View Full Version : The Skewed Priorities of Some Modern Evangelists
Charnock
04-12-2011, 09:24 AM
Over the years I've heard a lot of people snicker about Lee Stoneking's marital status. He has never married, and this bothers a lot of people. There seems to be an unwritten rule that modern evangelists need to have trophy wives.
However, I am connected to a boatload of evangelists, missionaries and pastors via Facebook, and through years of friendships, and have noticed a distrurbing trend. That trend involves the minister traveling without his wife for weeks and months at a time.
I cannot believe that is healthy. I do not believe doing the work of ministry supersedes, or precludes, the work of fatherhood and husbandry.
For emphasis:
This is Marty Ballestero's blog bio:
"I'm an Evangelist. I miss my beautiful wife every day I'm away from her. Even after preaching 934 revivals, 339 Conferences & 63 Camps... it doesn't get easier being apart. If she lives to be a 100, I want to live to be a 100 minus 1 day, so I never have to live without her."
I guess I don't get it. If you don't want to live a day without her either take her with you, or find a way to minister closer to home. Seems simple to me.
Also, I recently watched a sermon of GG preaching at an Ohio District camp in which he mentioned that he hated being away from his wife so much, but had to do so because of his call. That his son had a problem with him being away so much, and was backslidden, but he (GG) had to be out preaching the gospel.
I suppose I don't get it. In my mind there's nothing more important than family and God. Ministry is secondary to those things.
OnTheFritz
04-12-2011, 09:35 AM
Over the years I've heard a lot of people snicker about Lee Stoneking's marital status. He has never married, and this bothers a lot of people. There seems to be an unwritten rule that modern evangelists need to have trophy wives.
However, I am connected to a boatload of evangelists, missionaries and pastors via Facebook, and through years of friendships, and have noticed a distrurbing trend. That trend involves the minister traveling without his wife for weeks and months at a time.
I cannot believe that is healthy. I do not believe doing the work of ministry supersedes, or precludes, the work of fatherhood and husbandry.
For emphasis:
This is Marty Ballestero's blog bio:
"I'm an Evangelist. I miss my beautiful wife every day I'm away from her. Even after preaching 934 revivals, 339 Conferences & 63 Camps... it doesn't get easier being apart. If she lives to be a 100, I want to live to be a 100 minus 1 day, so I never have to live without her."
I guess I don't get it. If you don't want to live a day without her either take her with you, or find a way to minister closer to home. Seems simple to me.
Also, I recently watched a sermon of GG preaching at an Ohio District camp in which he mentioned that he hated being away from his wife so much, but had to do so because of his call. That his son had a problem with him being away so much, and was backslidden, but he (GG) had to be out preaching the gospel.
I suppose I don't get it. In my mind there's nothing more important than family and God. Ministry is secondary to those things.
I absolutely agree. Great thoughts.
The Lemon
04-12-2011, 09:56 AM
Alot of the issues concerning priorities are generally passed down, either from parent, grand parent, or in some cases it is learned through the ministry practices of someone else. The issue, like issues of some convictions, are learned behaviors and therefore they are adopted and claimed to be ones own priorities and convictions, when in some cases neither are true.
In my 18yrs in OP / UPC, I have never heard much teaching or preaching on the importance of family, but I have heard alot about the "call", and how everything is secondary to the call. In my life, I would say that the call is closely linked with performance. when you are performance driven, duty will always trump relationship - this is true of the family, and if not corrected, can be true of ones relationship to Christ.
The other sad fact is that there is not enough teaching on the love of God and grace, but again, these issues become side issues when there is a huge emphasis on performance. I believe we should be full of good works, but there does need to be a balance, and most people don't even bother to evaluate there lives in respect to balance.
I still think much of the "monster" that has been created has been so by tradition and expectation of others. The people that think and act outside of the box are usually black listed and wrote off as charasmatic or relevant. Misery must love company! I remember hearing Hulk Hogan answer a question about success and he said, "Say your prayers, eat your vitamins, and exercise" it sounds obsurd, but if folks would love there families, and if husbands and wives submitted to each other in love, I think the church would be a happier place and alot of the clammoring would cease.
