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Let me preface this piece with the statement that if we as ministers of the Gospel don’t hold ourselves accountable, that we threaten our own credibility and are no different than the Pharisees, Scribes and leaders who were pissed off at Jesus for challenging their traditions.

Let me also say this doesn’t apply to ALL preachers, ministers and pastors.

Please read the following post from Facebook that was published by a preacher who happens to hold the office of Pastor.

“PREACHERS...I came up in the old way as an associate minister. We honored and respected our pastor/leader. We didn’t speak unless spoken to, we didn’t come into the office unless invited, we didn’t sit in the pulpit unless asked, we didn’t do anything on program unless we had permission, we didn’t preach anywhere out or in unless we had clearance, we didn’t teach outside unless it was permitted, we held bags, coats, hats, keys, we chauffeured, valeted, ran errands, and we were grateful to do it. We weren’t rogue preachers, but we tried to be respectful and respectable. I believe my preaching career has been further blessed because of it (18 years later and almost 9 years Pastoral). Preachers, if you came up like that drop your witness in the comments…”

This quote was made in the primary context of the historical culture of many Black churches.

It almost sounds like how ‘massa’ treated his ‘house n*****s. Some Pastors perverted ‘Pastor’ into ‘Master’.

Unfortunately, many old school preachers treated their ‘subordinates’ like children. It definitely wasn’t respecting their ‘associate ministers’ as fellow anointed MEN of God, husbands, fathers and fellow laborers with an equal calling and anointing , but different ‘office’.

I, as a young minister, years ago was taught protocol and respect. I had, and have much respect for the Senior Pastor who mentored me then, and for my current Senior Pastor…but I’m thankful to say neither of them EXPECTED me to hold their bag, coat, hat, or keys…they didn’t and don’t expect me to chauffeur them around, to be their valet, run their errands or to SERVE them to that level. In short, they didn’t treat me like a child.

I as a minister, I don’t have that expectation of anyone either.

That is not the servant leadership that Yeshua the Messiah, Jesus the Christ, demands. Remember what He said…

Matthew 20:25-27 (NKJV)

²⁵ But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. ²⁶ Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. ²⁷ And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—

Remember Jesus’s example of the humility He expects of leadership…

John 13:12-17 (NKJV)

¹² So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you ^[a]know what I have done to you? ¹³ You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. ¹⁴ If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. ¹⁵ For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. ¹⁶ Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. ¹⁷ If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

Yes, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob had their riches and servants…

Yes, Joseph of Genesis brothers knelt before him in submission…

Yes, David had his amour bearers and mighty men of valor…

Yes, Elijah had Elisha to serve him…

And yes, I think we should give honor to those who labor in the Gospel. The bible demands that…

1 Timothy 5:17 (NKJV)

¹⁷ Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.

And, yes I think that Pastors should earn their living from the Gospel and be comfortable…

1 Corinthians 9:13-14 (NKJV)

¹³ Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar? ¹⁴ Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.

However, God never intended for leaders to LORD over those whom He has given responsibility, but that we be their servants.

There are some preachers who want to be Abraham, Isaac and Jacob..

There are some preachers who want to be Joseph of Genesis…

There are some preachers who want to be David…

There are some preachers who want to be Elijah….

Some even want to be the temple-table-turning over Jesus…

But, many don’t want to be the ‘feet-washing Jesus’.

And, none of us want to be John the Baptist. I admit that I don’t.

Too many preachers expect to be put on a pedestal and served. They expect other adult men to be their flunkies. This is an example of a culture that’s been established that contradicts the word of God and His expectations. We must not pervert church culture to become little kingdoms where the focus is on the Pastor/Preachers rather than the God we serve.

I really feel that one of the reasons God allowed worship to be placed on PAUSE during the pandemic is so we can examine how we worship and the culture of our churches.

Just as some of our national traditions need to be reexamined, so do some traditions and cultures in our churches.

We can’t ignore God’s protocol to establish our own.

Ministers who aren’t Senior Pastors, remember that everyone isn’t meant to be an Under Shepherd. You may feel frustration sometimes because you don’t get the same level of respect. But, God expects you to be just as effective.

This article may also bless you..5 REASONS I DON’T WANT TO BE CALLED ‘REVEREND’…

BE BLESSTIFIED!

