enough people become unemployed or a city dries up, the only solution is to dissolve the church and move on.

A church may get stalled because of a split and a number of people leave. In that case, the answer is to pray down God’s blessings, preach sermons that are uplifting, and encourage the remaining members with a new vision of outreach and growth.

If the pastor becomes satisfied with the “status quo,” so will the members. Some pastors are content to have just enough members to pay the bills, while they keep the church just small enough to be a wonderful little family. This is where many churches are stalled today, and it is the sin of complacency that keeps them there. The pastor ought to get fired up about bringing in the lost or he ought to be fired!

[pullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]It is not always apparent why churches get stalled, but like the autos along the interstate, you don’t have to travel far before you spot them.[/pullquote]

Some pastors outstay their usefulness and the church begins to die with them. The pastor, who is up in years, must surround himself with a young staff if he expects the church to have new life and vitality. If the pastor is aged and all the members are senior citizens, the next step is the nursing home. Seniors must be pastored, but young adults should be evangelized. Once your church gets moving again, add a senior citizens ministry.

Sometimes the pastor simply needs to refocus and get a burning vision for outreach. Curtis Hutson said to his sectary, “I’m going to build another church.” She responded in surprise, “Where are you going to build it?” Curtis said he was going to build it right on top of the existing one.

One final cause for a stalled church may be attributed to an insufficient number of staff. Every pastor has a limit as to the number of people he can pastor. Some have suggested that there should be at least one pastoral staff for each 125 people. The pastor should take a serious look and see if a lack staff may be a cause for a lack of progress.

The owner of a stalled auto may not be a mechanic or know how to get the car moving again. but it is his responsibility to either fix it himself or find someone who can help him get it done. The pastor is responsible for the stalled church, and it is his duty to get it moving or find someone who can. There is no excuse to let a church remain in a stalled condition. If your church is stalled, you should set about to do everything you can to discover the problem, and then do everything you can to get it moving again.

BLOATED INFALLIBLE EGOS

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IS THERE AN INFALLIBLE UNDERSTANDING OF SCRIPTURE?

three_blind_miceBy Ken Blue

“And Job answered and said, 2 No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you. 3 But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these?” Job 12:1-3.

Job’s three blind “friends” were confident they knew his motives and possessed knowledge he could not grasp. Of course his answer to them was pure irony, and he meant right the opposite when he said, “No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.” In fact, many of those “friends” are alive and with us today. They assume possession of the Truth is synonymous with understanding the Truth.

These men would rather win an argument than win a soul, and they think the Holy Spirit has guided them into all truth on all subjects. Their delusion leads them to believe Jesus was speaking of them when He told His disciples of future revelations (Scripture) He would give after His departure.

Jesus told His disciples there were many other things they would know, but they could not “bear them now.” “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. 13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. 15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you. John 16:12-15.

[pullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Any pastor, teacher, or evangelist who assumes he has an infallible understanding of Scripture is an egotistical jackass.[/pullquote]

These things were revealed to them by the Spirit and are recorded in the epistles of Peter, James, and John. Additional church epistles were also given to Paul. Certainly, they were not ready for Paul’s writings or John’s Revelation.

Any pastor, teacher, or evangelist who assumes that these words are to him or that he has an infallible understanding of Scripture is an egotistical jackass. Many of the brethren assume they are infallible because they have an infallible Book.

Like Job’s “friends” they are smug in their ability to quote Scripture, but they are fools in understanding and application. They know why Job’s wife and children were dead. They were confident that he had lost it all because of some past sins. They knew his heart and motives and were therefore qualified to pass judgment on him and condemn him. These men are still with us and they know for sure that if you do not agree with them, your heart and motives must be worldly and wrong. We have seen enough of these self-centered Pharisees to know them on sight; and we say to them, in love, “Take a hike!”

THINGS PASTORS FEAR

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HOW FEAR MOLDS OUR PERSONALITY AND CHARACTER

fear

By Ken Blue

We may become so accustom to living with fear, we are unaware it exist. It becomes a way of life, and it molds our character and personality. Although most pastors will deny his fears, excuses and paralysis betray him.

There are several things pastors fear, and among them is the fear of failure. I’ve see many of these young men. They usually mask it with verbosity and an overabundance of confidence. Talk becomes a substitute for action, and appearance a substitute for leadership.

I remember attempting to help one of my grandchildren create a budget and get out of debt. After a few days of inaction on her part, I ask why the delay. She told me that she had failed at everything she did, so why should she take on another project certain to fail. Her previous failures, and her prophecies of the future put her in a straitjacket and kept her in bondage.

Leaders understand that you always fail more than you succeed, but they learn from their failures, and discover the more you try the more successes you will achieve. The homerun king always strikes out more than he hits. However, he also knows if he doesn’t swing the bat, very little will happen. Sad to say, many pastors are afraid to step up to the plate. They fear they will strike out. So, they play it safe and just stand there.

The second fear that paralyzes pastors is the fear of success. You might question this phobia, and be the last to acknowledge its existence, but it is very real. Many pastors fear church growth. Success would mean more responsibility and commitment. Growth would mean change, and others would receive some of the attention enjoyed by the pastor. New babies demand a sharing of the toys.

[pullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Fear can put you in a straitjacket and keep you in bondage.[/pullquote]

Success means that someone else may be able to do things better than the pastor, therefore many refuse to develop people or give important ministries to them. The pastor becomes the bottleneck to growth. You cannot succeed unless you change, and success forces the church to change.

A third fear is that of rejection. Some pastors are more concerned about what other pastors think of them than they are their own congregation. Once pastors form a structured “fellowship” there will always be a battle for leadership. Privileges and accolades will be granted or withheld by the Godfathers. Thus, the pastor fears he might do something to offend those “who seem to be somewhat.” (Gal.2:6).

The solution is to learn all you can about how to pastor your church. If all you are doing is preaching to the choir and reading books by those who are obsessed with “standards” they require of you; you will never overcome your fears. Confidence comes with learning, experience, and trust in the Lord.

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” Proverbs 9:10.