It's not about the building, the trappings, the calendars, the fund raisers, and programs...ITS ABOUT JESUS, LOVING HIM, LOVING EACH OTHER. Some people go to church, while others are busy being the church...
In 1 Corinthians chapter 7 the Apostle Paul speaks about how a married person needs to please his/her spouse but a single/celibate person needs to please his/her spouse. A spouse, home, and family with the obligations which come with them can be a distraction and a hindrance in serving God.
Paul also said that if someone does not provide for his own (family), that person has denied the faith and is worse than an infidel. I personally do not think he was speaking only of financial provision. As husbands and fathers we have certain obligations to our family and failure to meet those obligations is failure to meet God-given obligations.
MissBrattified
04-12-2011, 10:49 AM
IMO, the life of the travelling evangelist is not conducive to a stable family life, and an evangelist is better off if he remains single. However, IF he is married I firmly believe his family should travel with him. As much as possible, anyway. It's for his protection (speaking of his reputation and spiritual/emotional state) and it's for the protection of his family, as far as providing some cohesion and stability.
There are too many evangelists who have strayed while on the evangelistic field, and too many wives who have stayed home and became lonely...or bored. Ideally, yes--they could all be apart and remain pure, holy and devoted to one another. And that CAN BE and HAS BEEN done; but it isn't the most practical or wise way to protect a marriage.
Evangelists should either be single and/or travel with their families. If they can't orchestrate whatever is needed to travel with their families, I think they should stay home and take care of their families. That's a higher priority than preaching.
Regarding LS: I don't think his simply being single has anything at all to do with the snickers.
Hoovie
04-12-2011, 10:49 AM
Very good thoughts Charnock. I totally agree. It should be the exception and not the norm when husband and wife don't travel together.
RandyWayne
04-12-2011, 12:06 PM
Well, they say that the road is no place to start a family....
Sister Alvear
04-12-2011, 12:07 PM
Very good thoughts Charnock. I totally agree. It should be the exception and not the norm when husband and wife don't travel together.
agreed...and the longer I LIVE and the more I SEE I agree more so...
A married man has a responsibility first to his home and family...not running off to preach revivals and whatever just because he can preach...no matter how much in demand he is if he cannot be an example of the WORD no use to preach the word...and of course I am not talking of a once in a while thing...a have too situation but am speaking in general terms.
I personally know so many disasters that have happened...and see soon to be disasters ...it grieves me...
Sister Alvear
04-12-2011, 12:10 PM
and my post is NOT DIRECTED IN ANY WAY TO Marty Ballestero ...IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER NOT TO MENTION NAMES...JUST SITUATIONS...
RandyWayne
04-12-2011, 12:12 PM
Alot of the issues concerning priorities are generally passed down, either from parent, grand parent, or in some cases it is learned through the ministry practices of someone else. The issue, like issues of some convictions, are learned behaviors and therefore they are adopted and claimed to be ones own priorities and convictions, when in some cases neither are true.
In my 18yrs in OP / UPC, I have never heard much teaching or preaching on the importance of family, but I have heard alot about the "call", and how everything is secondary to the call. In my life, I would say that the call is closely linked with performance. when you are performance driven, duty will always trump relationship - this is true of the family, and if not corrected, can be true of ones relationship to Christ.
The other sad fact is that there is not enough teaching on the love of God and grace, but again, these issues become side issues when there is a huge emphasis on performance. I believe we should be full of good works, but there does need to be a balance, and most people don't even bother to evaluate there lives in respect to balance.
I still think much of the "monster" that has been created has been so by tradition and expectation of others. The people that think and act outside of the box are usually black listed and wrote off as charasmatic or relevant. Misery must love company! I remember hearing Hulk Hogan answer a question about success and he said, "Say your prayers, eat your vitamins, and exercise" it sounds obsurd, but if folks would love there families, and if husbands and wives submitted to each other in love, I think the church would be a happier place and alot of the clammoring would cease.
It's not about the building, the trappings, the calendars, the fund raisers, and programs...ITS ABOUT JESUS, LOVING HIM, LOVING EACH OTHER. Some people go to church, while others are busy being the church...
Good post. When it comes to priorities I have found that the church service itself takes precedent over the family far more than it should. When pressed people will say "but the church is my family!".
