The Shameful Shepherd (Part 2)

"Pastors who Prey"

Sadly, there is a long list of violations and violators when it comes to Pastors who prey. I could bring out accusations which are speculative which are circulating around our Independent Fundamental Baptist churches. There are people out there who glory in the sinfulness of those within our denomination. People rejoice when they find out that a KJV toting, soul conscious, authoritative preacher falls. It is sickening to think that they would celebrate and not rather mourn. Whether it is the son of a large prominent Church in the Midwest who repeatedly sinned against God with other women, or whether it is a Pastor of a southern church who lived such a double life for almost 40 years, or whether it is a Pastor who abused his adopted daughter for a decade. These are open. What about those who have been abused by a Pastor who preys up on them. I resent the fact that pastors prey on the flock of God instead of PRAYING over them.

They make merchandise of God's people. He plays on the people's emotions for financial gain. He decoys genuine care for mental control. He establishes ridiculous rules and regulation to hinder the people from true worship and service of God. One Pastor stated "I don't use my people to build my work; I use my work to build my people." In theory, that is an admirable goal. However, it is not HIS work, and they are not HIS people. The Bible says that "Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it:" (Psalms 127:1a)In application, forcing people to live up to his expectation and not to their potential is the worst kind of abuse imaginable that a pastor can do. Preying on them sexually is just plain out wicked. However, the deeper abuse goes far beyond rape, molestation and adultery. It goes beyond physical abuse. There are pastors who prey on their loyalty to God and alter it to faithfulness to him and to his agenda. Paul told the Corinthian Church to follow him as he followed Christ- AS HE FOLLOWED CHRIST. If Paul ever stopped following Christ, the Corinthians were to drop him like a bad habit. Sadly, many preachers simply say "follow me in place of Christ". No, not in words but in deed. They replace Christ with themselves. They hold themselves up as deity and play on the emotions of the people to follow them. I remember growing up in a church where we learned a song about the preacher. We were going to sing his praises. GOD ALONE deserves our praise. No, I don't believe we should not appreciate or even be loyal to a pastor who FOLLOWS CHRIST as long as he deflects the admiration and steers it towards Christ.

Ezekiel 34:1-3 "And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks? Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock"