It is wrong for a man to turn the fellowship of the saints into a religious system that revolves around himself.
It is wrong for a man to consider himself a dictator over a congregation of Christians.
It is wrong to create a totalitarian system where there is no freedom to differ and to discuss important things as Bereans.
We are called to be brothers and sisters in Christ, not followers of an earthly king.
Does the clergyman who rules over your church induce your wife or your children to have an emotional attachment to him with a blind emotional loyalty that causes them to become defensive at the slightest hint of criticism of their Pastor? I would be concerned about this. It is cult-like for your wife to respect and admire this man more than her own husband. It is adulterous and idolatrous for your wife to be so emotionally attached to this man. It is wrong for a clergyman to usurp the role of husband in the lives of the women of the congregation. It is wrong for a clergyman to usurp the role of loving and wise father in the lives of the children and youth of a congregation.
Counterfeit Christs: Is your pastor a one-man show?
Don’t try to be a Lord over your brothers and sisters
But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.
But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Mark 10:42-45
The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
1 Peter 5:1-4
Counterfeit Christs: Is your pastor a one-man show?
What does it take for a cult follower to realize he’s worshipping the cult leader?
Do whatever it takes to keep your power and extend your power.
Machiavelli and How Rulers Think
Saddam invited the praise of his followers and cultivated their adulation.
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To the Church Leader: |
It’s wrong for you to take credit for what our Lord is doing in and through other people’s lives.
It is destructive to shift into a prosecutor attack mode every time someone disagrees with you.
Just because someone leaves “your church”, does not necessarily mean they are in sin.
There is no need to slander everyone who leaves “your church” to fellowship somewhere else.
Disagreeing with you is not necessarily being divisive.
Disagreeing with you is not the same as disagreeing with God.
It’s wrong for you to have other men’s wives in your church office for meetings on controversies without their husbands present.
It’s wrong for you to call other men’s wives to discuss controversies.
It’s wrong for you to attempt to drive a wedge between relatives and between parents and their children.
There is hope for every one of us!
Jesus helps us!
We each can be reconciled and love one another.
We can love the Truth together, while giving each other the freedom to disagree.
I’m grateful to our Lord for all his blessings: my wife, our family, our friends, and every member of the Ekklesia of God in Christ.
Thank you, Jesus!
Shall we be disciples of Jesus together?
Or would you rather just participate in a Religious System?