Pastors Beware

Then Christian fell down at his feet as if dead, lamentably
crying, “Woe is me, for I am ruined.” At the sight of this
Evangelist caught him by the right hand saying,
Evangelist: “All manner of sin and blasphemies shall be
forgiven men; be not faithless, but believing.”
As a consequence Christian revived a little more and
stood up trembling before Evangelist, even as he had first done.

Then Evangelist continued to speak, saying,
Evangelist: “Give more earnest attention to the things that I shall
tell you about. I will now show you who it was that deluded you,
and also to whom it was he sent you. The man that met you is none
other than Mr. Worldly-Wiseman, and how right it is for him to have
this name. The reason is partly because he favors only the doctrine
of this world, therefore he always attends church in the Town of
Morality, and partly because he loves the doctrine of that Town the
best, for it saves him from the Cross. So because he is of a carnal nature,
therefore he seeks to oppose my ways, even though they are right.”
John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress

Evangelist makes it clear what kind of man Worldly-Wiseman is. He also makes it clear that Worldly-Wiseman's church has a "doctrine of this world." This is incredible considering that Pilgrim's Progress was written in the 1600s. What would Bunyan say of today's churches? Numbers or butts in pews is all important. Pastors are to equip God's people in such a way that they can go out out and do Christ's work. They are to prepare the body of Christ for the groom's return. Most pastors are ignoring this and making services so friendly to the lost to come in that there is no room for sermons that make the believers tremble and fall to the ground.

It is easy to get numbers. I could go to Mexico and with cases of Cokes and hot dogs have a large gathering. There would be nice music about how good God is, and I would make sure not to have any songs that would convict the sinners hearts. This is not what God has called pastors to do. The modern church is becoming irrelevant. They are taking so much of the salt out of their services that there is no flavor of Christ in the church.

Churches are now packed with adulterers. Not just those that have cheated on their spouse (through these numbers are grow astronomically), but also those that are cheating on Christ with a relationship with the world. Pastors are silent to both. One Sunday, I heard Holy Spirit tell me that someone in the service that day was contemplating having an adulterous relationship. It was so strong that I stood up and spoke this word. It turned out months later that it was the pastor.

One day pastors will have to give an account. They will be judged according to their actions or inaction.

"Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood." Acts 20:28


"Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly." James 3:1

"To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve." I Peter 5:1-2