Our kid brother had him figured out. (Ron became a Baptist preacher and served the Lord mightily for over 50 years. He’s coming up on birthday number 79 now. Our family is forever grateful for his take-charge ways, which brought a thousand blessings for our parents as they aged, as well as for his family and the churches he served.)
Pastors must always be wary of the temptation to manipulate people.
Anyone wishing to see how it’s done need merely to turn the television to the big-shot independent preachers who specialize in healings, spiritual gifts, and signs and wonders upon their “partners,” while practically guaranteeing answers to prayers and personal success. They know no shame, believe me.
The devil “took (our Lord) upon a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory.”
“He said to Him, ‘All these things will I give you, if you fall down and worship me” (Matthew 4:8-9).
Satan is a master at manipulation. “Do this little thing and I will give you huge rewards.”
See the tempter at work in the Garden. “Now, the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, ‘Indeed, has God said, “You shall not eat from any tree of the garden?”’”
He told Eve, “God knows that in the day you eat (from that tree) your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3)
Do these things for your own good, and, oh, by the way, do this little thing for me on the side, and we will all be happy.
Pastors must ever be careful …
1) Not to manipulate contributors.
In encouraging people to tithe and give sacrificially, we must have no ulterior motives. Years ago, I heard of a church that guaranteed the pastor 10 percent of the offerings as his pay. Of all the terrible situations in the world, that one must be the worst. Anytime he preached on stewardship, his motives were suspect.
Some years ago, the church I served was struggling to stay solvent due to a split before I arrived, which had left a fraction of the congregation with millions of dollars in debt. When the Lord gave me a wonderful plan to promote stewardship over the summer months, it resulted in great increases in contributions (and spiritual blessings in all who gave). As a result, the leadership requested the church to grant me a raise. Since I was hurting financially, this was a great help. However, those who look for something to criticize put two and two together and came up with five. “He preached on giving so he would get a raise!”
I’m not saying we must hold back from obedience lest we be criticized. Criticism by the enemy—and those influenced by him—is always present. However, we must be careful (and prayerful) concerning our own motives.
2) Not to manipulate decisions for Christ.
In motivating people to confess Christ, join the church and be baptized, ministers must not be doing this for their own glory. In many denominations, pastors are recognized and promoted by the size of their congregation and the numbers they report (baptisms, additions to the membership rolls, budgets, etc.).
3) Not to manipulate anyone to do anything, ever!
I’ve known of preachers conning members into taking Holy Land trips because they received commissions from the tour companies, which provided a nice side income. The remedy is for ministers to a) tell the church if this is the case and/or b) to contribute the commission to the church or return it to those enlisted for the tour.
As pastor, I must not influence young people to attend my college or wealthy members to make contributions to it, to put me in good with the president.
I must not use wealthy members of my church in order to promote myself.
Pastor, you are either a servant or you are not.
If you are a servant, rein in the ego and nail the need for recognition and advancement to the cross.
Look around your church and throughout your community for ways to serve people. If you can pull it off without receiving recognition, so much the better.
Conquer the need to drive the fanciest car, to wear the sportiest clothing, to appear to be more than you are.
“With humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than yourself” (Philippians 2:3).
Keep uppermost in your mind the words of the Lord Jesus who said, “I am among you as one who serves” (Luke 22:27).
Do this and you will be the farthest thing from a manipulator.