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One of the reasons the establishment wanted to kill Yeshua (Jesus) was because He challenged their traditions…

Matthew 15:1-9 (NKJV)

Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, ² “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.”

³ He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? ⁴ For God commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ ⁵ But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God”— ⁶ then he need not honor his father ^[a]or mother.’ Thus you have made the ^[b]commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. ⁷ Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:

⁸ ‘These people ^[c]draw near to Me with their mouth,
And honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
⁹ And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ 

”Remember that the disciples ‘warned’ Jesus about how He pissed off the Pharisees and leaders by threatening their motivations and traditions…

Matthew:11-13 (NKJV)

¹¹ It is not what enters the mouth that defiles the person, but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles the person.” ¹² Then the disciples came and *said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were ^[a]offended when they heard this statement?” ¹³ But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father did not plant will be uprooted.

As disciples of Christ, it’s our responsibility to apply those biblical examples to contemporary life.

America has many traditions, that are good traditions, but still they are only traditions. Traditions become bad when people’s level of devotion to them go beyond respect to reverence.

Traditions become harmful when one person judges what’s in another person’s heart based on how loyal they are to the tradition rather than the country… the cause… the faith…

It’s then traditions morph into idolatry!

For example…

From Genesis to The Revelation kneeling is an act of humility, both to God and great men or women…

Genesis 42:6 (NLT)

Joseph was the ruler of the land. He was the one who sold grain to all the people of the land. And Joseph’s brothers came and bowed to the ground in front of him.

Philippians 2:10-11 (NKJV)

¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, ¹¹ and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Standing before the American flag is an honorable tradition, but it’s still a tradition. The fact is that there are some people in America that feel standing and placing one’s hand over their heart is an act of worship, and even though they LOVE THE COUNTRY, they would rather not follow the TRADITION… and that must be respected.

The fact is that kneeling before the flag DOES NOT DISRESPECT the flag…it’s an act of humility. It does however threaten a man-made tradition.

Remember this. The ‘fathers’ of this country were great, wise men, but they weren’t ‘holy’. The fact that swearing an oath on the same bible that explicitly forbids swearing oaths is an established tradition that is in direct conflict with the word of God…but instead of immediately stopping it, well-meaning Christians begin looking for reasons to justify the TRADITION.

Matthew 5:33-37 (NKJV)

³³ “Again you have heard that it was said to those of ^[a]old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ ³⁴ But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; ³⁵ nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. ³⁶ Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. ³⁷ But let ^[b]your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.

It proves that many people living today would have sided with the Pharisees.

I’m saying all that to say this…

Just as there more than one PRAYER POSTURE (9 BIBLICALLY PROPER PRAYER POSTURES/POSITIONS…) there’s more than one posture of respect and humility.

It’s arrogant for one to determine someone else’s patriotism or loyalty because they choose a posture other than the ‘tradition’, even if it’s to draw attention to a cause they feel is important.

Even the Boston Tea Party, which is revered as a heroic act of patriotism was really an act of vandalism that was meant to be blamed on Native Americans. It’s all about the narrative. One can’t celebrate that act while vilifying a contemporary apples-to-apples comparison.

Patriotism isn’t determined by POSTURE!

Watch the comments, someone is going to question my patriotism because I felt led to write this piece.

YAH bless America in the name of Yeshua the Messiah!

BE BLESSTIFIED!

I have to admit I love the convenience of bible apps. They offer quick access to various translations and study tools. It’s so easy to pull out my smartphone throughout the day and get encouragement, instruction, comfort, guidance and revelation throughout the day. Sometimes if I’m in a stressful or contentious meeting, I will open a bible app to help my mind stay focused and to help me remain in the integrity and character of God.

There are some pastors who don’t like that convenience and accessibility in worship service. They like the personal discipline of bringing a bound bible to church. Sometimes they feel having cell phones and tablets out during worship service is a distraction. Some feel that people are texting or surfing the web during service. Some pastors are concerned with what would we do if technology fails (in case they can’t get a signal). Some pastors have a personal preference to hear pages turning.

I by no means think that bible apps should replace bound bibles, however I do think they are an excellent use of technology, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with using them in worship service.

