By A. H. Smith
Every two years, in the United States, we vote for our Representatives, and every four years we vote for our President. We live in a Democracy where we choose by majority vote who will lead our country. This is right, and probably the best way man can devise to run our country. This is not, nor ever was meant to be, the way that God intended to run His church.
There is only one head of the Church, that one is Jesus Christ. “And hath our all things under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church,”(Ephesians 1:22). God tells us how to be a part of His church.: “But as many as received him {Jesus}, to then gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12,13).
Now that God has adopted us into His Church, “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry Abba Father”(Romans 8:16), let us see how His church is organized. God places those in His church as it pleases Him. “And he gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ”(Ephesians 4:11,12). Let us never forget that although we live in a democracy, the Church is a theocracy.
Pastors in the Church are placed by God, not by committee, nor by a church council, and especially not by some influential friend. This may work in business and in politics, but never in God’s holy Church. A minister in His Church is called by God. This call is not a vocation or a business, it is truly a call. This call is never determined by how many people in the congregation, nor by how big and pretty the personage is, and most of all, this call must not be based on the financial abilities of the congregation to support the pastor in a luxurious way. Money must not be a criteria by which a minister decides to accept a work. “And as ye go, preach, saying, the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, Frey give. Provide neither gold, nor silver, not brass, in your purses”(Matthew 10:7-9). Do we consider a pastorate on whether it has sufficient funds, or do we have faith in our calling? “But without faith, it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarded of them that diligently seek him”(Hebrews 11:6). Do we really believe? We must ask ourselves, What does God want me to do? Where does God want me to g? What are the needs of His people? If a minister does not love before looking at the salary package, there can be no call. God does not call us according to our financial needs. He says He will supply all our needs. “But my God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus”(Philippians 4:19). If we don’t believe this, maybe we need to reevaluate whether we are truly called as a minister.
In closing, let me remind everyone that all God’s children are called to service and many of the criteria for a pastor may ask be necessary in your given call. Love all, as Christ did. Seek where God would have you to serve. Last, but not the least, so not, and I emphasise, do not allow the dollar signs to dictate your place of service.
After almost forty years in ministry, I have found this to work with God in charge. He has never failed me yet and I never expect Him to. “Be strong and of good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them; for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go before thee, he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee”(Deuteronomy 31:6). God is love and He expects His servants to love with His love, arriving to meet the needs of His children for whom He died. ” For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life”(John 3:16).
- Taken from January 2002 edition of the Way of Truth.