The most disheartening thing is that when our church (or secular) leaders become well-known or successful, their cause changes to a self-survival mentality instead of a shepherd mindset. You might ask Ray what do mean by that statement. Just this: A mentality is a pattern of behavior, while a mindset is a set of beliefs and attitudes for how one views oneself and the world. This means we have leaders who display the (self-survival) behavior; they only care for, make provision for, and seek to secure themselves, their image, their brand, and yes, their own lineage as they view all others as commodities to make that happen. That's their mentality. They abandon the self-sacrificing attitude one must have to be a successful shepherd, viewing their congregation as mere surplus and a stimulus package, not as sheep. That's their mindset. You'll discover that leaders who go into public or religious service for fame and fortune are the most narcissistic individuals clothed in benevolence and accessorized with the bling, bling of modesty. One can have a corporeal gift and use that gift to support a spiritual endeavor; there is no scriptural basis where a spiritual gift should become a financial endeavoring enterprise. We should stop using Philippians 4:19 as a 'grab-bag' theology. Paul wrote this verse to express his gratitude for the Philippians' support while he was incarcerated for preaching Christ. Let's say he was grateful to them for putting money on his books, not to be confused with his bookkeeping. The Church is being run and inundated by an influx of ecclesiastic oligarchies. There is nothing wrong with success; be as successful as you can. The only thing wrong is how one acquisitioned success and how success is taught, meaning teaching what the Bible says about success, not what it doesn't say about it. There are some things that should be confined to capitalistic secularism and others to Christ and spiritual worship. To blend the two will often muddy the water, but to intersect the two, or to come to a point of intersection where each can harmoniously meet and pass by each other without crashing or interrupting the flow of each other, will bring peace of mind and wholeness of spirit.
Be well and stay blessed,
Ray Mingo
Comments