The words in an electronic medium are no different from the words on a paper medium. They are no different than the words were on a parchment or papyrus medium. God’s words on your smart phone or tablet are no different than they were on a scroll or carved in stone. Whether the words were carved, written with a quill or typed…it’s still the word of God.

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The word is the word, no matter where it’s recorded or who it was written.

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I just want to remind those pastors who forbid bible apps in the worship services they oversee that…

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Bound bibles were once technology too.

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I wonder how many religious leaders complained about the use of scrolls instead of stone tablets. I wonder if how many religious leaders complained about the use of bound bibles after years of using scrolls.

Tablets of stone, parchment scrolls and sheets of papyrus mediums were examples utilizing the latest technology to provide newer and better options to record, share, read and study God’s word.

As I said, I by no means think that electronic bibles should by no means replace bound bibles…I have several, and there is no guarantee that the technology we enjoy today will last until Jesus returns.

Yes I feel pastors have a valid concern that there may not be a data signal available and the bible app may not work. So, I encourage everyone to have a bound bible on hand in worship service. As far as the distraction of a wandering mind texting or surfing is no different from a wondering mind doodling on a piece of paper, or figuring their bills or planning their meal after church.

I do want to encourage all pastors to allow their members feel comfortable using their various bible apps in worship service. From electricity to climate control to computers to the transportation we use to get to worship…technology has its place in church. Many churches have even embraced streaming their services live to make their worship available to the word without the cost of being on television.

So, pastors, please let them pull out their phones. What really matters is that everyone has access to the same word of God.

Remember, that God has spoken to His people in VARIOUS WAYS, yet His word remains the same…

Hebrews 1:1 (NKJV)

God, who at various times and IN VARIOUS WAYS spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,

BE BLESSTIFIED!

 

 

 

 

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Standing in the hot sun or cold winter air with a sign in your hand isn’t easy. The fact is that it can be humiliating begging others for help — it’s hard work! If I learned one thing from my experience doing homeless ministry is that many of the people on the street never thought they wold be there.

Many of those people had careers and families…then life happened. Others are mentally ill. And the fact always remains that it could happen to any of us.

Remember this…

Luke 16:19-21

19 “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. 20 But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, 21 desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table.

The beggar Lazarus – He probably got on people’s nerves just as beggars do today. People probably questioned how he lived and his choices. People probably wondered why his family didn’t help him.  They most likely made excuses and justified ignoring him when Jesus clearly said, Give to them who ask and don’t turn them away… 

Matthew 5:42 (NKJV)

42 Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.

Jesus also told us to give looking for nothing in return…

Luke 6:35New King James Version (NKJV)

35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.

We all run into Lazarus today…at the gas station…on the street…asking you for spare change…the crumbs that fall from your table. What is your reaction? Do you react as the rich man did and turn them ALL away? 

Jesus knows there are scammers and liars. He knows there are those who will use what you give them on things they don’t need. He knows there are  those who will try to take advantage of your kindness. Many people refuse to give money to people who beg because they’re afraid they will use it on alcohol, drugs, cigarettes or will waste it on something wicked. I feel that’s one application of the scripture…”And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold”(Matthew 24:12), because so many people can’t be trusted, the love that many people would ordinarily show has grown cold and withheld. We must therefore not withhold God’s love, but share it with wisdom.

If someone who’s begging is lying, that’s between them and God. God expects us to be obedient, compassionate, wise and plant seeds of His love. Purchase a meal for them. Buy them medicine. Pay for them to have shelter for a night or two, while letting them know that you are sharing the love of God. All it takes is the ‘crumbs that fall from your table’. Sacrifice the cost of a lunch, coffee for a week, sodas…whatever it is that you don’t necessarily need to help someone who begs from you.  I guarantee you won’t give away enough to break your, but you can hold on to enough to do so. Some times God places these people in our paths for a reason…so they can have an encounter with Him through us. So you can ask them if they have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. So we can be the answer to their prayer to God for help. You can be someone’s confirmation that God hasn’t forgotten them. You could plant a seed in someone who witnesses your act of kindness….God always has a purpose for every encounter.

Remember that  God warned us about turning away those who ask of us….be careful when you do because many times, just as in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus…Christians and the church are the RICH MAN.

BE BLESSTIFIED!