Overbearing pastors
 

Folks, it's not just in the Oneness Churches. If you think the solution is throw all doctrine under the bus and leave the ranks of the Apostolics entirely, you might be disappointed. This article is written by a Trinitarian pastor.


12 Signs of a Controlling Church Pastor

I am about to write I pray is birthed in my love for Christ's Church. I pray that it is motivated by the holy zeal that rises up in me when I see church leaders abusing those whom God has called. I pray that it is said clearly, but with love- for what is not birthed in love is sin.



As I survey the Present Day Christian Landscape everywhere you look there are wounded warriors. Sick and Evil people are everywhere too, but none can have such a profound effect on an up and coming Christian Leader, as the man whom he has placed his faith and trust in, his pastor.



Before I begin I want to say, the current religious system breeds these self centered, arrogant non-serving leaders. I know I was one, maybe not to the extent I have outlined here, but it’s what the sell-your-resume-seminary institutional church system taught me to be.



I share this with hopes that we will all check ourselves, pray and dig into the motives of why we do what we do. The Godly Leader will not be offended. He will simply realign himself in the Lord. The evil ones will get hot because their evil deeds have been uncovered. Here are 12 principles in the “modes operandi” of a controlling church pastor:



1. First, he acts like he is the Source and the Owner of the Vision. If you don’t know what I mean check out the excellent article, "Legitimate Vision".

2. He travels but you don’t. It all about you helping him achieve “his Ministry”. He travels because he loves the worship given to Americans in third world countries.

3. He is not a Gatekeeper; he is more like a Prison warden. No one has permission to go anywhere except where he says, when he says.

4. He refuses to release the people to God’s call in their life. He talks a good talk, but reality is there is a human junkyard of those he has blacklisted.

5. He is always training you for ministry but you never graduate because you never quite measure up. The truth is he is only interested in spectators for His next Wow-teaching. It’s a power trip! He “needs” to be heard.

6. The only legitimate ministry is that which is hyper-linked to him and to the name of his ministry. It’s about a name rather than about Jesus.

7. Maintains a strong Propaganda Network complete with spies, blacklists and a Pastor-Approved grapevine.

8. “Members” are dumbed down zombies who will never challenge his abuse and control. They are like “sheep to the slaughter”. They “need” him to like them.

9. People leave suddenly and those who leave are leaving hurt. They appear stunned for months and it takes them awhile to engage in ministry again. To avoid the fallout, especially if the person was liked in the congregation, the leader will begin an email smear campaign, direct his lieutenant zombies, and pronounce judgment on them.

10. Watch him carefully during worship! He cannot praise very long because he is too busy making sure he has his fingers into everything that is going on. He isn’t just serving in a ministry. The ministry is him and he is the ministry. Say you don’t like something and watch the contortion on his face.

11. No Tears! It’s like he is super human! He has an answer for everything. No Transparency. He leads a secret life with a short list of approved followers that he will allow near.

12. Finally, he is a ministry loner. His “friends” are not in this area. He has no relationship with peers who can get in his face. The only thing apostolic about him is the title he demands from others and puts on his self promotion.


After reading this, some of you will say, I know exactly who he is talking about and why didn’t you just mention his name? The sad truth is that in the NE Florida area there are more than just a few leaders who operate like this. While there is “no shame in their game” I will not stoop to their level to call them out. They had better pray the Lord doesn’t give me the go ahead to call them out publicly someday.



I didn’t write this for them, I wrote this for those that I have seen lately wounded by their hateful arrows. The Lord loves you and He wants you to know that He believes in you and while some of the things being said about you are true, the Lord isn’t finished with you yet.



If you haven’t drunk the Kool-Aid lately and can think for yourself, I recommend you strongly consider getting out from under this kind of leadership. There are wonderful, humble leaders all around who will help you achieve what God has for your life. On behalf of the Lord’s leaders in this area, I ask your forgiveness and speak a blessing over your call and your family.

Re: Overbearing pastors
 

I'm interested in that area if my health holds out. I hope I don't run into a burning building.

Trying to relocate and finding a church is difficult.

Re: Overbearing pastors
 

Rudy and Originalist ought to get together and have church...

Re: Overbearing pastors
 

I apologize if the post offended you. What about it did you find to be in error?

Re: Overbearing pastors
 

I don't think he's being sarcastic.

Re: Overbearing pastors
 

Originalist, I don't think anything in the post is out of order. It makes me thankful for a great pastor and a healthy church!!!!!!!

Re: Overbearing pastors
 

I too am thankful for a good pastor who is not like the one described in the article.

Re: Overbearing pastors
 

Wow, this is the truth!!!

The churches are not about Jesus these days, it is a partial talent show, emulating men to the highest heights.

I have seen this type of pastor in many churches(including the one I was saved in).

Trust me, their judgement is slow, but sure, if they dont get out of the way and let Jesus have His saints back!!!

Re: Overbearing pastors
 

Amen. I saw allot of this in the AoG as well.

Re: Overbearing pastors
 

Yep, it happens in denominational and non-denominational churches. Happens Oneness, Twoness and Threeness churches. The pride of the calling is the biggest downfall to many a pastor.

I am blessed to have a good pastor who loves the Lord and loves the Lords church. He feeds the Lords sheep and does not harm them.

I pray for my pastor that the Lord will keep him humble and faith-filled.

Re: Overbearing pastors
 

I meant you guys are apparently both in florida, you are both looking for something beyond the status-quo. So you two should get together and have church, might be a new start for both of you. Did not mean anything negative, brother.

As for your original post, I really didn't see anything disagreeable with it.

Re: Overbearing pastors
 

Not in Florida yet. Hoping that will happen.

Re: Overbearing pastors
 

stufffundieslike.com has alot of accounts of mindsets like this. Pentecostals dont hold a patent on "harsh preaching" . Its a issue with how power and control can corrupt...its an age old story and it crops up no matter the denomination.

Re: Overbearing pastors
 

Sounds like the church I used to belong to.

Re: Overbearing pastors
 

I think every pastor could benefit from more saints praying this prayer. :nod

Re: Overbearing pastors
 

Sadly, in too many cases "church" has become a mutual admiration society bent on furthering the survival of the organization (including careers) than the cause of Christ.

But this isn't a new problem. We saw thousands of years of the same from the RRC.

Re: Overbearing pastors
 

When men left off from truly understanding, and following these words of Jesus, they became exactly what Jesus predicted they would:

Mark 10:42-45
But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest shall be servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Re: Overbearing pastors
 

amen--i think it is an accurate predictor of our collective state of mind how people hear a "calling."

Re: Overbearing pastors
 

If men were truly called into the ministry as Jesus described it - having a servant mind and heart - there is no doubt in my mind that the numbers of those signing up to be "ministers" would sharply decline. The problem is, the "perks" that are now common in all church groups for those in leadership prevent (for the most part, but not all) true servant ministering leadership. We see people with very little faith in the ministry, because they are not trusting the Lord, but are busy building their little kingdoms with all the perks that go with it.

If we truly want to follow the example of Jesus and his disciples, and the leadership in the NT churches, let us look at their lives and see what servant leadership meant to them. For most of them, the end result meant death - death first to self, and then death at the hands of men.

Can you imagine any bible school today advertising - come to our school so we can train you in death to self, and how to dare to be martyr?

Hmm.