One of the main job descriptions of a minister is counseling. As a member of the Priesthood, ministers are often seen by those who follow them as a "link to God" - a wise man who is expected to deliver the counsel of God to help them make the right choices in life. A minister, by definition, is to be one who guides through the insight and help of God in spiritual and physical situations.
As such, one who is a minister holds a very high position of service in any church, whether it be an Armstrong Church of God - or any church on this Earth, for that matter. And as such, they are expected by their followers to serve their congregation willingly and truthfully in spiritual counsel. In the Armstrong Churches of God, starting with the original Worldwide Church of God, however, the servanthood duty of counseling was morphed from an act of service to a position of unrelenting authority. And due to the unrelenting focus and attention on obedience and authority over servant leadership, the mistakes of the ministry carried directly into the family lifestyle at home. It does not take much research to clearly see that many homes under the authoritive ministry regime were homes living under a shadow of dictatorial abuse and control. It is no secret that many, many households were quantitatively dis-functional under the leadership of many of the ministers of the old Worldwide Church of God. Why?
It goes back to several things: First, the training they had at Ambassador College on their version of a ministerial job description. Second, the training they had under field ministers when they were interns. Third, the kingly control that the Pastor General had over the mid-level ministers - whose orders trickled directly down to the pastors, and the pastors to the church body.
It is my strong opinion that the church ministers had no idea what a minister is, or what it really implied. Let's take a look at what a minister is in real Christianity. From Wikipedia:
"The words used in the New Testament are very similar are derived from the Chaldee word pelakh', and are where the engish word 'deacon' comes from, which mean to serve or worship, to wait upon menially as a host, friend or teacher; to run errands, or be an under oarsman, that is, a servant."
Does this sound like your ACOG Minister in times past or even present? Likely not! Please understand. There were some good ministers out there, and still are. But these individuals are the exception, and not the rule. We see here that instead of the authority-mongering control-bent minister that was so standard in the Original Worldwide Church of God, a true minister is to be a servant - leader - one who ministers and leads by serving. Let's go on with yet another quote from Wikipedia:
"It is interesting to note, that in the Bible, the word never means an 'in charge' person, one who rules or is authoritive, but always relates to a person who is a 'servant'"
In short, a minister, by definition is one who ecclesiastically leads, guides, and protects his sheep as a servant leader. A servant leader is one who manages the Church and Church ecclesiastical functions through servanthood and giving of himself for the congregation. The role of a minister was never, ever, ever meant to be a control freak, fear mongerer, dictator, and absolutely not one who was feared. It's a paradox that in the Original Worldwide Church of God and in some ACOG's Today, that the word "Minister" - which is supposed to mean "One who Ministers (serves) Others" - instead was a word of fear - and was likened instead to "Deputy" or "Warden", in so many cases. And this sheriff mentality transferred from the Pastor General directly to Evangelists - to the field ministers - to the elders and deacons - directly to the male head of household - who was the sheriff of the family. Make no mistake about it - it was not, and was never about servant leadership. It was, and in many cases is, about authority and law.
If there is any individual who should show the fruits of the Spirit in action, that person should be the minister. Namely, kindness, gentleness, meekness, patience, temperance, and self control. Yet these qualities were often, in the Original Worldwide Church of God, the qualities that DIS-qualified many from entering into a ministerial position. In many cases, the qualities of a minister were haughtiness, arrogance, short-temperedness, pride, and impatience. A sad, but true legacy.
A True minister should practice servant leadership, exhibiting the fruits of the spirit in their life and to others while ecclesiastically governing the church body in love. A True minister, as noted above, is not one obsessed with authority and command, but one obsessed with the welfare and concern of others. A True minister is one who can lead his family in love, and one who has actually earned respect through his lifestyle. A True minister always has the spiritual needs of his congregation as a first priority. More than anything, a true minister is a servant, one who relentlessly serves his congregation - not as an authoritive dictator, but as a host would serve their guests.
