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The almighty dollar! So many people, Christians, and Churches have fallen victim to loving money more than Christ!

Granted, like everything else, money, in and of itself, is not evil. For too long in my life, I assumed that money was the root of all evil because that is what so many say. However, Scripture does not say that. It says, “the love of money is a root of all sorts of evils.”

Money by itself is not evil. Scripture has a lot to say about money, and yet, it never says to fully stay away from it. It does, however, warn us from loving it. Keep in mind that anything we love more than the Lord our God is an idol. And yes, money can become an idol.

In fact, part of what can make a church unhealthy and even a dying church is the love of money and the worship of it like an idol. The love of money and the extraordinary measures taken to protect it are part and parcel with your typical dying church.

1 Timothy 6:10 is a warning to the individual Christian of how loving money can destroy one's life and faith. As is the case with those who have observed this and experienced it, those who aspire to love money find themselves pierced with all sorts of consuming grief!

In churches where the love of money is present, we find that the people come to serve its rule rather than Christ’s. Sola Scriptura is replaced with Sola Dollar or Sola Economics. Ministries and Bible teaching are suffocated under the burden of “proving that they need the money.” Budgets are created to reward the compliant and punish others.

In unhealthy churches, and in particular, congregationally ruled churches, you see “finance committees” wielding power through the economics of the church. Far too often, you hear, “We can’t afford that!” when what they really mean is “We don’t want to do that!”

Also, many vocational Elders/Pastors are punished by having their salary altered or reduced, all under the guise of “we need to save money.” Meanwhile, the Youth department or some other place that is committee-approved continues to receive funds unabated.

If the basic things that Scripture commands us to do require a certain level of money, then something is terribly wrong. There is no money needed to gather together, worship, sing, pray, preach/teach the Word of God.

I can hear it now…

BUT BUT BUT…….. We have to have a building! We have to have this and that! No, you don’t. Having a church building, especially a nice one, is a luxury and a blessing. It is not required. That is largely the problem with the typical unhealthy American church: we have become so spoiled that we assume our luxury is normative.

The next time your church associates the word “need” with proposed spending, ask if it is actually a need or not. You can find out who truly rules a church by asking how decisions around money are made.

We need to restore the proper plurality of biblically qualified Elders in our churches who will make these decisions and take these decisions out of unqualified and spiritually immature hands. There is a reason Elders are required and commanded to be qualified BEFORE conducting oversight. It is because we want to make sure they are the kind of people God wants to decide how His money for ministry is spent.

The collection and spending of God’s money should not be put to a congregational vote as a rule, so as not to upset the country club members. Healthy churches do not fight over money. Unhealthy churches die and split over it.

You’re worthless.

Nobody cares.

It will never get better.

You’re a failure.

No one loves you.

It’s hopeless.

Or, as it pertains to me in my life…

Your ministry is worthless.

You’re not making an impact.

You’re wasting your time.

Other people are successful, but not you.

Other men preach well. You do not.

They had a good reason to reject you.

You might as well delete everything, quit, and hide because nobody cares what you have to say.

I could go on.

Let me say this loud enough for the people in the back…

Depression Lies Like No One Else!!!

Just in case you did not hear me the first time, let me repeat…

Depression Lies Like No One Else!!!

This post is for those who struggle with and are victims of varying levels of Depression. Mine is Major Depressive Disorder. I was diagnosed back in 2016. Trust me, I had it long before diagnosis. However, for far too long, especially in Christian circles, the Mental Health Pharisees have been allowed to sinfully disuade good Christians from seeking quality mental health treatment, causing many to suffer in silence, afraid to be judged by the Mental Health Pharisees.

Now that I have been receiving mental health medical treatment, including medication and therapy for a decade, I know firsthand that it does make your life better. It has not cured my condition any more than some physical diseases can’t be cured either. And no, faith healers do not exist. So, I have not sought out one.

What I have found is that over the past decade, I have been equipped with tools to help me have a far higher quality of life than I had before seeking treatment. Now, when I have a depressive episode, I can more readily recognize what is happening and put certain measures into place to protect myself from giving in to the lies.

Why is this important?

Because depression is a liar.

Depression lies to you.

Depression lies like no one else.

Depression does not care who you are.
Depression does not care if you have money.
Depression does not care how old you are.
Depression does not care if you seek treatment or not.
Depression does not care if you have the tools to fight it or not.

Depression is going to lie to you every time. It tells you all those things that you know down deep are not true, but your mind has to work overtime to learn how to combat the intrusive thoughts that depression causes one to think.

Nobody wakes up and wants to start thinking that they are worthless, unwanted, or unloved. Major Depressive Disorder causes one to think in these terms.

I can have depressive episodes that seemingly come out of nowhere, and other times, I can link them directly to a triggering event. Granted, in therapy, I have uncovered why I have the triggers I do, and I would encourage you all to do the same, as it has proven useful in my struggle with depression.

I have learned, when I feel a depressive episode coming on, to immediately begin telling myself, “Nope, that is a lie. No, you do not feel that way. No, you will not feel that way forever. No, that is not true.” I have to be proactive when combating a depressive episode. This does not make it necessarily go away. It certainly does not make it go away immediately. However, it can shorten the duration and intensity at times.

Then, there are those times when my tactics prove ineffective. It is in those times that I have to tread carefully. Since one of the lies my depression tells me is that my online ministry is useless and nobody cares, I have to avoid getting online almost entirely. I avoid logging into my various platforms to avoid the depressive temptation to quit and delete everything. I know, from past mistakes, that if I do give in to that lie and delete everything, I will feel better in that moment, but when I come out of the depressive episode and return to my clear thinking, I quickly realize that depression has lied to me and I have made a huge error.

