He Almost Preached the Gospel
By Raul Rivera
It was ten minutes after one o’clock on a Sunday afternoon when the last member finally left the church. Bishop Jones found himself sitting in the church sanctuary wondering how he had gotten to this point in his ministry. From the surface, everything about his church and ministry seemed perfect. The church he had started nearly 12 years ago in a suburb thirty minutes northeast of Memphis had grown to an average attendance of 600 people. And, to celebrate the church’s 10-year anniversary, they were able to purchase a church building of their own on a piece of land that would grow and expand in the future.
Even the worship service that particular Sunday morning had gone off without a hitch. The praise and worship was great, there were no technical issues, and some congregants even approached Bishop Jones after the service to let him know how much they enjoyed his sermon that morning. Yet, Bishop Jones found himself sitting quietly before God that afternoon feeling as if he had let God down once again, feeling as though he had compromised his sermon for the hundredth time, feeling as though he had almost preached the gospel.
The weekly conflict of interest
Bishop Jones has a heart that burns bright with the passion to see God’s Kingdom reign. His prayer and desire is to see revival not only come to his church, but also to his community and country. However, on this particular Sunday, Bishop Jones approached the pulpit with two sermons. The first sermon was one that he felt God had specifically given to him, dealing with the purity of the heart and one’s righteousness before God. The other sermon, what he considered his “backup” sermon and one that he had delivered several times as a minister, spoke on the love of God. Although he felt in his heart of hearts that he was to speak on the purity of the heart and one’s righteousness before God, there was an internal dilemma taking place.
The mortgage was due that week. Bishop Jones wondered if they had gotten themselves into a mortgage that was a little too steep. Moreover, payroll was also due, and his modest salary was not the only one. They were also compensating the worship minister, youth minister, and children’s minister. Bishop felt personally responsible to provide for his own family, but he also felt responsible for the families of his staff members. Although the church was doing well, the tithes and offerings the past several weeks had barely been just enough to cover all the new and necessary expenses.
Knowing that the church needed to receive “good” tithes and offerings that morning and knowing that his sermon on the purity of the heart and one’s righteousness before God would not settle well with the largest giver in the church, Bishop Jones was conflicted as he approached the pulpit.
When Bishop Jones stood at the pulpit to address his church, his eyes scanned the audience and noticed that his biggest giver was in attendance for that morning’s service, and so he began his introduction: “This morning’s sermon is on...the love of God.” Hmmmm . . . . . Bishop Jones knew he had compromised yet again. It is as though he reasoned with himself, “It is better that one man should perish than for the church to go into bankruptcy.”
This is what I call a minister’s weekly conflict of interest.
God has more for you
As I travel the country speaking at our Ultimate Church Structure Conferences, I have the honor and privilege of speaking with hundreds of ministers. All too often I hear from ministers with similar stories to that of Bishop Jones. I myself have been in comparable situations during my years in full-time ministry. However, I know and you know in your heart of hearts that this is not a part of God’s plan for your ministry. Therefore, I want to use this blog post to address 3 of the most common reasons why ministers may experience the “weekly conflict of interest” and how you can address those situations.
Addressing the conflict
In my experience as a pastor and through the hundreds of conversations that I have had with ministers across the country, I believe that there are 3 main reasons why ministers compromise the preaching of the gospel. We will address those 3 reasons, as well as solutions that will help you walk more fully in your calling.
1. Financial responsibilities
It is not uncommon to hear preached from the pulpit that the love of money is the root of all evil (1 Tim. 6:10). However, from that very same pulpit I believe that the lack of money is the root of compromised preaching. I can honestly say that I have “been there, done that”. I know what it is like to worry whether or not the church will be able to cover all of the bills for the month. I have experienced those sleepless nights, wondering if we will be able to cover payroll that coming week. I understand what it is like knowing that if I preach one message, it will not settle well with my church’s largest giver and that if I give that message, it could affect his/her giving for the week. It is not fun. But I also know that it is not God’s will. It is not a part of His plan for us to worry and stress, but rather we are to trust Him as Jehovah Jireh, our provider.
