Two views of ministry

There are two radically contrasting views of ministry. One is articulated by the Apostle Paul: "I want it made clear that I've never gotten anything out of this for myself ... You don't even have to pay my expenses!”

I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized, whoever. I didn't take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ — but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I've become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life" (I Cor 9:15,16,18-22, The Message).

The other is expressed in the Book of Ezekiel: "God's Message came to me: 'Son of man, prophesy against the shepherd-leaders of Israel. Yes, prophesy! Tell those shepherds, "God, the Master, says: Doom to you shepherds of Israel, feeding your own mouths! Aren't shepherds supposed to feed sheep? You drink the milk, you make clothes from the wool, you roast the lambs, but you don't feed the sheep. You don't build up the weak ones, don't heal the sick, don't doctor the injured, don't go after the strays, don't look for the lost. You bully and badger them. And now they're scattered every which way because there was no shepherd — scattered and easy pickings for wolves and coyotes. Scattered — my sheep! — exposed and vulnerable across mountains and hills" (Eze 34:1-6, The Message).

One type of ministry is selfless, sacrificial, and directed toward the good of the people. The other is grasping, abusive, and directed toward fulfilling the needs of the leaders. One is a ministry of giving, the other a ministry of taking.

In the last few weeks, the leadership of an Atlanta megachurch, once numbering 12,000 members, has come under intense fire in the press and in the media. Accusations have been flying about a pattern of sexual abuse involving a number of women and even children. The rumors have been circulating about such alleged activity for years. Now, women close to the leadership have come out with allegations of spiritual abuse, misuse of pastoral authority, and numerous sexual liaisons involving some pastors and both married and single women.

All professions have a few bad eggs in the bunch. There are corrupt cops, pedophile schoolteachers, and crooked lawyers. There aren't many but there are some. And, although the vast majority of pastors and priests are godly, selfless, and caring people, there are some predators in the pulpit. Like their counterparts in the wild, these predators have an uncanny ability to view the herd (or congregation) and spot the weak, the wounded, the vulnerable, and the helpless. When true pastors see these individuals, their instinct is to rescue, protect, and heal. The predatory pastor's instinct is to move in and satisfy his hungers by taking what he desires.

Often, these predators are charismatic, dynamic individuals. They are often self-assured, exude confidence, and portray themselves as occupying a "special" ministry or they may have a "special" message entrusted to them by God. They seem to have many gifts and appear to be "anointed." They teach and preach about spiritual authority, especially their own authority, and anyone who dares to challenge them is "touching God's anointed." When challenged, they may accuse their accusers of "being used of the devil" and may shout that they are the victims of "persecution." They may make use of "directive prophecy" in which they assure an individual that "God spoke to them" about the person, assuring the confused but trusting church member that God approves of sexual activity between the pastor and the church member.

Many people who have never been under the influence of a cult-like leader or a predatory pastor will wonder aloud how thinking people can listen to such men. But those who have once been ensnared in, and have been fortunate to come out of, such an environment understand all too well the devious and diabolical influence of such people. Sooner or later, however, the rottenness gets to the point that the stink of the corruption can no longer be covered up.

In the secular world, when fathers seduce or otherwise sexually molest their children, it is a crime called incest. In the church, when pastors and priests involve themselves sexually with parishioners, it is still incest and it is a spiritual crime.

While some predator pastors seek to be satisfied sexually at the expense of the sheep, other predators go after money or fame and recognition. How does one distinguish a godly ministry from a predatory ministry? It's really quite simple. Is the goal of the ministry to give or to take. Is the ministry conducted for the benefit of the sheep or is everything directed toward the shepherd? The predator takes what he wants without regard to the hurt he causes. The true pastor understands the ministry of Christ as a giving, other-oriented ministry. "This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life" (John 3:16, The Message).