What You See May Not be What it is

Ministry and the Distinction

There are many people who are in ministry and from their actions it appears that they are in it for the wrong reason. Most of these people start churches and they have a large following, mega ministries.

It seems to be true that pastoring to many has become notorious for popularity, fame, and money (the love of it). I am not saying some of these people are not called, but the ones who are called, are not bearing fruit; it is about them and not the people.

Again, I am not judging, but from what I am observing, certain ones are not feeding the flock the nutrients (Word) that will help them grow, yet people are flocking to these ministries, because they are being entertained. What is being portrayed is more like being in a nightclub.

One person said it’s like the people are under a spell. I

say that they have mesmerized them - hold the attention of (someone) to the exclusion of all else or so as to transfix them: enchant, bewitch, beguile. In other words, they have these people under their control.

Paul said to the church at Galatia: O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth (Galatians 3:1). The church had started off right, but they allowed some false teachers to come in and change their mind.

In classical Greek, Aristotle used 940 (baskaínō) for "bewitching through the use of an evil power." That is, putting someone under a spell so they no longer could think (act) according to reason. Something is terribly wrong when someone tries to control a congregation of people.

I want to share with the readers who and what a true pastor or someone shepherding a flock (leading people) is. There should be some edible fruit seen from these types of ministries. My intent is to make people aware so they will not be led by every wind and doctrine. That we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting (Ephesians 4:14) .

Let’s define shepherding

The Hebrew Bible’s unique term ro’eh tzon – lover of the flock – teaches us that a shepherd was not just a responsible overseer, but a caring father figure, tending to his flock out of a deep sense of love. The prophet Isaiah tells us that the shepherd “gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart” (Isaiah 40:11).

Pastor -a helper, or feeder of the sheep;  besides the literal sense the word has now a figurative meaning and refers to the minister appointed over a congregation. The meanings are similar, except a person shepherding  flock of people does not have to be in a pastoral position.

For instance, the Lord has given me a ministry and I am responsible for guiding the followers as I present the Word of God to them in various ways (mainly via social media and my ministry blog). I am also accountable to those God has assigned to me. On that note, some people may not attend a physical church for whatever reason, and they are fed the Word through other means.

In my conclusion, fix your eyes on Jesus, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, and you will never go wrong (Hebrews 12:2).  

~ Betty A. Burnett ~