Pastor or Pimp?

This isn’t a post on the law. But, I recently came across a blog article I wrote in 2011 when I was a pastor. I believe it’s still relevant:

God spoke to the prophet Ezekiel about the attitudes and actions of the spiritual leaders at that time, “Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks?” (Ezekiel 34:2)

To be honest, I believe that we are rapidly heading down a very similar road as church leaders today. We have created a well-oiled machine. We call it ‘the church’, but instead of being the bride of Christ, it is becoming a ‘side piece’ to satisfy its leaders' approval addiction.

I know it sounds harsh, but I believe we need to take a hard look at the heart of our mega-pop-church leadership. Pop-church is defined as anything that looks, sounds, smells, and tastes like the world. There are dozens of these mega-church machines across the globe. You probably know their perfectly produced worship music and listen to their Hermes and Gucci-adorned Pastor’s podcast.

I mean, nothing says “love your neighbor” like a Birkin and a pair of red bottoms, right?

A pimp is a leader, an entrepreneur, some might say, who exploits the parts of a body, not their own, for personal gain. Inside the church, some pastors, entrepreneurs in their own right, exploit the gifted and talented members of The Body, not their own, for their personal gain.

Are we confronting sin?

To be fair, we are under a lot of pressure as leaders and pastors. So sometimes, it can become tempting to preach a word of satisfaction that is only laced with truth instead of speaking truth and confronting sin in love. Paul warned Timothy that many would heap up for themselves teachers who would scratch the itch of spiritual comfort (2 Timothy 4:3). Are we guilty of that as church leaders today?

None of us want to lose our followers. At first, the thought of preaching “repent and be baptized” can seem to be counterproductive to filling our seats each week. (Those fog machines don’t pay for themselves, you know.) But should we dumb down our message so much that it’s merely a faint echo of biblical truth?

Truth offends people. Jesus encountered that first-hand. You need to get over it.

So that brings me to the next question:

Are we promoting gifting or character?

It’s unfortunate, but I am meeting more and more church musicians who are ‘rock stars’, living the ‘rock star’ lifestyle: drinking, smoking, cussing, having sex, and doing drugs. We are called to be in the world, not of the world. Be a light in the darkness, but don’t blend into the darkness. How will people know the freedom of Jesus if you are as much a slave to the same addictions as they are? 

We will mess up from time to time. But Jesus’ blood covers our sins. All we must do is repent and get back on the right track to following Him with all our hearts. That’s the power of the Gospel! Are we showing the world the power of the Gospel? Are we living examples of the grace of Jesus?

What are we saying as pastors when we knowingly put a player on stage who is sleeping around and getting hammered and high on Friday night? You know it’s going on. You’re not stupid. But you’re still silent. Why? Is it because you’re afraid they might not perform for the people?

If we offend them, is it too easy for them to leave your church for the pop-church uptown? Where does the cycle end if not with you?

Are we pointing to Jesus or manipulating the masses?

Marketing, advertising, social media, and television have all become tools for us as church leaders. But are we using these tools for God’s glory or for our own approval-addicted souls? Are we increasing Jesus’ fame with our slick marketing campaigns, or is it really about increasing our own fame?

Is the book you just wrote lifting up our Savior Jesus Christ and pointing to the journey followers must take to live a life for Him? Or is it really about your journey, and elevating your success story?

Why do we feel the need to let the Twitter world know how many services we are having this Easter?  

How many cars are in our parking lot this weekend?  

How many people filled out cards? 

How many hands went up?  

How many, How many, How many!!! 

Why are we so caught up in telling everybody else our numbers? Do you really think this edifies and unifies people across the body of Christ? Do unbelievers see your self-tweets and then come to know the Lord? Or do we tweet to feel the approval rush when we see every RT and @mention? Your heart matters.

It’s time to check our hearts.  It’s time to ask the question, am I a pastor or am I a pimp? Let’s confront these brutal facts together and encourage each other to answer the tough questions. None of us have it down perfectly. We all have room to grow and learn. Me most of all. Let’s take the journey together.