Charnock
04-12-2011, 12:14 PM
and my post is NOT DIRECTED IN ANY WAY TO Marty Ballestero ...IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER NOT TO MENTION NAMES...JUST SITUATIONS...
His bio is public domain. Sorry, but a spade is a spade.
Jason B
04-12-2011, 12:24 PM
I agree 100% with the opening post.
mfblume
04-12-2011, 12:27 PM
In my mind there's nothing more important than family and God. Ministry is secondary to those things.
Amen!
Charnock
04-12-2011, 12:37 PM
A lot of the issues concerning priorities are generally passed down, either from parent, grand parent, or in some cases it is learned through the ministry practices of someone else. The issue, like issues of some convictions, are learned behaviors and therefore they are adopted and claimed to be ones own priorities and convictions, when in some cases neither are true.
In my 18yrs in OP / UPC, I have never heard much teaching or preaching on the importance of family, but I have heard a lot about the "call", and how everything is secondary to the call. In my life, I would say that the call is closely linked with performance. when you are performance driven, duty will always trump relationship - this is true of the family, and if not corrected, can be true of ones relationship to Christ.
The other sad fact is that there is not enough teaching on the love of God and grace, but again, these issues become side issues when there is a huge emphasis on performance. I believe we should be full of good works, but there does need to be a balance, and most people don't even bother to evaluate there lives in respect to balance.
I still think much of the "monster" that has been created has been so by tradition and expectation of others. The people that think and act outside of the box are usually black listed and wrote off as charismatic or relevant. Misery must love company! I remember hearing Hulk Hogan answer a question about success and he said, "Say your prayers, eat your vitamins, and exercise" it sounds absurd, but if folks would love there families, and if husbands and wives submitted to each other in love, I think the church would be a happier place and a lot of the clammoring would cease.
It's not about the building, the trappings, the calendars, the fund raisers, and programs...ITS ABOUT JESUS, LOVING HIM, LOVING EACH OTHER. Some people go to church, while others are busy being the church...
I do agree. It's a weird mutation in our spiritual DNA.
I believe a couple of reasons the house church and small groups have never really taken hold in the movement is because there's no visible evidence (buildings) to brag about with that model, and that house church doesn't lend itself to the traditional model of the screaming preacher.
Praxeas
04-12-2011, 01:56 PM
Over the years I've heard a lot of people snicker about Lee Stoneking's marital status. He has never married, and this bothers a lot of people. There seems to be an unwritten rule that modern evangelists need to have trophy wives.
However, I am connected to a boatload of evangelists, missionaries and pastors via Facebook, and through years of friendships, and have noticed a distrurbing trend. That trend involves the minister traveling without his wife for weeks and months at a time.
I cannot believe that is healthy. I do not believe doing the work of ministry supersedes, or precludes, the work of fatherhood and husbandry.
For emphasis:
This is Marty Ballestero's blog bio:
"I'm an Evangelist. I miss my beautiful wife every day I'm away from her. Even after preaching 934 revivals, 339 Conferences & 63 Camps... it doesn't get easier being apart. If she lives to be a 100, I want to live to be a 100 minus 1 day, so I never have to live without her."
I guess I don't get it. If you don't want to live a day without her either take her with you, or find a way to minister closer to home. Seems simple to me.
Also, I recently watched a sermon of GG preaching at an Ohio District camp in which he mentioned that he hated being away from his wife so much, but had to do so because of his call. That his son had a problem with him being away so much, and was backslidden, but he (GG) had to be out preaching the gospel.
I suppose I don't get it. In my mind there's nothing more important than family and God. Ministry is secondary to those things.
I seriously wonder if an evangelist in the bible is what we have today in career evangelists that go from church to church and do what the pastor or local preachers could not do...huh?
Sister Alvear
04-12-2011, 02:16 PM
His bio is public domain. Sorry, but a spade is a spade.
yes, I know just did not want any one to think I WAS TARGETING B..
Jason B
04-12-2011, 03:49 PM
I do agree. It's a weird mutation in our spiritual DNA.
I believe a couple of reasons the house church and small groups have never really taken hold in the movement is because there's no visible evidence (buildings) to brag about with that model, and that house church doesn't lend itself to the traditional model of the screaming preacher.screaming is often a substitute for substance.
