right and false pastors

There's a narrative out there that paints ALL pastors in a negative light.
It claims that pastors are manipulative businessmen who prey on innocent and gullible people in God's name.

It suggests that older pastors have only survived and prospered because they've fed fat on the wealth of their followers over many years.

It suggests that young pastors only nurse the ambition of growing their congregations at all cost, so that they can "hammer", and move to the "permanent site".

Unfortunately, some of the architects, sponsors and reporters of this narrative are people who have benefitted from the wisdom, compassion, dutiful spiritual guidance and sacrificial leadership of these pastors they now label “greedy” and “evil” and other unprintable names.

Doubt it not, there are many preachers today whose god is their belly.

There are those whose primary idea of ministry success is a large following, fast cars, assorted trips, exotic holidays, private jets and global fame.

It is true that there are some people who are referred to as pastors whose conduct is a far cry from the biblical standard.

However, it’s also true that there are many pastors whose lifestyles are not funded by churches, but by their honest, diligent, and sustained efforts in leveraging ethical money making methods, and good works that transcend the borders of their local churches. These include brick and mortar businesses they own or co-own, intellectual property they create and monetize, good investments that yield decent interests and dividends, honorariums from speaking engagements, directors bonuses from companies they hold stake in, just to mention a few.

I know this for sure.

Not all pastors have become money-hunters who will sell their souls or compromise their mission for lucre.

• There are still pastors who know what it means to abase and abound.

• There are still pastors who don't divert ministry resources toward private purposes.

• There are still pastors who don't invest church funds in Ponzi schemes in hope of quick and unreasonably huge returns.

• There are still pastors who give more to their churches than they ask their members to give.

• There are still pastors who will go hungry just to see that families in their congregations eat a proper meal.

• There are still pastors who give to their own hurt and defer some of the needs of their own families to give their followers a better chance in life.

• There are still pastors who don’t “fleece the flock” and milk them dry.

• There are still pastors who are not driven by a desire to "make" the Forbes list or the "richest people" in the world.

• There are still pastors who don't place the burden of their personal needs on their congregations.

• There are still pastors who don't ordain people based on the size of their offerings.

• There are still pastors who aren’t swayed by the wealth and financial worth of their congregants.

• There are still pastors whose personal weekly budget for charity outweighs the  yearly budget of their critics for personal entertainment.

• There are still pastors who don't sell prophesies or trade the "gifts of the spirit."

• There are still pastors who don’t ask for a “seed” before counseling people.

• There are still pastors who don't idolize rich members and trivialize the poor ones.

• There are still pastors who know that one soul is more valuable than all the world’s wealth.

• There are still pastors whose motive for ministry is NOT money but a fervent desire to see lives transformed to the glory of God.

• There are many pastors who are still committed to the TRUE GOSPEL and will keep on preaching it with integrity no matter how many times they are abused or attacked.

I’m blessed to know some of those pastors.
I respect them and celebrate them greatly.

If you’re one of such pastors, we might not know you by name but God does.
Even in the privacy of your sacrifices and labour of love, he sees your tears and hears your heart.

We acknowledge you and celebrate your commitment, diligence and selflessness.

• Stand strong.

• Hold your head up.

• Run the race. 

• Finish the course.

• Your life matters.

• Your obedience is shaping someone’s eternal future.

• When all is done and we’re all gone, you will not lose your reward.