We serve an infinite God who is mighty and sovereign. I firmly believe that God holds to the promises in His Word and that He will provide for all of our needs. But I also believe that God expects us to use the resources and strategies available to us to see His kingdom reign. One such strategy available to churches today is that of a for-profit arm.
A for-profit arm is a ministry-owned business that is explicitly established to do business and make the church tax-free money paid in the form of donations and dividends. The for-profit arm exists as a regular for-profit business that is described in Internal Revenue Code section 502. This business can engage in any lawful activity and be open to the general public. Because the church owns the for-profit business, the church in-turn receives tax-free income from the business, thus eliminating the need for the church to solely rely upon tithes and offerings. (For more information on a for-profit arm, check out my blog post entitled “Stress-Free Preaching”). Next, let us look at the 2nd reason why ministers may compromise the preaching of the gospel.
2. Job security
In today’s economic climate, one of the most important characteristics that individuals value in a job is job security. This sentiment goes for ministers as well. A natural part of who we are as human beings is to provide for our families. We want to put food on our tables, a roof over our family’s head, and clothes on their backs. Yet, many ministers struggle with the dichotomy of preaching the gospel and providing for their families on a regular basis. Let me explain.
Oftentimes, ministers obtain a pastorate position at a church that has been in existence for several years, if not decades. In many instances, the initial board of directors that was in place when the church began is still in place 20 years later. Now, this group of individuals has always had the church’s best interest in mind. However, more often than not, this board also has full capability to hire and fire. For many pastors, this can be a source of great stress, knowing that if the board does not like what they are preaching, or how they are preaching, then their job security may become jeopardized.
I firmly believe that it is necessary for pastors to be held accountable for their actions; however, I also believe that it is necessary to protect pastors from being unjustly removed. To help fulfill both of these necessities, I believe that each pastor should have an accountability board. The accountability board is a separate board outside of the organization. It should consist of at least 3 individuals who are not 1) related to one another, 2) related to the pastor, or 3) members of the church. This board does not have the authority to meet or get together on its own for any reason. This board only has one purpose: to hear any accusations that have been brought to it by the unanimous vote of the board of directors of the church. (For more information on an accountability board check out my blog post entitled “Ecclesiastical Authority and Accountability”) Lastly, let us look at the 3rd reason why ministers may compromise the preaching of the gospel.
3. The fear of man
Today, we live in a society and culture in which it is offensive to speak the Gospel of Jesus Christ, even in love. Unfortunately, this line of thinking has permeated into the church. Because of this, many sermons given on Sunday mornings across the country are watered down versions of the gospel.
Recently, while visiting a church near my home, I experienced this first-hand. During both of my visits to this church, there were points during the sermons in which I felt that the minister was about to preach the gospel, but stopped just short of actually doing so. This is not to say that the church service was bad or that the minister was not a man of God, but for some reason I sensed a level of fear in him that would not allow him to go deeper. It seemed that he feared the backlash of preaching a message that was contrary to the current of the world. In the end, the nourishment my soul was seeking received a watered down version of that for which it was actually hungering.
As our society and culture become less tolerant of the gospel, and as our legislative environment becomes more hostile towards the church, I have but one bit of advice for you to heed: fear God more than man. As the psalmist said, “You are my defender and protector. You are my God; in You I trust.” (Psalm 91:2)
The head and not the tail
As Bishop Jones sat there that Sunday afternoon looking to God for answers, tears began to well up in his eyes. It was in that moment of reflection that he heard the still, small voice of God tell him that he was the head and not the tail. As he sat there in the sweet, merciful presence of God, Bishop Jones vowed to God that he would never again compromise the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Many pastors today find themselves in similar situations as Bishop Jones. Perhaps you can relate, or perhaps you know of someone who can relate. I would like to invite you, and anyone else that you know would benefit, to one of our Ultimate Church Structure Conferences. During this conference, you will be refreshed, rejuvenated, and armed with strategic tools so that you never again feel like you have to compromise the gospel.