Jason B
04-12-2011, 03:57 PM
It seemed a little vain that the brother posted the exact number 934, 339, 63. Reminds me of the back of a baseball card.
Praxeas
04-12-2011, 03:59 PM
Like I said, career evangelists. They have resumes
Timmy
04-12-2011, 05:37 PM
I wonder, do some of them think they are literally fulfilling Matthew 19:29?
And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
houston
04-12-2011, 06:23 PM
well, duh.
papapraiz
04-12-2011, 08:54 PM
His bio is public domain. Sorry, but a spade is a spade.
I understand your point - but this is what I know ...
MJB would love nothing better than to be able to take his wife with him everywhere he goes to preach. He is 67 years old and derives his income exclusively from preaching the gospel. He is an old fashioned evangelist and preaches where he is invited ... many churches do not offer to pay for the wife to travel as well.
They own a small home in Michigan - his wife stays there often because several health have made it difficult to travel with him all the time.
All of thier kids are married and living in other states and also involved in the ministry.
papapraiz
04-12-2011, 08:55 PM
sorry ... several health issues have made it difficult to travel with him all the time.
Timmy
04-12-2011, 10:01 PM
well, duh.
;)
If that's a reply to me, then, well, are they wrong?
crakjak
04-12-2011, 10:44 PM
IMO, the life of the travelling evangelist is not conducive to a stable family life, and an evangelist is better off if he remains single. However, IF he is married I firmly believe his family should travel with him. As much as possible, anyway. It's for his protection (speaking of his reputation and spiritual/emotional state) and it's for the protection of his family, as far as providing some cohesion and stability.
There are too many evangelists who have strayed while on the evangelistic field, and too many wives who have stayed home and became lonely...or bored. Ideally, yes--they could all be apart and remain pure, holy and devoted to one another. And that CAN BE and HAS BEEN done; but it isn't the most practical or wise way to protect a marriage.
Evangelists should either be single and/or travel with their families. If they can't orchestrate whatever is needed to travel with their families, I think they should stay home and take care of their families. That's a higher priority than preaching.
Regarding LS: I don't think his simply being single has anything at all to do with the snickers.
Very good, Miss B, however, the single man traveling alone has many temptations ,as well, that would be avoided if he were married.
houston
04-12-2011, 11:17 PM
;)
If that's a reply to me, then, well, are they wrong?
No.
Jimmyjay
04-13-2011, 02:41 AM
In 1 Corinthians chapter 7 the Apostle Paul speaks about how a married person needs to please his/her spouse but a single/celibate person needs to please his/her spouse. A spouse, home, and family with the obligations which come with them can be a distraction and a hindrance in serving God.
Paul also said that if someone does not provide for his own (family), that person has denied the faith and is worse than an infidel. I personally do not think he was speaking only of financial provision. As husbands and fathers we have certain obligations to our family and failure to meet those obligations is failure to meet God-given obligations.
HUMMMM? How much more, God's blessing.:happydance
MissBrattified
04-13-2011, 08:23 AM
Very good, Miss B, however, the single man traveling alone has many temptations ,as well, that would be avoided if he were married.
True, but at least he isn't neglecting his family as he travels.
MissBrattified
04-13-2011, 08:26 AM
I understand your point - but this is what I know ...
MJB would love nothing better than to be able to take his wife with him everywhere he goes to preach. He is 67 years old and derives his income exclusively from preaching the gospel. He is an old fashioned evangelist and preaches where he is invited ... many churches do not offer to pay for the wife to travel as well.
They own a small home in Michigan - his wife stays there often because several health have made it difficult to travel with him all the time.
All of thier kids are married and living in other states and also involved in the ministry.
I'm thinking that older men can get by with this more than younger men. I don't think it's *wrong* or necessarily *sinful* to leave your family home, and I understand that there are unique circumstances; I just don't think it's ideal. Especially if you are a younger married couple, and/or you have children in the home.
AncientPaths
04-13-2011, 08:44 AM
Very good, Miss B, however, the single man traveling alone has many temptations ,as well, that would be avoided if he were married.