This sort of thing may seem strange to a mind that does not suffer from depression, and I get it. I do. We all do things we otherwise wouldn’t do when we believe a lie.

And… trust me… depression is a liar.

If you suffer from depression, if you have suffered silently for whatever reason from depression, you are not alone, you are not weak, it is not failure to seek treatment, and it can and does get better. I am living proof.

Which is it going to be? You can’t build on man’s wisdom and expect God’s results. If you build on God’s Word, man’s wisdom will not stand.

I have been saying for years that it matters not what man thinks but what God has said. This does not mean man does not engage his mental capacities and think through things. It also does not mean that at times man uses sound judgment in an area that God’s Word may not address. It does, however, mean that the foundation upon man’s decision making and life must be built on God’s Word and not his own understanding.

⁵ Trust in Yahweh with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.
(Proverbs 3:5-6 LSB)

This text in Proverbs really brings out the point. We are to trust in God with all of our hearts, meaning with all that we are. Our minds, our bodies, our emotions, our spirit. Everything that makes up who we are as created beings is to trust God fully.

Notice the contrast: “do not lean on your own understanding.” This is key! If we rely on our own fallen and finite understanding, we will be dominated and enslaved to our preferences because we will be relying on what man thinks. However, if in our lives we properly acknowledge Him, meaning we know, recognize, and submit to the wisdom of what God has said, then we will find our paths to be straight because God will make them straight.

This ultimately comes down to “who is calling the shots?” Is it man? Is it you? Or, is it God? Who has control? Who is the supreme authority?

We see a similar contrast in Matthew chapter 7.

Build Your House on the Rock

²⁴ “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and does them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵ And the rain descended, and the rivers came, and the winds blew and fell against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. ²⁶ And everyone hearing these words of Mine and not doing them, may be compared to a foolish man who built his house on the sand. ²⁷ And the rain descended, and the rivers came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.”

Notice that in Matthew 7, Jesus also proposes a contrast. He states that building one’s life upon the rock of God’s Word is wise and that type of life will not fall. However, the one who builds on man’s wisdom will have a great fall.

We see this sort of thing play out in Christian’s lives all the time. Part of our sanctification, our growth in Christ, our growth in spiritual maturity, and our growth in mental maturity is learning to build the foundation of our lives on God’s Word.

We see the same error in the church. Churches that build their foundation and their decision-making on what God has said will stand and not fall. In contrast, those churches that build their foundation and decision-making on man’s wisdom and what man has said will die and fall. It is not a matter of “if” but a matter of “when.” In fact, there are dying churches right now that may not be showing most of the symptoms, but they are still there. In time, they will reach the surface.

I have seen it time and time again. When man’s preferences and what man thinks and says rule, there is only time between that point and certain death. Man’s wisdom can’t and won’t be allowed to rule in Christ’s Church. If Christ does not rule your local body of believers, God will not allow that to stand forever. There will come a day of judgment on that body that has forsaken God’s Word for what man thinks.

Keep in mind, everybody has traditions. Everybody has preferences. These things, in and of themselves, are not inherently sinful unless they take the place of or stand in contradiction to God’s Word.

Anyone who claims to have no traditions is enslaved to their traditions and doesn’t know it. - Dr. James R. White

The key is not whether man has preferences and traditions. The key is whether he openly admits it and then submits those preferences and traditions to God’s Word. Churches get themselves in trouble and begin to die when Christ no longer reigns, but man’s word reigns.

We see this in the following ways:

• Oh, we can’t do that! That will upset brother so-and-so. Or, that will upset sister so-and-so.

  • In this case, whoever the “so-and-so” is, they rule the church. If your decision-making is founded on not upsetting a particular individual or group, then they are the ones who rule, not Christ. Nobody is talking about being callous and not caring about upsetting folks in general. Anyone honest in their evaluation knows of what I speak.

• Oh, we can’t do that! Some folks will be upset and stop giving their money, and we need their money!

  • We call this financial manipulation, and it is a serious and disgusting sin. While New Testament Christians are not commanded to tithe, ministries do need funds to operate. Thus, it is important for us all to financially support our local body of believers. So, to use money as a means to gain power, maintain control, or manipulate a church is a grossly sinful behavior that should not be tolerated.

• We used to have a great choir! Now, all we have are those contemporary songs. If they don’t start singing my kind of music, I will leave!

  • Once again, this comes from someone assuming that their opinion and preference should reign and dominate the decision-making.

• We have to do what we have to do. We don’t have time to wait. We need to grow now!

  • This comes from someone whose priorities are not submitted to Christ and His Word. They see numeric growth as the capstone of success or failure and do not put the need for spiritual growth in its proper place. Compromise is born out of man’s wisdom, taking the place of God’s Word.

I could go on and on with more examples. We have all seen it. In fact, many have seen it and have chosen not to do anything about it because they don’t want to “upset the apple cart,” as I have been told. I can’t find that nonsense in my Bible. This doesn’t mean we are seeking to be unkind or going around looking to stir trouble. This is about setting the proper foundation, and I don’t care what you fill in the blank with; if you choose man’s opinion over God’s Word, you will not bring glory to His name, and you will answer for it one day in front of Him.

Man easily comes up with excuses to disobey God’s Word. He is an expert at it. However, when the problems and suffering come from following what man has said, they then turn and blame everything but themselves.

Church, let’s chart a better path. Let’s chart a path founded on God’s Word. Have the courage to stand for Christ, even in the Church.

There are none of the following in Scripture.

Youth Pastors

Executive Pastors

Pastor Of Care (Whatever that one means?)

Pastor Of Administration

Pastor Of Preaching

Women Pastors

Children’s Pastor

Music Pastor

Senior Pastor

Associate Pastor To Families

Student Pastor

Associate Pastor of Worship, Children & Youth (Wow! Just… wow!)

Pastor Of Technology

Pastor Of Global Missions

Associate Pastor

Associate Pastor Of Worship And Family Ministry

Ok…

I think you get the point. Now, let’s discuss why.

My whole life, it has been my experience, and my observation that, for example, when a man is titled a “Youth Pastor,” many just assume that is all he does. Further, many see him as not a “Full Pastor” or even a “Real Pastor.” He is more of a glorified babysitter for children and teens.

What is even worse is when you view “Job Descriptions” online for these sorts of positions, they may even actually state, “Youth Pastor answers to Senior Pastor.” Or, even worse, “Youth Pastor answers directly to the Deacons.” (Wow! I just got a heretical shiver down my spine just typing that!)

This sort of unbiblical thinking is part and parcel with the world’s thinking. This is why it is so dangerous. The world looks at titles and positions as a hierarchy. Certain individuals hold positions of power over other individuals. We section things and categorize people into lovely little slots we can slide them into and expect them to never attempt something outside of what we have determined for them.

This way of thinking and approach to Christ’s Church is not only unbiblical but also very destructive to the body and to the Elders/Pastors who are forced to fill these roles, restricted from living out their full calling by the labels and limits we place on them.

As is the case with all God-Centered Theology, if we let the Scripture speak and speak consistently, we find a more appropriate and God-Honoring way of doing things.

1 It is a trustworthy saying: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a good work. ² An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, ³ not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but considerate, peaceable, free from the love of money; ⁴ leading his own household well, having his children in submission with all dignity ⁵ (but if a man does not know how to lead his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?), ⁶ and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation of the devil. ⁷ And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. (1 Timothy 3:1-7 LSB)

Notice that in the primary passage where the office of Pastor is identified, we see no text separating Pastors into categories or divisions. The qualifications are for Elders. The qualifications are for Overseers. (Note that congregationalism loves to ignore this and put itself as the overseers. That is a story for another day.)

It notes the “office of overseer,” meaning that each man who aspires (reach out after, reach for, move towards) to be an overseer is to be inspected and found qualified for the office or not based on his own life and calling. If Scripture intended to have so many different forms of Pastors, then Scripture would and should have addressed it.

If Scripture were consistent with the modern church’s way of conducting business, it would have said something like the following…

If any man or woman aspires to be a Pastor, then…

If anyone desires to be a Youth Pastor, then…

If anyone desires to be an Executive Pastor, then…

If anyone desires to be a Student Pastor, then…

Further, in terms of the labels we put on things, it would say something to the effect of “Now, if you, as a Pastor, desire to become a Senior Pastor and move up the ranks, then…

Scripture knows nothing of this categorical nonsense. There are two offices in the church. That of Pastor/Elder and that of Deacon. Here are some other things to keep in mind that we find in Scripture:

1. Scripture teaches oversight by a plurality of biblically qualified Elders who are men. We see this in Titus, 1 Timothy 3, the book of Acts, and more. When Scripture addresses the Elders, it is plural.

2. Now, a church is not “sinning” by having only one qualified Elder available to it. However, a church should never limit itself to only one Elder if more are available. Part of the reason we see the unbiblical “single Pastor model” in so many churches is because of how we have turned our churches into American businesses and places that emulate American politics far more than Scripture. In American politics, the people elect a representative to do what they want to see done. This is not the case in a biblical church. However, that is what it has turned into, and not people mistakenly think they “elect” a Pastor to do their bidding.

3. The purpose of a plurality of Elders is beautiful. Every qualified Elder is equally a biblical Elder. There are no ranks or divisions among them. However, we do see that each Elder will bring a unique background, gifts, talents, and abilities to the role. This means that one area where one Elder is weak, another may be strong in order to balance the team out.

4. While all Elders are required to be able to teach, this does not mean all Elders have to teach equally in terms of quantity or even quality. Yes, some Pastors/Elders will teach better than others. I have encountered several Elders who teach far better than I do. Granted, all Elders should be teaching, but not all Elders will teach as often or on the same level.

5. Having a plurality of Elders shares the burden of leadership. God never expected the congregation to conduct oversight, and He certainly never expected one Elder to do it by himself. Shared leadership among Elders is the model. Also, as a church grows, and Elders delegate areas of leadership to individuals or teams, those teams need to share leadership as well. This keeps Christians from burnout and taking on too much for one person.

6. All Elders have the same authority in their oversight. This is why it is important to verify the qualifications before placing one in the role. This is especially concerning when placing a younger man into the role. The younger the man is, the more likely he is to lack the life experience that other older Elders possess. This is why the qualifications mention that an Elder should not be a new Christian. There is a lot to learn and demonstrate before being inserted into the office.

There is more to be said at a later date. However, this presents the basic biblical pattern for Elders. Now, what about the various tasks, assignments, or areas that Elders may help oversee? I can hear it now…

What about the Youth?

What about paying all of them?

What about this or that?

While there are no Youth Pastors, for example, there may and can be a biblically qualified Elder who has a specialization in leading and overseeing ministry for younger people. This would not prevent or exclude him from Pastoring and overseeing Christians who are not in that category, and it certainly would not make him less of an Elder, but it may be an area in which he is especially gifted. There is nothing wrong with this.

If you feel like I am splitting hairs, I am, to a degree. Just refer to what I said above about how the church has already grown to see these various “titles” as divisions among Elders. That is what needs to change.

There may also be situations where you have Elders who are not paid but have another job or are retired. Then, you may have 1 Elder who spends the bulk of his time in the church working and therefore would need to be compensated for that time since it is not spent out in the world providing for his family by other means.

Associating each Elder with a certain area of oversight distributes leadership responsibilities without placing too much on one man, leading to ministry burnout. So, ultimately, what we have here is the need to treat Elders how Scripture sees them: as equals.

