“Is a Pastor’s Passion too Destructive?”(Warning: This document may contain
author’s opinions that are sensitive and highly biased. Read with caution).
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed by author are, in fact, heart-felt convictions of author and are not necessarily convictions of every pastor.
Now enjoy…
One of Paul’s major concerns for incipient churches founded by him was threat from within churches. In other words, Paul was very alarmed by Judaizers, Gnostics, philosophers, disingenuous of faith, and “wolves in sheep’s clothing” who would rise up from within or come from without to deceive, malign, and lead astray novice believers. Paul was burdened by this continually, and it is expressed often in his epistles to young churches. To combat threat, Paul stressed importance of pastors, like Timothy and Titus, being on their guard against such, teaching only sound doctrine that had been handed down to them by Paul. Paul instructed them to pass along orthodox doctrines to “faithful men” who would also carry forth in this responsible way.
Why was this major to Paul? For one, Paul knew that young church would become null and void if false doctrines, and insincere leaders made a significant foothold in churches. This was a real threat in Paul’s mind. He had given his life to spreading of Gospel and had experienced beatings, perils of thieves, storm laden seas, hunger, and even imprisonment. He recognized threat because he wrestled (almost literally) with these knuckleheads often, wherever he went. They were always close on his heals to tear down his work for Christ. Therefore he preached it loud, and he stated it in length, through letters and by other means by envoys. Paul was a man of God and a great intellect for certain. You might say that he knew a thing or two about ministry. And what he knew well was danger of not speaking out about threats to churches.
I want to share some of these strong and well stated words of opposition that Paul wrote to various churches. The reason I do this is because I have, I believe, a “pastor’s heart” for local church, as well as entire body. Because I have a “pastor’s heart” for my parishioners, I turn red in face sometimes (okay, most of time), loud, controversial, set-jaw, stern faced, and to some degree even rude because of what I see going on in local church today. By reviewing Paul’s style of ministry (which makes mine tame in comparison), I hope to educate you on why a pastor’s passions sometimes seem too extreme.
One place experiencing ravages of Judaizers (Christian Jews who said gentiles could not be right with God unless they accepted rite of circumcision) was church in Roman province of Galatia. Paul’s letter to church is called book of Galatians in Bible. From this fascinating book of Bible, I’m going to highlight some words of rebuke and warning that Paul wrote to young church and comment on them briefly.
After Paul makes his opening remarks, he gets down to business by writing: Gal 1:6 6I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by grace of Christ, for a different gospel; (NAS) Paul opens with these remarks. It’s obviously a mild rebuke to church, but why does he reprimand church people? They are victims being preyed upon by Judaizers. Yet Paul doesn’t mince his words. He states clearly that they are too easily becoming victims and deserting their posts for another message.