Many of the ministers of the original Worldwide Church of God and some ACOG's, through mass evidence of actual accounts and personal experiences on the internet, flagrantly and thoroughly abused the position of Minister, and instead turned it into a position of arrogant power and unyielding, relentless control and domination. Instead of concern and servant leadership of others, they had the membership serve them. It was an abuse of the position and Christian role of what a minister was ever intended to be. Many were simply not ministers. They were wardens. They were sheriffs. And they were, and are, directly responsible for every life that they ever ruined in their position.
For those in the ACOGs that did understand what a true minister was, and acted it and lived it - in their lives and in action, you are like a jewel in a field of mud - you shined bright and were much loved and cared for by your congregation. It was those like you who gave a good, positive experience to some in the OWCG or ACOG they attended. And you have my respect because you loved others.
But for the rest that even today are completely unrepentant - and feel that they are a sheriff, authoritive control freak who must have the final say on everything - controlling, dominating, and unrelentlessly causing congregants to fear them - and whose entire operation is based on obedience and not servant leadership, I have this to say to you - may God have mercy on your soul. For what you have dished out to others without repentance you will be called to account for on the day of Judgement. Each and every action you fail to take responsibility for - you will be forced to take that responsibility. It will not go away, you cannot run from it, you will never hide from it. You will stand in front of the God of the Universe. You will stand in front of the God of Abraham. And you will take the responsibility, and you will take the punishment. As you have "Ministered" to others, so you will be "Ministered" to by the God you claimed your authority from. Make no mistake about it.
May the members who have been - or maybe still are - abused by any minister of the ACOG's continue healing. There are many still hurting today. To you I offer a hug, and strength, and my prayers. And if you still are in this situation, do not take it any more. Exit - and find a trusted, trained, REAL counselor. Get help, and recover your life. It's never, ever too late.
1 Timothy 3:1-6
1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach; 3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; 4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; 5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) 6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. 8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; 9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. 10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. 11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. 12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. 13 For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. 14 These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: 15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. 16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
A Post on Ministers.
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6 comments:
How right you are, J. It all filtered down from armstrong, down through the ranks. If you had ANY position in the church, your head began to swell - it's what was taught. I've known some whose only goal was to become a deacon or an elder in wcg, not to serve, but to have power, status and recognition. I knew one individual who, every time someone was ordained a deacon, would become angry the HE wasn't chosen.
Ministering doesn't have to have a title. Those who are involved in volunteer work, involved in charities, help out with the community - these people are "ministers".
Great post, J. Keep up the good work.
Sadly, one of the rumors that floated around when we left was that we were jealous that another man in the congregation was ordained and not my husband--who never had any desire for that. We did have a bit of an issue with that person, simply because once he got a formal responsibility within the congregation (not even ordained at that point), he became self-important and changed the way he acted towards us and others. Even our young children noticed and commented to us on the difference.
When we did serve, it seemed like no good deed went unpunished by those who wanted the power and control in the congregation.
Wow, J! You finally got off of Weinland for a while. :-) Very good insight. Keep up the good work. I might add: The "pecking order" is only of man, offices within the Body as ordained
by God has nothing to do with control over other people.
The word "office" is NEVER used when talking about GIFTS given to the brethren, and ALL are brethren. There is no distinction of a "minister" as opposed to a "lay member". Also, the word "ordain" is NEVER used in relationship to giving whomsoever He WILL the gifts of the Spirit. There is no such thing as an "ordained minister" in the Scriptures. This false doctrine was adopted by the Worldwide Church of God because of King James and the Catholic influence still a part of him, even though he claimed not to be Catholic. He and his 46 scholars couldn't give up the old ways. After all, they needed to maintain control over the masses.
Most excellent post. Everyone needs to read this.
Am I the only who remembers/had the experience of the ministry and members using Tim. 3:1 to keep the kids and wives in line?
:-(
Sorry, meant Tim. 3:4. Needs more coffee. :-P
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