We need to refrain from placing titles on Elders beyond what Scripture gives them. However, within a local body, it would be perfectly acceptable to identify and assign certain Elders to particular areas as long as each Elder is equal in their standing and is not limited to just those areas.

Thus, to avoid all the confusion that our current situation brings us, a church could have the following as an example:

Pastor Bob - Oversees Worship Services

Pastor Tim - Primary Worship Service Preacher

Pastor George - Oversees Youth and Children

Pastor Joe - Oversees Technology

Now, keep in mind that Pastor Joe has every right to assist and provide input in other areas that are not technology-related. It is just that his primary attention will be on the technology. The same is true for the rest of the Pastors outlined above. This will look slightly different in every church, with some overlap.

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Alpha & Omega Ministries

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Welcome to Apologia Studios! Our mission is to get the Gospel into all areas of culture. From theology to politics. We discuss everything from modern culture to Mormonism and the cults, and do it all in a reformed and relevant way.

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The purpose of Berean Bible Church is to influence people to grow in a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ through expository teaching, discipleship, fellowship, and treating others as we would like to be treated.

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Founded to take the exposition of God’s Word to all people, Exploring The Bible is a local and global ministry outreach of Dr. R. Jay Waggoner. In his work as a pastor, evangelist, conference speaker, and author, Dr. Waggoner has impacted thousands since 1974.

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I was diagnosed with major depressive disorder in 2016. Before that, I still had major depressive disorder but was not able to receive treatment because I had not sought it, and frankly, did not think to seek it. Further, I came up in the cult of the IFB (Independent Fundamentalism), where talk of “mental health” or depression was a sign of weakness. According to the IFB cult, all you had to do was repent of whatever sin was plaguing you and believe the gospel more. This sinful point of view is not limited to the IFB. We still see this destructive way of thinking in our world today.

For those who do not have major depressive disorder, it may be hard for you to imagine what it feels like. Anybody and everybody can become depressed. Anybody and everybody can experience anxiety. Anybody and everybody can be plagued by seasonal or situational depression. However, major depressive disorder is a completely different beast.

Right now, I am actually suffering through a depressive episode. So, while the symptoms are fresh in my mind, allow me to guide you through some of what it feels like. This is not an exhaustive list, but it hits on the most common ones.

What Major Depressive Disorder Feels Like For Me

Loss of pleasure and desire to do the things I normally enjoy.

I am usually plagued by thoughts about quitting all of my online ministry work. I am bombarded with thoughts that nobody cares about what I am doing, and that I am wasting my time, and I should delete it all and do something else. This is a particularly hard thought to combat, and I have given in to this thinking several times over the last decade. Then, when the depressive episode lifts, I regret giving in and deleting everything because I realize that not only do I enjoy it, but I am good at it.

Feeling Like There Is A Dull Ache Down Deep In My Soul

I get a feeling, and it is not even in the pit of my stomach. It is an ache, a pain, a feeling of loneliness, and a dull, depressing feeling that feels as if it is right in the middle of my very soul. You can’t get rid of it. You can’t make it stop. It makes you feel sad, lonely, and basically immobile. It is amazing how I can be sitting somewhere and in my mind, I can have some gumption to get up and get moving, and my body simply will not respond due to the depression.

It Feels Like A Fog Is Hovering Over My Body

Depressive episodes are much like fog. You either wake up, and it is just there. Or, you wake up and see it moving in over the horizon. Once it arrives, it seems to hover and stop. Everything is tinted by the fog, and I feel like it will never lift. Then, when it lifts, it does so slowly, but I know when it is lifting, and when it has lifted, because I feel so much better.

It Amplifies Low Self Esteem

Depression really attacks my self-esteem and makes me feel as if I am worthless. Not in an entire sense but in a very real general sense. Granted, I have had enough years of medication and therapy to help me know this is not how I really feel. However, this disorder will amplify any levels of low self-esteem that one has.

Makes Me Feel Very Lonely

Depression has a way of making you feel very lonely. I tend to mistakenly feel that I am the only person in the world who feels this way when a depressive episode hits. I have had depression and have received treatment for it long enough now that I can discern the difference between general and normative depression or when I am just sad versus an actual major depressive disorder episode.

What Do I Do When This Happens?

Honestly, the best I can. However, I do have tools available to me to make sure I do not give in to the false things my mind is telling me during a depressive episode. For example, I avoid working on any of my online ministry stuff to a degree so that the depression won’t tempt me to think that I am wasting my time. There are other ways I combat this illness as well.

I pray that if you have major depressive disorder or if you think you may have it, please seek treatment from a qualified healthcare professional. You are not alone. You can feel better. I can’t promise you that treatment will heal you and remove the depression, but as I have, you can learn to live with it in a much healthier and stronger way.

By the way, to all the mental health Pharisees out there, no, I am not weak. No, I do not lack faith. I have a legitimate illness/disorder, and just like any physical one, I need and receive treatment for it. Is there a form of anxiety and depression that can be sinful? Yes, but as it is outlined in Scripture. Major depressive disorder is not something we sign up for, and the way we feel during an episode is not a sin because we literally can’t help it.

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It took me until about the age of 40 to realize the value of emotional and spiritual maturity. By far, one of the most valuable resources one can have is humility combined with strong maturity. I remember reading a book years ago entitled “Emotional Intelligence 2.0.” I remember thinking it was academically stimulating, but it didn’t connect with my heart or actions. For most of my life, I was riddled with pride and a sinful self-confidence. The idea that I needed humility, combined with a growing emotional maturity, never crossed my mind.

Then, one day, I finally figured it out. Through trials, suffering, and intense hardships, I learned what true God-Centered humility looks like in the mind and the heart. After being diagnosed with major depressive disorder, I began a journey towards a stronger mental health and maturity that would bring me joy and confidence that is rooted in Christ and not in myself.

