To My Facebook Friends

To My Facebook Brothers and Sisters in Christ….

I have something to say, and I ask you to hear me. (Jesus: “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”)

Previously I made a valid argument against your practice of calling ‘the man’ “Pastor”. I said that you have only ONE pastor and His name is Jesus. How, I asked, can you have two (or more) pastors, especially when they often travel in different directions? And yet – correct me if I am wrong – you continue to call a man who is not your pastor “Pastor”. Why? From my perspective, there are but two possible explanations….

One, Pastor Whoever really is your pastor. Yes, you call him “Pastor” because he is. (‘Pastor’, as you know, means ‘shepherd’). But please fully understand: if he is Jesus isn’t. Both are not your pastor. Understand? Every sheep has one shepherd and “they do not know the voice of strangers”. You have chosen a mere man over “the Man Christ Jesus” to navigate you through your christianity. And you are not alone. Many, perhaps most, have made that same silent and secret pact of the soul, to follow a man instead of “the Man”.

And the second possibility…. you call the man “Pastor” because to not call him “Pastor” would cause tension. Tension comes when you do what the bunch doesn’t do. Or you don’t do what the bunch does. Many live by whatever it takes to please the bunch…. which long ago became lord. The bunch must be placated. We say Jesus is Lord, but He isn’t. (“Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord’, and not do the things which I say?”)

I say again and again, there is a better life than the one you are now living. This better life is intimacy with the very “Son of God”. This better life is increased fruitfulness. This better life is an abundance of “treasures in heaven”, eternal rewards. This better life translates into a huge ‘catch’, a multitude of people escaping hell simply because you chose “the Man Christ Jesus” as your shepherd.

If you can’t/won’t cease calling ‘the man’ – the one the congregation considers to be their shepherd – “Pastor” how can/will you ever shift from being a man-pleaser to a Christ-pleaser? But if you do take this stand for Jesus Christ it could be the first step toward freedom from religion. Forsaking this “tradition of men” could lead to forsaking ALL “tradition[s] of men”. Amen?

If you lack boldness to take a stand for Christ ask Jesus to give you the necessary boldness. He will. (“Ask, and you will receive.”) A better life awaits you. Repeat, a better life is yours for the receiving. Like really.