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Dead Beat Daddy
This article deals with the new phenomenon that has invaded the
church: Spiritual Fatherhood. Too many Pastors are teaching their
members that they are the Spiritual Fathers of their congregation.
We are told to submit to them like we do our physical Fathers on
earth. Since most believers are birth into the Kingdom of God at
a local church building, many feel like the Pastor is their spiritual
father.
All of us have or had a natural father that brought us into this
natural world. When you become a Christian you have a born- again
experience with a Spiritual Father that births you into the Kingdom
of God. The bible says in Romans 4:11, “God is the spiritual
father of all.” No man on this earth is your spiritual father.
The person that helps lead you in the prayer of salvation is the
midwife. There are only there to assist in what is happening. The
birth will happen with or without them. Your salvation is birthed
by the spirit of God, not a natural Man. We give too many Pastors
credit for these new “sons or daughters”.
Members often look and revere Pastors as their fathers and that
is not scriptural. According to
II Corinthians 4:2, Pastors are using God’s word craftily and
deceitfully for their own benefit. They try to keep their members
in bondage to them and only them. Pastors refer to the Apostle Paul
when he called Timothy his son in the ministry. Paul was only referring
to Timothy. He wasn’t speaking to the entire church body in
Philippi. Pastors are our Spiritual Leaders not our Spiritual Fathers!
The world calls a Father that doesn’t take care of his children
a “Dead Beat Daddy”. Then what is a Pastor who proclaims
himself a Spiritual Father but doesn’t take care of his “members”?
Too many pastors are raising up members to be totally dependent
on them. Eventually the members spiritually mature and are ready
to be used by God but, Pastors refuse to release them to their call.
Members are held captive by their allegiance to their pastor and
continue church as usual until they are “released”. How
many anointed and gifted saints have allowed their callings to die?
How many shrivel up on the front pew of the church wondering what
could have been done for the Kingdom of God? What a tragedy!
Members have to be trained to “go ye” into the world.
Pastors can not allow their own religious insecurities and selfishness
to hold back the gifts of God in their church. All of us have to
listen and follow the voice of our Father in Heaven not a natural
voice trying to hold us down.
Some members that leave “without permission” have been
subjected to being called “bastards”. We are not “bastards”
because we could not wait for a man or woman in the pulpit to approve
and affirm our call. If you are born again you know who your Daddy
is in heaven. There are no bastards in God’s holy family tree.
(Hebrews 12:9)
If a Pastor selfishly will not obey God and release you as a faithful
son or daughter in your call, then you better decide to obey God
and not man.(Galatians 1:10) Never be disrespectful to your spiritual
leader. The bible says in Luke 16:12, “If you have not been
faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you
that which is your own.” If you have been faithful, then God
will bless you with your own vision. Then when the time is revealed
to you the Pastor of your church should send you off with honor
and your inheritance to help you fulfill your vision just like you
were faithful to their vision.
Pastors must stop being “Dead Beat Daddies”. Train up
the members and release them by affirming them, laying hands on
them, and giving them an allowance to help them get started. Members
will appreciate the commitment to help them obey God like they helped
you obey God and follow your vision. Members should get help, prayer,
financial support, encouragement and anything else to assist them.
Faithful members should be recognized and helped to continue with
the work of the Kingdom of God.
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