NOTE: I realize that this is a very complex, multilevel real problem, yet have been thinking of this and observing, for many years, even decades. So I need to be given space and time to share in a couple of real life in ministry articles. Please be extremely patient, As I am suprisingly FOR this pastor today. BUT you must give me time to fully put forth reasons FOR..as EACH incident is UNIQUE. However, I am NOT FOR “Christian Celebrity” yet there is Biblically such a real thing as “RENOWN” yet in modern media, publicity and Fan Club Following, now age, it is very increasingly, difficult to keep a apostolic BALANCE.
AND FIRST… Q. WHY THIS HEAVY TOPIC?
A. BECAUSE..this is the New and maybe Last big move of God.. across the entire earth. And as we are at the beginning of it, let us perhaps learn from both the good, bad, the ugly of some of the old. ” T D’Arcy Creative Leadership A respectful, non self righteous submitted Tennis Ball Selah
Below: the In House TCL, DFW Leader View regarding “Bible true prosperity” more coming later. (has a MYOB slant)
WIDELY NOTE….THIS ARTICLE IS PRO UNITY…“Ephesians 4, Psalm 133, Whole Unified Body is where God commands His Blessings”
NOTE: this concerns a comment I submitted on Christian Post Dec 14, 2018 …regarding a senior pastor honoring his wife with a $200K motor vehicle. I penned, then edited, this general pithy comment. Note, it is a culmination of realistic thought since the Jim Bakker TV scandals, many following deemed as scandals… Each reader may make their own decision about the MYOB comments.
THE CUTTING EDGE IS BALANCE and AVOID MINISTRY ACCUSATION ..AVOID STIRRING UP THE HORNET OF MINISTRY, CHRISTIAN BLAMING… ACCUSATION
THIS LINK : Christian Post web article in which it describes the anniversary gift of a 200K Lamborghini car..purchased with their own TV reality show monies, not with church, pastors, ministry funds. (there were at least 2 maybe 3 about this on that site)
I frankly enjoy Pastor Gray’s lively uncompromising, preaching! Just found him recently on You Tube! I won’t be the one to throw any religious rocks.
M.Y.O.B. IN THE BEGINNING OF THIS (IMPENDING NEW PERIOD) OF JESUS FOLLOWING
NOTE: this is the comment I posted but with editing, spell corrections, a few added remaining thoughts.
(C)2018 Taveau Creative Leadership All copyrights reserved
THE COMMENT: WHAT IS MY AND YOUR BUSINESS VERSUS A PROFESSIONAL MINISTER’S OWNERSHIP AND DISPLAY OF MATERIAL POSSESSIONS?
This same real issue has been in my pensive thoughts since 1980’s TV Jim Bakker Scandals. And it keeps repeating. However, this time, lets do it differently. Nip it all in the bud. Doctrinally submitted as realistic life selah.
Let’s face it, not everyone is going to be on the same page. The Basic Bottom Line..Let’s avoid Sin Spying, Finger Pointing in Public like in the past age.
Also.. did anyone go to Matthew 18:15-17 upfront this confront sr pastor in PERSON? Or Galatians 6:1? Otherwise, that’s tattling, racing to media, firing up everyone…MINUS humble personal one to one CONFRONTATION prior to writing such a huge highly controversial article.
Frankly, that’s why I removed myself from “professional ministry” as the Accuser is reflected VS the MYOB Leader, non sin spying, Messiah. And targeting, guilt big insinuating… “accusing in public”…and once again giving the Big Critic one more reason not to respect Christ…happens to be one my own biggest doctrinal pet peeves.
While I sincerely advocate “avoid ostentatious displays of leader material possessions” I still regard the motives and the sources of the funds. I also note, my own personal heart and what GOD may be doing to test ME about how I react.
Q. How about all of us who are so eager to keep tabs on everyone’s life, business and material possessions each MYOB and file this big fancy Lamborghini one, as under Common Doctrines of Ephesians 4. His CHOICE and it is between him and God .
COMMON DOCTRINE EPHESIANS 4 PDF: https://onlinefellowship.us/?page_id=8853
Yet, it is my own personal leader opinion that wisdom says, in this go round, potential cross multicultural rural, grass roots, urban , inner revival, that based on Critical Accusation left ofter from last moves TV Scandals, I personal advocate, practice:
1) don’t flaunt material wealth, possessions as these things don’t last, only cause big suspicion controversy (historically)
2) let conscience be YOUR and MY and OUR guide. God uses Grand King Solomon’s as well as Mother Teresa’s
3) God just might tell someone to buy something, own giant mansions and have stables of horses: SIMPLY to test each one of us to see if WE will accuser pompously judge “God uses the foolish things of this world to confound the worldly wise in EACH of us”
4) As for my leadership wisdom MYOB: but if one is so offended, upset, then submit to Matt 18:15-18 and not penning inflammatory web articles, which create more judging accusation, and suspicion. “blaming, division” in Christ’s beleagured body. 5) what’s between ME and GOD is MY leader business.
A Big However…yet, if YOU presume that YOU are “over everyone else” then submit to respectful, Matthew 18:15-17/Galatians 6:1 private confrontation.
I also take note: This pastor did not use any ministry , pastoral funds.
WHILE his car purchase may be a bit too showy for my own personal inner direction, guidance..nonetheless… I will regard this appearing to be soley loving personal choice (to honor his wife) as this human pastor’s choice rather as MY test as before the LORD…yet that is MY own view, and the reader must decide inside their own clean, non bigoted conscience.
THUS I will NOT accuse or blame or even mention it except that based on bringing it out as an example of what triggers whole Christian body needless insinuations, ministry accusatation in all history. Thus I firmly believe that it is WISE not to stir things up by being ostentatious.
MYOB WITH NOBLE BEREAN TOP LEADER BIBLE STUDY
Perhaps if we pick and choose what is GOOD about “having faith for finances, business, ministry, family” but avoid excess…and materialism and nasty finger pointing…it may behoove each and every single one us to take ownership to Noble Berean Bible Study the TOP ORIGINAL FOUNDER’S doctrine, lifestyle and personal relationship FRUIT.(of every movement, denomination)… But then take note that what goes in following generations, currently.. passed way down, but added onto, warped, traditionally as well as “new winds, Fadducees Trends’ of what is now common POPULAR TV MEDIA being affected doctrine, in all walks of life.(And this latter is one more of my pet doctrinal peeves.)
REAL REASON FOR THE “NO OSTENTATIOUS OBVIOUS DISPLAYS OF LEADER WEALTH” ** Unless one is specifically directed to…Common Doctrine Ephesians 4
HERE’S THE REAL ONLY REASON…. IF we want to regain the basic TRUST which as been lost in the last 25-35 TV media strongly effected accusative ministry years. BOTTOM LINE on this one. It’s HIS and GOD’S BUSINESS.
Now… All please Leave me to mind my God given own.
BOTTOM LINE: Let him give this nice present and ENJOY. However, in light of needless critical press ….I saw, let’s honor in the future, in perhaps less showy but equally sincere ways.. BUT if the LORD tells YOU to GO ALL OUT… then GO FOR IT. Please GOD not any HUMAN.
Besides, perhaps the Lord said, “enjoy my Freedom in Christ” so that I can stir up all the RELIGIOUS HORNETS as some sort of Christian test!! Plus to bring it all to the forefront..before , during, God’s New Move….(As Who really knows the mind of the Giving Blessing Lord)
(C)2018 Taveau Creative Leadership All copyrights reserved