A few things began to change as I moved along the path in this journey:

Disposition - My base disposition changed dramatically. I went from a person with general angst and irritability towards life, and began to see all the beautiful colors that life has to offer.

Depression - My depression and depressive episodes, while not healed, have dramatically reduced in quantity and duration. It is amazing what stress can do to a body!

Devotion - I am far more devoted to God and His Word than I ever was before. I find that I am far more concerned with His will than mine.

Patience - My ability to demonstrate patience is far higher. I remember when just about anything could set me on a path of anger and stress. Now, I shrug things off far better. I patiently let things develop and “marinate,” if you will. It is amazing to me how many things naturally take care of themselves, or God takes care of when we chill and don’t force things.

One of the things that most people don’t want to admit is how easily angered we are when we are emotionally and spiritually immature. If one wants to, one can find just about anything to be angry about. Trust me, I know!

However, it takes self-control, resistance to circumstantial anger, and a good dose of humility to overcome this repeated pattern. Take, for example, the person who goes into a store or place of business and berates the person working in there over a problem they did not create nor has any real control over, and then has the audacity after treating them disrespectfully, and in some cases, like trash, to say, “Oh, I know it is not your fault.” Well, if you knew that, then you would not have treated that person in that manner.

First of all, Christians should NEVER do this. There is no excuse for it. You do not get to treat people however you want just because you are a consumer. So, stop it!

Secondly, you can tell a person’s lack of maturity by how they act in public because what they show you in public is actually who they are, but to a lesser degree than what they are privately. So, if someone is willing to publicly berate someone, then I really don’t want to see what you would do privately.

Pride, combined with emotional immaturity, convinces us that we are far more important than everyone else and that whatever we deem to be important at any given moment should be handled immediately and to our liking. Self-centeredness is the root of sinful pride and immaturity.

Sadly, in my view, the thing that plagues the church today far more than anything else is emotional and spiritual immaturity. Look at how often people are willing to bash and berate Pastors, Deacons, or fellow congregants when they “don’t get their way.” It is sickening and pathetic, to be quite honest with you.

We need to chart a different course. I am charting a different course. I don’t want to be marked among the immature anymore. I don’t want to pridefully put myself above everyone else anymore. By God’s grace, I will continue to grow in greater emotional and spiritual maturity.

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Nobody wants their church to die. Or, do they? Granted, when I speak of those who are either indifferent to death or actively seeking it, I am dealing with a very small percentage of people in any given church. However, in a church that is progressively dying, it is not uncommon to find individuals or a small group of people who would rather have the church die under their control than for it to live outside of their control.

In light of this, here is a major red flag of a dying church. Keep in mind, this is not the only red flag. This is just the red flag in view for this post.

Dying Church Red Flag - The Pastor Is Viewed/Treated Like An Employee That “Works” For The Congregation

First of all, Elders are accountable to the people they shepherd, but only in the ways that Scripture outlines. That is a subject for another day. Elders are biblically prescribed as the overseers. Whether people’s sinful inclinations like that or not, that is what Scripture prescribes. But it does not stop there. Scripture does not just prescribe Elder oversight willy-nilly to anyone who wants to be an Elder or is “elected” to be an Elder (don’t get me started on the nonsense that is church elections). No, it prescribes oversight to QUALIFIED Elders, which is vitally important.

Nowhere in Scripture do you see Elders “working for,” “employed by,” or submitted to oversight by Deacons or the congregation. Now, this is where folks either ignorantly or intentionally fail to think in categories. This does not mean that within the function or leadership, Elders can’t or won’t learn from non-Elders or that they are “better” than non-Elders. It also doesn’t mean that Elders will never demonstrate humble submission to another’s leading or gifting especialy if a group of Elders has assigned and delegated oversight over a particular area to an individual or group. Clearly, Elders do not need to be micromanaging because that does not produce maturity, unity, or progress.

When an Elder or group of Elders is treated like employees or someone that answers to the whims of various maturity levels, biblical knowledge, and salvation statuses of church members, what they are saying is that the Elders are not “part of us.” What they are saying is that the Elders “work for us.” They are not equals. They are servants who are not a part of us. This is outright sinful. When proper biblical Eldership is in place, both the Elders and non-Elders are all equally unified in Christ, and each person has a role to carry out as a part of the same team.

What this really comes down to is that people want to be in charge when they are not. They want control over things, and their sinful pride won’t let them release that desire to have a say in everything. Granted, any group of Elders worth the title will always seek input on important decisions, and Elders should never move forward on anything where a majority of the congregation is against it unless it is specifically prescribed in Scripture.

However, Scripture does not vest oversight in Deacons or in the congregation in terms of ensuring that the church is operating properly and the correct decisions are being made. God ultimately will not bless any church that is specifically and intentionally operating counter to His prescription. This is why so many congregationally ruled churches split over the color of the carpet and always have some level of infighting.

I was told once that “This is our church, and you need to realize that. You work for us, and whatever we want you to do, you need to do it.” I immediately told this person to their face that I wanted a record of every single penny the church had ever paid me, and even if it took me the rest of my life, I would pay back every cent and would never take another penny from them because they would not wield money as a weapon to manipulate me in any way. I was there to serve God, and they were too.

Treating the Pastor like an employee, where the congregation is seen as the “employer,” is a dangerous recipe. This creates a level of consumer-based church members who operate as if the local church were a country club where members pay dues for certain outcomes.

If a qualified Elder or Elders are put in a position where they must answer to church members as if it is a place of employment, then they will constantly be in unfair positions, having to decide whether to obey God or man.