Thank goodness all temptation ceases when you're married ;)
Timmy
04-13-2011, 08:50 AM
No.
OK. So traveling evangelists are forsaking wives, and will be rewarded for that with eternal life? Interesting.
RandyWayne
04-13-2011, 09:24 AM
Thank goodness all temptation ceases when you're married ;)
Absolutely!
After all, why feel the need to look at THIS......
http://apostolicfriendsforum.com/picture.php?albumid=225&pictureid=1034
When you have THIS waiting at home! :)
http://apostolicfriendsforum.com/picture.php?albumid=225&pictureid=1033
rgcraig
04-13-2011, 09:43 AM
Thank goodness all temptation ceases when you're married ;)
OK. So traveling evangelists are forsaking wives, and will be rewarded for that with eternal life? Interesting.
Absolutely!
After all, why feel the need to look at THIS......
http://apostolicfriendsforum.com/picture.php?albumid=225&pictureid=1034
When you have THIS waiting at home! :)
http://apostolicfriendsforum.com/picture.php?albumid=225&pictureid=1033
:hanky
:woot
:clap
crakjak
04-13-2011, 10:07 AM
Thank goodness all temptation ceases when you're married ;)
I didn't say that, and of course it is not true, but marriage does temper the temptation a great deal. Makes it possible to do as Paul said, "...I keep my body under...." Men with understanding, know that the price of acting on temptation is NOT worth the "pleasure for a moment". Especially when ones marriage is agreeable. Wise men can acknowledge beauty and the handiwork of the Lord in creating women, but yet be constrained by understanding.
Sex is wonderful and extremely satisfying in context, but can be a terrible taskmaster, and if not kept in proper bounds is insatiable.
crakjak
04-13-2011, 10:08 AM
Absolutely!
After all, why feel the need to look at THIS......
http://apostolicfriendsforum.com/picture.php?albumid=225&pictureid=1034
When you have THIS waiting at home! :)
http://apostolicfriendsforum.com/picture.php?albumid=225&pictureid=1033
Randy you are soooo bad!!! What did you do to infuriate your wife like that????
RandyWayne
04-13-2011, 10:30 AM
Randy you are soooo bad!!! What did you do to infuriate your wife like that????
I would post a picture of her but then some would get upset about the bikini she was wearing.
Very good, Miss B, however, the single man traveling alone has many temptations ,as well, that would be avoided if he were married.
Well, you've heard of the sailor with a girl in every port,
the traveling evangelist could have a girl in every city.....
RandyWayne
04-13-2011, 08:19 PM
Well, you've heard of the sailor with a girl in every port,
the traveling evangelist could have a girl in every city.....
Rodgers and Hammerstein could probably make a musical about the evangelist who has a dame in ever town.
http://apostolicfriendsforum.com/picture.php?albumid=225&pictureid=1035
Jason B
04-18-2011, 12:52 PM
IMO, the life of the travelling evangelist is not conducive to a stable family life, and an evangelist is better off if he remains single. However, IF he is married I firmly believe his family should travel with him. As much as possible, anyway. It's for his protection (speaking of his reputation and spiritual/emotional state) and it's for the protection of his family, as far as providing some cohesion and stability.
There are too many evangelists who have strayed while on the evangelistic field, and too many wives who have stayed home and became lonely...or bored. Ideally, yes--they could all be apart and remain pure, holy and devoted to one another. And that CAN BE and HAS BEEN done; but it isn't the most practical or wise way to protect a marriage.
Evangelists should either be single and/or travel with their families. If they can't orchestrate whatever is needed to travel with their families, I think they should stay home and take care of their families. That's a higher priority than preaching.
Regarding LS: I don't think his simply being single has anything at all to do with the snickers.
An interesting take on this issue, based on 1 Corinthians 8:
So Paul is saying, "As an apostle, I have liberty. I have the right to ask for food and drink." That would be daily necessities, sustenance. "I even have the right to ask you to support my wife." Isn't it interesting in verse 5 that he says to take a sister as a wife? And what he means by sister is a Christian sister. There was never any other conception in the mind of a Christian in the early church. If a Christ was gonna marry, he would marry only a what? A Christian sister. I mean there wasn't any other thought. There would never be a mixed marriage, a marriage between a believer and an unbeliever. That was foreign to them. In...in chapter 7:39 says the same thing. "Marry only in the Lord."
