Have we lost respect for the ministry?

[Tithesmeister]

I have another perspective.

What if it is not the general population of the church that has lost confidence in the ministry?

What if it is actually the ministry that has lost respect for the ministry?
The meaning of minister has evolved. In proper context, used in scripture, to minister meant to serve. Today it often is more interpreted as a ruler. (Obey those who rule over you is interpreted to mean “obey your pastor”). It is an oxymoron. We are actually ruled by they who are supposed to be servants. This is especially true in larger churches.

I wonder how many pastors would remain if they were truly signing up to serve. Servants don’t normally live in large houses. Servants don’t typically make more money than the ones they serve. They normally wouldn’t be the ones driving the Range Rover. They don’t typically get the fanciest food.

Maybe we shouldn’t refer to them as ministers.

Also we are talking about the UPCI here? It is really an association of preachers. Of course it is going to be biased towards preachers.

Years ago it was said that we were against make up, until the pastors wife began hosting Mary Kay parties.

We were against organized sports until the pastors son needed to play baseball.

We were against television until the pastor got one.

We were against internet until they discovered it was a revenue stream.

There are many such examples. Don’t think that my point is that these issues are right or wrong. It just seems problematic that the same ultra conservative preachers that preached on the evils of the internet, are now preaching on the internet. God it seems, has changed His mind.

So we have this situation where adultery is wrong. Until the pastor commits adultery. I’m beginning to see a trend. It may not be a case of us losing respect for the ministry. It may be the ministry losing respect for itself.