This is why an ideal situation would be a plurality of qualified Elders who do not take any compensation from the church, so as to remove that burden. However, it is not wrong or sinful for a man to be compensated for his time, especially if it keeps him from using that time to provide for his family elsewhere. However, compensation does not give a congregation any “power” over an Elder. Otherwise, one will hear as I have heard, “We pay your salary. You'd better do what we want.”

This type of sinful thinking has no place in God’s church. Should Elders be qualified before engaging in oversight? Yes! Should Elders be disqualified and removed if they violate those qualifications? Yes! Because some Elders become disqulified does this mean we know better and need to enter our version of how the church should be run? No!

As one who has lived this unbiblical experience for 2.5 years at my first church, I can assure you it is not fun mentally, spiritually, or physically. It wore me down over time to the point that I finally had to give up and resign for my health. One can only handle so many secret meetings behind your back, people openly telling you in a meeting that “we have deaons, why do we need you?”

I stayed longer than I likely should have, but when you are called to be an Elder, you love it and never want to leave. However, the Lord made it clear to me one day that it was time, and I obeyed His will. When I went into the church and realized the locks on the sound booth had been changed to keep me out of it, I knew the Lord was releasing me from that assignment. I can still see myself in that sanctuary turning the key several times before I realized it was not going to open the door.

It was the final straw. I had endured long enough. Granted, as a younger Elder, I did not always endure the way I should have. I certainly had areas of growth that were needed.

Looking back, I pity the Christians who are there because they are in a dying church that shows no signs of repentance or willingness to submit to God and remove the power groups that are ruling them all in the name of “saving the church.” They will have to answer to God for that one day. I did all that I could do at the time I was there.

The situation both humbled me and thickened my skin and spine (metaphorically speaking, of course). I now have greater patience for things, but I also have less tolerance for that type of dysfunction and sin when I encounter it.

Power groups in a dying church love to claim that they want to “save the church” or see it “grow.” However, I am convinced that they would rather see the church die under their collective grasp rather than see it truly thrive, released from their clutches.

Your Pastor is not your employee. To think this about him is utterly sinful. Your Elder is there to be an under-shepherd for Christ. The group of men, if you are fortunate enough to have multiple Elders, are there for the reason of helping you grow in the faith, learn to be discipled, and make disciples.

Elders are there to oversee the church and make the important decisions. Deacons are there as assistants to the Elders, focusing primarily on the physical needs of the church, visiting sick people, taking care of the grounds, etc. The congregation is there to discover, develop, and use their gifts to edify the body. The congregation is also there to be discipled and learn to make disciples. The Deacons are not prescribed oversight. The congregation is not prescribed oversight.

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I have been saying this since July of 2016, when I started in online ministry. I could see where things were headed, and I believed that God wanted me to be a part of it. I started with “By His Grace,” and it has evolved into its present state, “God Centered Theology.” Being God-Centered is so vitally important, and I know this because it has been an area in which I have struggled for most of my life.

Learning to be God-Centered instead of man-centered, or even self-centered, is not an easy task, but it is possible! It just takes time, effort, a reliance upon God, and a deep dive that is consistent into His Word. Then, followed up with a heavy dose of application.

Take, for example, a plant. It takes several steps for it to reach maturity. It must be planted, watered, receive plenty of sunshine and nutrients, pruned and trimmed at times, and protected as it goes into the ground as a seed, grows up out of the ground, and then grows larger into full bloom.

The same is true for our lives. The world preaches right now, right away, no delay, no waiting, microwave it, etc. However, any honest observer will see that this is not the way true satisfaction comes. This is not how true maturity is developed. It certainly is not how God sanctifies us.

The Holy Spirit raises us to spiritual life, and we are a new creation in Christ. We begin as babes in Christ. We begin as small seeds or saplings, if you will. From there, we are to receive the good milk of the Word, where we begin to grow. As we increase in our repentance, we decrease in our sin, and we move towards greater maturity.

The same can be said about our ministry endeavors. One of the areas I have struggled with since July of 2016 is being patient, staying consistent, and being obedient with whatever God has put in front of me at the time.

Therefore, I developed a Philosophy Of Ministry that has put guardrails in place to assist me with overcoming some of my faults. I have applied this philosophy to all areas of life. It is amazing how it applies to so many areas.

Andy’s Philosophy Of Ministry

Start Small

Start small in scale because Rome was not built in a day. It is ok to dream big and have long-term goals, but one must start with something that is manageable so that we do not burn ourselves out trying to do too much too quickly.

One needs to have bite-sized, manageable, and achievable goals so that one does not become burned out before starting. This protects you from taking on too much too quickly. Not all of us, but many of us, try to go the full 100 yards and score a touchdown on the first play (sorry for all of you non-sports folks).

There is so much that we miss when we get caught up in the end result and fail to enjoy the process and the journey. In fact, I would argue that as I have learned to start smaller in scale, I have found far more joy in the simple processes of preparation, study, and just enjoying life than I ever have in any end result. The reason for this is that we have become conditioned to never truly enjoy or celebrate anything. We finish one goal and then almost immediately move on to the next. There has to be a better way.

Do Something

One can have all the dreams in the world, but if nothing is accomplished, they are wasted. This is why starting small in scale is vitally important, allowing us to achieve smaller, manageable goals and have something in place to evaluate.

Some of the best plans, ideas, and dreams this world has ever known never came to fruition because nothing was ever done about it. Dreams don’t create. People create. Will all your creations be grand? Nope! Take it from a guy who has failed more than he cares to admit at times. However, it is in creation and the pursuit of goals and dreams that we find God working in and through us for His glory.

We were created for good works in Christ, and we were meant for working and doing and creating. Sitting around, doing nothing, is not our purpose. I enjoy discussing and planning with other Christians just as much as the next guy, but without actual accomplishment, what does it really matter?