So he says, "If I wanna take a Christian sister along with me, you should be able to support that sister, as well." And I think what you have there is a verse that affirms the right of a minister to have an unemployed wife. That's practical, isn't it? I mean that's not up there in the foggy theological area. That's just saying, "Pay the preacher so that his wife doesn't need to work." Doesn't need to have employment. That's a tremendous truth. So many churches, I don't think, see the vision of that, and instead of paying the man of God so that he may support his whole family, they expect the wife to work when the Bible says he has a right to ask support even for the Christian sister he's taken as his wife. Not only to support her, but to take her along with him; and you know something? The apostles apparently took their wives. The other apostles, the brothers of our Lord who would be James and...and Jude and other brothers of Jesus Christ, half-brothers, of course, children of Mary and Joseph, but not of virgin birth as Jesus was. And Peter...Peter took his wife along with him. I...you ever know Peter had a wife? Sure, he did. His mother-in-law got sick, so if you got a mother-in-law, you got a wife...I'd like to meet Mrs. Peter. She must have been some lady...must be...she must be the living example of patience.
But, anyway, Paul says, "You know, the other apostles are taking their wives with 'em," and that's super. You know, I think the church has the responsibility to recognize this, even with missionaries, with anybody. You know, I feel like so many times someone will ask me to speak someplace, and they'll say, "You know, we want you to fly, for example, to Cleveland, Ohio, and there's a tremendous opportunity for a Bible conference here, and we'd like you to come, and we'd like to bring your wife as our guest, as well." You know, I really appreciate that, because me and my wife are one flesh, you know? And when she's with me, I'm a lot better off. I really am. I'm happier, easier to get along with. I can concentrate better on what I'm doing in ministry, and she can be supportive of me, and we share our life together, and that's an important thing.
And I feel, as a church, when we ask someone to come and speak here, it would be the thing to do to say, "Would you like to bring your wife? We'd be more than happy to support the coming of your wife so she could share these days with you." It's a question of generosity. It's a question of having the right attitude, and when somebody has asked us for support for some ministry or some mission or something, it oughta be with that kind of generosity and concern that, not only his needs are met, but those of his wife, so that they may minister together. I think a reason that you have divorces among people even in the ministry so many times is because you got one of 'em running around all over the place, never paying any attention to the other. And I don't think it's a question always of counseling. It may be a question of dollars so that the wife could go along.
source:http://www.gty.org/Resources/Sermons/1835_Supporting-the-Man-of-God
Charnock
09-27-2011, 09:18 AM
Over the years I've heard a lot of people snicker about Lee Stoneking's marital status. He has never married, and this bothers a lot of people. There seems to be an unwritten rule that modern evangelists need to have trophy wives.
However, I am connected to a boatload of evangelists, missionaries and pastors via Facebook, and through years of friendships, and have noticed a distrurbing trend. That trend involves the minister traveling without his wife for weeks and months at a time.
I cannot believe that is healthy. I do not believe doing the work of ministry supersedes, or precludes, the work of fatherhood and husbandry.
For emphasis:
This is Marty Ballestero's blog bio:
"I'm an Evangelist. I miss my beautiful wife every day I'm away from her. Even after preaching 934 revivals, 339 Conferences & 63 Camps... it doesn't get easier being apart. If she lives to be a 100, I want to live to be a 100 minus 1 day, so I never have to live without her."
I guess I don't get it. If you don't want to live a day without her either take her with you, or find a way to minister closer to home. Seems simple to me.
Also, I recently watched a sermon of GG preaching at an Ohio District camp in which he mentioned that he hated being away from his wife so much, but had to do so because of his call. That his son had a problem with him being away so much, and was backslidden, but he (GG) had to be out preaching the gospel.
I suppose I don't get it. In my mind there's nothing more important than family and God. Ministry is secondary to those things.
Bump
The Lemon
09-27-2011, 01:27 PM
I can honestly say..in my opinion, family first not ministry. I am not really concerned what anyone thinks of that order of priorities, it is my order. My opinion is strong for a multiple amount of reasons.
