Don't Hire a Celebrity Pastor (Galatians 1:1-12)
Gary McManus, 10/17/2021Part of the Words that Divide, Words that Unite series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
“Don’t Hire a Celebrity Pastor”
This is Pastor Appreciation Month.
Pastor Appreciation IS Biblical and churches that
practice it, statistics show, are making a difference.
(See pastoralcareinc.com and
https://www.pastoralcareinc.com/statistics/
under Improvements.)
1 Timothy 5:17: The elders who direct the affairs
of the church well are worthy of double honor,
especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.
(NIV). Also: 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13
Never claim that someone is being replaced.
Find, interview and call the NEXT [Lead pastor of DCC].
Yes, irreplaceable. But so are mutants!
Every person is unique. God designed it that way
(apparently). (See Matthew 10:29, Luke 12:24)
Give time to prepare for the Pastor’s leave-taking.
Jesus did—TWICE. (crucifixion and ascension, Acts 1)
Free advice:
. . .the Apostle Paul mentions it. The Apostle dealt with
leaders who claimed they were “better-than”.
(See 2 Corinthians 11:5-6 and Galatians 5:12)
A modern-day version of the Apostle Paul’s advice:
“Don’t Hire a Celebrity Pastor”
(See 1 Peter 5:5)
In the recent past American celebrity Pastors have
gotten into trouble: affairs, misappropriation of funds,
un-Christlike behavior.
A book the Pastor just read: Preachers N Sneakers.
Not runners or exercise/fitness enthusiasts.
The book is about celebrity, fashion and money.
Author, Ben Kirby, (yes, a Christian), asks
many GOOD QUESTIONS.
Ben Kirby had a “Harley moment”.
Kirby states that all Jesus followers should
have one.
There is a history about the book: Instagram,
media presence, 21st Century American worship,
“bling”.
Kirby’s basic question:is it okay to amass fame
and followers from a faith based on a humble,
impoverished rabbi? Is it morally okay to generate
wealth from preaching, singing and (basically)selling
the Christian gospel?
Are divine blessings always “large”? Material?
Three problem categories:
--preachers who become celebrities. . .
or, Ben asks, even Preachers who WANT to become
celebrities
--celebrities who become Christians
--celebrity Christians who become members of
a particular Pastor’s church
This is sad: the angriest responses to Ben Kirby’s
questions came from Americans who claim the
name of Jesus Christ.
How can we be followers of Jesus and also be die
hard followers of anyone else, any celebrity. . .
any celebrity Pastor. . .any Pastor?
(See 1 Corinthians 1, 1 Corinthians 3:3-7)
Love through the Holy Spirit or love through
the flesh? Amen.
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