We are to take action. We are to make things matter. We are to accomplish much for the Kingdom. The Kingdom of God is full of people who truly live and work, and accomplish much for God’s glory. This can’t be done until you do something.

Sometimes the hardest step is the first step. We can’t live in fear of whether we will fail, because we will at times. We can’t live in fear that nobody will read/listen/watch our content because they won’t at times. Remember, the goal is to be consistently faithful and obedient to God. Our task is not to produce or guarantee any particular set of circumstances. That is part of God’s sovereignty. Not ours. We are not sovereign.

Our goal is to utilize the gifts and abilities that God has given us to grow in righteousness and maturity, edify the body, evangelize the lost, make disciples, and expand the Kingdom. God has given each of us a unique set of gifts, circumstances, trials, sufferings, and more to be sanctified and be useful in the Kingdom. Just because one’s journey looks different from yours doesn’t mean yours is not vital. Do what God has called you to do and do it one step at a time.

Build And Grow

Once one has started small and accomplished something, then one can evaluate and make decisions about what is working and what is not. From here, we will see growth in those areas that are succeeding. We can also find those areas that are not leading us to success and either adjust them or leave them behind altogether.

Wise counsel is important in this area. We need good Pastors/Elders in our lives to help us with some of this. We also need wise Christians who are not Elders to help us in these areas. Some of the best ways we are discipled is by other Christians who help us along the way as we grow into maturity and live out our calling.

Some people come into our lives for a season. Others are there for the bulk if not the entirety of our lives. No matter where we find ourselves and no matter who surrounds us at any given moment, we need to be honest in our evaluations. Sometimes that will mean giving up something we may enjoy because God is leading us in a different direction. The key is our faithfulness and consistent obedience.

God is sovereign and knows exactly where He is taking us. Therefore, we have no one to trust more than God Himself. If He is moving us to build in a particular area, we will never truly be satisfied or joyful if we are stubborn and refuse to move in that direction. TRUST ME!

Once, I was considering a church local to us. After preaching the first service, I had a horrible feeling deep down in the pit of my soul that it was not for me, even though there was much to be liked about the position. In fact, most people from the outside looking in would have questioned my decision to choose a far smaller church over this one. However, I could tell that it was God, through the power of the Spirit, instructing me not to choose this route.

Now, one may say, “Well, if God didn’t want you to go there, why would He let you go there at all to begin with?” Ah, the classic refrain of little faith. You see, the reason God had me go there in the first place was not to Pastor the church but to see if I would be obedient in not going there because He had something better in mind.

God does not download all the files and folders into our brains for what He wants us to do and then winds up our strings and says, “Ok, go!”

We grow in our obedience.

We grow in our sanctification.

We grow in our trust.

We grow in our faith.

This takes time. It takes effort. It takes evaluation. It takes self-reflection. It takes repentance. It is all worth it.

My friends, what you will find as you build and grow is that the true joy doesn’t come from seeing one’s particular ministry “grow.” This is why one of the hallmarks of a dying church is its obsession with growing numerically or growing its budget, or whatever. No, the true joy in the Christian life even as we carry out our mission and ministry is the growth that comes in us as God molds us into greater Christ-likeness.

That is what I want for myself, and that is what I want for you!

So, if you need a reset. If you need to chart a new course. If you need to have a better plan moving forward. I encourage you to start small, do something, and then build and grow.

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A lot of teaching on “mountains and valleys” in regards to the Christian life is not “Mountain and Valley” accurate. One usually only hears sermons on the “mountain tops of life,” or “the valleys of life,” as if those are the only two choices. Rather, this earth has mountains, valleys, winding roads that lead up mountains, and winding roads that lead down into valleys.

Mistakenly, people refer to the valleys as being “trials,” but actually, when you are in a valley, it is flat and calm, and one can view the mountains on either side. Also, people speak of mountain-top experiences as if they are free from concern, when in reality, they must traverse a winding road going up the mountain, which is indeed a climb.

No, I prefer reality, and to make sure my metaphors are properly balanced by it. Scripture’s teaching on the Christian life is consistent with the reality of our mountains and valleys on Earth. The mountain and valley metaphorical language should include all of the following…

Mountain Tops - Yes, they feel good. Yes, they provide relief. Yes, they can be very triumphant. However, they are not permanent. Further, one is not free from concern on a mountain. One still has to look out for cliffs, predators, adverse weather conditions, and more. Also, much of what we need in life won’t be easily found on top of a mountain due to the lack of space. One typically has to travel down into a valley for supplies, food, and other needs.

Valleys - Valleys are typically flat, and one valley I know of in Natural Bridge, VA, has a very long and straight road between two mountains. The weather is different down in a valley. The air is different. One has to watch for falling rocks, flooding, and other dangers. While valleys may have more area for buildings, supplies, etc., there is a reason the population in valleys is not as high as in other places.

Winding Roads Going Up The Mountain - It is very rare that one takes a road up or down a mountain that is straight. Many of the roads we ride up the mountain are the same ones we ride coming back down. We see some of the same things. Going up a mountain takes more time because of the incline, and one has to keep an eye out for others coming down the mountain, going too fast, or driving out of control due to loss of brakes.

Winding Roads Going Down The Mountain - Once again, rarely straight traveling going down a mountain. Also, one has to worry about speed and braking while traveling downward. Go too fast, and one can’t see what is around the corner quickly enough, leading to great danger, like running into someone going up the mountain.

Spiritual Application

Mountain Tops - When we are on the mountain, we need to rest, we need to regain our strength, and we need to survey the road we just came up. What needs to change? What should we learn? Was the road more rocky or dangerous due to any sin? Did we handle our rise appropriately? Far too often, Christians so eagerly await a mountain-top experience that they neglect to experience and learn from the travel up the mountain.

