An Insiders look at Discipleship Part 1

There I stood with my mouth wide open, “did she really say what I thought she said?” She sure did!

“If you keep having those N (word) over here, I’m not going to allow

my kids to participate in this ministry any further."

Wow in the middle of America in 1998 I thought to myself.
And here lies one problem with our church system: it’s designed to fulfill the needs of the people (including the leadership) whether morally right or wrong. That’s not such a bad thing right, some might think. Well it is when we continue ministering to them and ourselves in our sin! Giving them what they want so that we can continue to keep what we want…the system, our jobs, our position, our fame, and frankly our sin and bondage.

Now before you begin arguing, let me clarify a couple of things…I’ve been around the church system for some time. I’ve got plenty of degrees from all the right places, have ministered in 5 different denominations across the states and have been on the mission field in other countries. I have served on elder boards, mission boards, youth boards, Christian education boards, councils, and sessions from local churches to state districts even semi-national offices.
So your going to have to allow me the voice to share from an insiders perspective for a moment.
The reality is that many people in church just don’t see the truth about their churches and leadership. Jesus comments on this very subject when he addresses the religious leaders of his time.:(NLT)

"Yes, how terrible it will be for you. For you are like hidden graves in a field. People walk over them without knowing the corruption they are stepping on."

When I was a youth minister years ago, I was constantly watching people exclude others that where not from the right side of the tracks. Nice youth groups, great programs and wonderful people on the surface, but the truth was that their hearts and actions where just wicked and seldom did any transformation occur or last. I would also like to point out these same children came and shared things with me about their parents that would make one cringe. I have mentored several young youth pastors and many of them have no concept of a godly life as they practice illegal activities to get the favor of their youth. This is not the justification Christ came to give.

As a pastor, I have been called out by elder boards because I have taught messages on holiness; I’ve had to defend myself for asking folks to bring their Bibles and, far to many times, have seen decisions made for material (money) reasons for the Glory of Church rather than for the Glory of God. I have seen affairs, cover-ups, pedophiles, homosexuality, and drunkenness in all levels and forms of leadership in many different denominations and churches all the way to the top. I have even seen a warlock, as a Senior Pastor.

If you think our government covers sin up,

you should spend a career in the American church.

Believe me, I could say more! I wish that I could say this was not the norm, but the reality is that this is the norm. The Church has really now become it’s own worst enemy in the goal of making disciples.