So my question is this, if the servants of the church drive Mercedes Benz and live an extravagant life far beyond that of the majority of their parishioners, how will we recognize the second coming of the leader of the movement, Jesus? Is Jesus' church about servanthood or profitability? Are we really paying homage to the concept of love one another or merely using it as an excuse to live well off the hard work of those who live less?
Couched in a picture of a take out dinner or a used coat fund drive, are disturbing images of pastors driving limousines, Mercedes and Lexus in congregations of Fords and Chevrolets. The CEO of a private business can be expected to flaunt the rewards of his business expertise, but the servants of the Lord? In many congregations "What Would Jesus Do" is a catchy little phrase to use with the Sunday School and the youth group, but don't interject it when it comes to compensation.
For sure the vast majority of pastors around the globe live hand to mouth. The circuit riders of our past and present lived on and survive on hand outs and endowments. The director of the Mission and the housekeeper of the local congregation will never see great economic success from the late night visits to the hospital or the consolation of a congregant. The local congregants running the food drive and the hospice program do not envision great wealth coming from the servanthood of Christ. What is unfortunate is that there are those who see congregational success as a path to personal fortune. The road of Jesus is a different road than the road of business. When one views the excess of the leaders, one becomes quite skeptical and cynical of the flock. That is most unfortunate, and it turns many away from the path of the mentor.
The basics draws the followers, back to the basics should always be the driving force of the leaders.
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