Valleys - You may have just come rushing down a mountain and face much danger as you entered into a trial, time of suffering, or consequence for your sin. Take heart, because now you are in the valley where it is flatter, calmer, and the dangers are minimal. Take this time to rest, think about what God is teaching you from the winding road you just came down, and also take time to appreciate the mountains in front of you and behind you.

These mountains represent your growth and your life, and you can learn from the ride up and down. On the mountain top and in the valley, one can rest, enjoy the temporary peace, and learn from their experience going up and down the winding roads of life. Our lives were never meant to remain on a mountain or in a valley. Life is lived on the roads going up and down, and they are rarely straight!

Sometimes, when in a valley, the problems do not cease. Sometimes, being in a valley just means the problems are not escalating or deteriorating. It means one has to endure, tolerate, or grow in the midst of what is going on around them. I just recently went through a period like this where I was stuck in a horrible work situation. I had no way out for a long time and had to learn to endure during that valley. I could not see the roads to lead out of it because they were encased in fog. However, the fog did lift, and I was finally able to get out!

Winding Roads Going Up The Mountain - Going up and coming down have their own unique challenges. In both, there can be trials and suffering. However, the experience can feel a little different. Much like literally traveling up a mountain, the climb can be slower, and it can even feel like an eternity at times. We can carry scars with us from the previously traveled road down and the valley we are coming out of. However, much like real valleys where there tends to be more commerce and activity, we can gain the requisite knowledge, experience, and supplies for our travel back up another mountain.

I know in my life traveling up the road to the mountain top can feel like a long process, and then you turn one corner, and you reach the summit! Now, I can breathe fresh air, I can see the beautiful views, and I can exhale and rest!

Winding Roads Going Down The Mountain - This one can be tricky. Sometimes it can be very obvious that one is going down a winding road into a valley. Other times, it can sneak up on you. Even still, sometimes everything can seem fine, and then a sharp curve comes out of nowhere and surprises you.

For example, I recently left a job where I was employed for almost 5 years. The first year and a half seemed perfectly normal, and I saw no issues on the horizon. Then, one day, out of nowhere, I was pulled into a meeting where my production was not only questioned but legitimately lied about in writing. When I asked for examples, they had none. I would come to find out that I was working for a female narcissist and an insecure micromanager. From this point on, the winding road down the mountain turned into a literal crash course! When I finally reached the valley, I had to hold up and endure in this situation for a few more years before God provided a way out.

The key is that I thought at the time that my mountain had plateaued, and I would be in what appeared to be a great situation for good. Little did I know that God was about to allow this burden to come upon me for a variety of reasons.

What Did My Mountains, Valleys, And Winding Roads Teach Me?

The last 5 years of my life were used by God to teach me how to hold up and endure under a very toxic work environment. I found that I had endurance that I did not previously know that I had. I also learned the practice and necessity of keeping one’s mouth shut in the midst of toxic circumstances. It is a vital thing to learn how to recognize that, sometimes in life, saying something will be far worse than not saying anything. I got real-world experience in this area.

Did I want to respond to what was happening around me? Sure!

Did I respond to what was happening to me? No. In fact, it is the most I have bit my lip in my entire life! I believe in many ways that God, through the power of the Spirit, protected me from bringing further harm by learning in this period to recognize what I was dealing with and respond appropriately.

There was never going to be any changing of that environment. Sadly, many companies put people “in charge” who do not have the skill set. I was not there to make any changes. I was there to learn how to exist and endure in that environment. Now, this flies in the face of the so-called “Prosperity Preachers” who would say that God only wants me to have mountain tops and never any valleys, let alone any winding roads going up or down a mountain. However, reality and Scripture tell me that all of these things work together for my good, and my good is being more Christ-like.

God, in His infinite wisdom, knew that I needed this time period to mature and learn how to experience this sort of thing. Now, if anyone comes in my path who is going through something similar, I can tell them that I know what it feels like and help them through it.

Needless to say, it was a period of great stress, depression, anxiety, and much more. I had to keep my mouth shut when being yelled at and belittled because even though I knew I could respond and, in some cases, would have responded, in this situation, I truly felt that God wanted me to remain quiet and endure the suffering.

It taught me a lot about myself, and it taught me a lot about God and how He uses life, suffering, trials, and much more to mature us, to strengthen us, and to ready us for our future.

So, even if this sounds extreme or insane to some, I thank God for my mountain tops, my valleys, my winding roads going up the mountain, and my winding roads going down into the valleys. Why? Because I am more Christ-like as a result. I am a better Pastor as a result. I am a more mature Christian as a result.

Current Situation

I have reached a place of calm. I am on a mountain of peace at the moment. I have a far better job that is not toxic. I am an interim Pastor at a local church. Overall, my stress levels are near 0 most days. I am enjoying the calm. I am enjoying the peace. I am laughing more. I am sleeping better. I thank God for bringing me to this place.

I can get back into online ministry more consistently again. I am enjoying being back on YouTube and Substack once again!

What Does My Future Hold?

Life tells me that there will be another winding road going down at some point in the future. The older I get, the less shocked I am when they come. Sometimes, God gives us short seasons on the mountain. Sometimes, the mountains can last a few years. It is all dependent on God and His sovereignty in our lives.

The key is being far more satisfied in knowing Christ and living for Him than it is about one’s personal comfort. I always learn more about God in hard times because He reveals Himself to be faithful at all times, even if I am not.

Will there be another winding road, valley, and yes, other mountains in my future? Sure, and I embrace it now. I am sure it will be hard. I am sure that it will look different, and I am sure that I will grow from it.

I trust the God that brings me Mountain Tops.

I trust the God that brings me Valleys.

I trust the God that brings me Winding Roads Going Up Mountains.

I trust the God that brings me Winding Roads Going Down Into Valleys.

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