"Paycheck Pastors"

DISCLAIMER: THIS BLOG DOES NOT ENVISION ANY SPECIFIC INDIVIDUAL OF ANY CHRISTIAN DENOMINATION.  

As you can see from the meme above, Jesus, the Good Shepherd, spoke of those who are NOT good shepherds. "Hirelings," those who don't care about the sheep, is how Jesus described them. Now it's important to establish that at the outset because some will object to the very subject of this blog. To any who think we shouldn't openly discuss phonies in the pastorate because "then the world will see our dirty laundry," I respond: they ALREADY see it!! They see it often better than WE do because we are too close sometimes and they can see with better perspective from outside the church. And, not to be irreverent, JESUS saw it....he SAW something and he SAID something. He said HIRELINGS. DON'T. CARE.

In baseball and other sports, there are some players known as "Paycheck Players." They, TOO, are only in it for what they can get out of it. "What they get out of it" may be monetary gain, it may just be prestige, or it may just be FAME and the "comps" that come with it. Paycheck Players don't love the game, you see. They don't care about the fans, except when it serves their purposes. They don't care about TEAMMATES and are often jealous of them, badmouthing them in the press. Once they sign a big contract, "Paycheck Players" seem to get hurt more and more and are on the field PLAYING, less and less.

Well, in the spirit of Jesus who warned against "hirelings" I wish to do the same about what I'm calling "Paycheck Pastors."

Now, "Paycheck Pastors" will never make as much money as professional athletes can make, but they can get "paid" in other ways. Respectful greetings in public places. Prestige, and the perks that come with it. The undue adoration of some in their flock which they nurture, rather than shoot down. SOME are "paid" by having psychological needs met because being a pastor makes them feel important or accepted. And some DO make good money being pastors, "milking the flock" wherever they can. Job security OFTEN brings out laziness and half-heartedness in a Paycheck Pastor. Jesus spoke of those who get their reward in this life, but not in eternity. He also stressed that there will be some on Judgment Day reminding God of all the great things they did "in His Name," but He casts them away saying He "never knew them."

I could go on and on with my description of "Paycheck Pastors," but I prefer not to. In my 46 years of being a Christian I've had mostly TERRIFIC pastors, only two could be described as "Paycheck Pastors."

On October 1st, coming soon, it begins PASTORAL APPRECIATION MONTH and, as I do every year, I will dwell on the GREAT pastors God has blessed me with in my life. But the reality of Hirelings...Paycheck Pastors...exists and we need to be on our guard.