I have seen ministers who were active for over 25 years loose there family, their mind, and their home..for the "call" I have seen church families destroyed over "sacrificial" giving. There is so much unbalance and way too much responsibility laid at Jesus' feet over the great commission. There are certainly times for sacrifice, and yes I believe God sends families to areas to start churches etc, but in all that it is still our responsibility to balance our lives and take care of the family.
Sometimes the "call" is not totally directed by the Holy Ghost. Sometimes people put themselves in better positions for greater opportunity..in some ways it is no different then climbing the corporate ladder - except God gets the responsibility..after all He called me to to do it!
I have heard some of the most consecrated and annointed preachers, who after 20 -30 years of ministry make this statement..."If I had it to do all over again..I would spend more time with my family" Can you even imagine that kind of a statement coming from someone who has been clearly annointed by God to preach? It is profound to say the least.
pelathais
09-27-2011, 02:49 PM
Protecting my family was the paramount thing on my mind when I handed in my card. The church leadership was even trying to drive a wedge between my wife and myself. In retrospect, I think that was calculated. They knew how protective I'd be.
UnTraditional
09-27-2011, 04:01 PM
If a man is truly following after the call of God on His life, would it not be first represented at home as well as in churches. JMHO.
pelathais
09-27-2011, 05:49 PM
If a man is truly following after the call of God on His life, would it not be first represented at home as well as in churches. JMHO.
If he really cared about his local church, the pastor/evangelist would meet up with his secretary on the road just to ...
... who am I kidding? There's nothing funny about this. I'm still dismayed that my entire ministry in the UPC came down to my Presbyter's desire to get another man laid.
... I gotta bail out for now. Y'all behave.
MissBrattified
09-27-2011, 05:53 PM
If he really cared about his local church, the pastor/evangelist would meet up with his secretary on the road just to ...
... who am I kidding? There's nothing funny about this. I'm still dismayed that my entire ministry in the UPC came down to my Presbyter's desire to get another man laid.
... I gotta bail out for now. Y'all behave.
:blink
Cliffhanger, anyone? :heeheehee
Very good thread. I just wish CharnRockNRoll had not identified the authors of the quotes he used. Now any comment made seems to be a personal attack against these men when really it is the situation being discussed and not individuals.
I found it disheartening that the Preacher's quoted perspective was that although they knew it was having very negative effects on their family they felt preaching away and leaving their family alone was something they had to do. Very surprising. I thought there was a lot more wisdom in this area in the UPC than when I was young. Perhaps I was wrong. Hopefully these two guys are the exception and not the rule.
Charnock
09-27-2011, 06:52 PM
Very good thread. I just wish CharnRockNRoll had not identified the authors of the quotes he used. Now any comment made seems to be a personal attack against these men when really it is the situation being discussed and not individuals.
I found it disheartening that the Preacher's quoted perspective was that although they knew it was having very negative effects on their family they felt preaching away and leaving their family alone was something they had to do. Very surprising. I thought there was a lot more wisdom in this area in the UPC than when I was young. Perhaps I was wrong. Hopefully these two guys are the exception and not the rule.
Their statements were very public, and they seemed to relish their martyrdom.
Sorry if I'm not sympathetic.
Sherri
09-27-2011, 09:21 PM
I just don't believe that God can bless disorder in any arena. A family being split up is out of order.
I heard Benny Hinn's wife talk several years ago about how their family had suffered because of his ministry - how their kids felt like they didn't have a dad. Years later, his marriage was over. It just couldn't survive the separate lives, I suppose. People can say it's because he doesn't preach the truth, but really it can happen to anyone who gets their priorities out of order.
Steve Epley
09-27-2011, 09:44 PM
The perspective on this comes from 2 lines of thought by 2 cultures and to me both are somewhat correct. Firstly many of us were taught we were to give our all to God and everything including family came second. Thus folks taught that were conditioned for those sacrifices. The early years of Pentecost were filled with men and women who did just that. Then there is the other perspective that God expect to place our families first then our ministries. I think BOTH perspectives have a ring of truth to them. Help me to know how to balance it. My hat is off to men who sacrifice their normal home life for the cause of Christ and I salute those who place their families first and do their best for the cause of Christ.
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