Psuedo-Ministry

PSEUDO-MINISTRY

You must be able to differentiate between real ministry and that which we have defined as ministry. This is especially true as it relates to the local church. Pastors have surmised the church to be that which tradition has rendered unto us. But I challenge this picture. Though I dare not be so bold as to say there are no churches which meet the criteria of the script, but I will say that most of what we have seen is not the creation of the Spirit of God. However, it has been before us for so long that many of us adopted it as acceptable simply because there was no challenge to it. It is the mindset of local pastors who inherited the same from their fathers in the Lord that has caused the church to become a prize for the wanton. One well-known author used the term pseudo-ministry.

This word pseudo means fake, simulated, imitation, artificial, bogus, counterfeit, and not real. The implication here is that there is a type of pastorate that seems to be the real thing, but in essence is only a counterfeit of the real thing.

The apostles are the only examples and instructors as to how the early church was to function.

Acts 6: 1-4

1 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.

The twelve chose to give themselves over to study, prayer and preaching. Just as Peter and the other apostles came to a crossroad in ministry, so have the pastors and bishops of the reformation come to their crossroads. They have to decide whether they are real pastors or administrators.

There is a two-fold problem here. Many who are working in the pastorate are really only administrators.

They know secular administration, and that is what they implement in the church, along with a little preaching and a little counselling, and there you have the pastorate.

On the other hand, we have pastors who are really called to the office, but are now functioning in the church as administrators. They are given over to paperwork and event coordinating and many other tasks, that take them away from study, prayer, and ministering. Many of them also have families that the church may not be able to support, so they in turn have to find a secular job to make ends meet. Between the job, the church administration, and the family, when do they have time to spend in the Word or in meaningful prayer and supplication?

The fact that pastors are always busy around the church doing administrative matters makes them feel as if they are working for God. But this is pseudo-ministry. It is not the real thing. Pastors of the church must not entangle themselves with the affairs of this life or the administration of the Church. We are to follow the example of the apostles. Give the administration of the house over to those we are commanded to give it to.

The pastor must be able to focus on the things he was called to do.

Acts 6:2-4

2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.

3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

1. PRAY

Prayer is the platform for ministry. It is communication with God. For more detailed information as to how to pray effectively for your ministry, seek out my ministerial training modules, Lord Teach Us to Pray Part I & II. It will suffice me to say here that without prayer you will have no power in your ministry.

The church is called to preach the gospel and make disciples in every nation. There is no way this commission can be fulfilled without prayer and the sweet communion of the Holy Ghost. And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following (St. Mark 16:20).

Prayer is the revelation of your faith in God. It is also an expression of your humility towards Him. Prayer says you do not trust in the arm of flesh, but the arm of God in your ministry. The lack of prayer is arrogance and presumption. This is another reason we have seen only brief glimpses of the power of the Holy Ghost in the local church.

When we walk in holiness and pray, the anointing for ministry is released in our personage. Holiness and prayer are the keys to walking in the power to destroy the works of Satan in the lives of others. Out of our bellies will flow rivers of living water.

2. STUDY

Paul told Timothy to study to show himself approved of God. A pastor who does not study is one who assumes he knows the heart and mind of God and does not need to seek any further. The same is true of those pastors who never avail themselves to the training platforms the Holy Spirit establishes in the reformation.

Romans 10: 17

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Listen to the CDs and DVDs of your apostle and other good ministers in the reformation. Unless you are very mature in the faith, it is not good for you to mix the manna. It might be that you are not skillful enough to sift out that which is not right. Allow the word that is coming into the reformation to build you up in the faith.

This form of study will:

• Increase your faith

• Keep you in the presence of God

• Cause the Word to sink into your spirit

• Deliver continual training

3. PREACH AND TEACH

The pastor must be the teacher. Your teaching must be systematic. It must be in accordance with what the Spirit wants to do at that time in the lives of the people. You may have to abandon your pet message and go with the flow of the Holy Ghost, if you are to be effective in raising the children of God. Stay within the boundaries set by the apostle, and when there is need to go back to the beginning, the material is there to feed the flock. It was good food when you ate it; it will be good food to the sheep you now lead.

Teaching establishes doctrines and principles in the church.

Consider the parable of the sower.

St. Mark 4:14-20

14The sower soweth the word.

15And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. 16And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;

17And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.

18And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word;

19And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

20And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.

Consider that when you teach or preach you are dealing with at least these four types of people in the Church. But only one of them really received the message and brought forth fruit. This parable allows us to know that we must be fervent, consistent, and redundant in teaching, in order to establish a doctrine or principle in the hearts of the entire congregation. The occassional preaching of a subject will not establish it in the lives of the people. We will miss some, but the consistency of a teaching will help to gather more.

You will never be able to bring members of the congregation to perfection unless the principles and doctrines of God are established in the minds and hearts of the flock. Certain doctrines must be established before the congregation can move on to perfection.

ESTABLISHING DOCTRINES IN YOUR CHURCH

• Teach a series on the subject you are trying to establish.
• Instruct the under-shepherds to teach on the same subject matter.
• Jesus said that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established (St. Matthew 18:16).
• Instruct the auxiliary leaders to minister it in their settings.
• Call in other members of the reformation to minister the same doctrine.
• If need be, consult the apostle for guidance and guidelines.
• If there are already good teachings on the subject do not be afraid or reluctant to show the DVDs and piggyback off of them.

4. VISITATION

When I was a little girl about 6 or 7 years old, while playing, I was in an accident that cut into my ankle. I remember a man with snow white hair standing over me and working on my ankle. It was the town doctor. Well, needless to say, the days of the house-calling doctor are gone. In most cases, the same is true of the visiting house-to-house pastor.

Hebrews 6: 1

Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection ...

The disciples not only ministered in the temple, but they also ministered in the homes of those who were willing to allow them to come in and share the gospel. Every now and then, a pastor will come to a home to pray for the sick. But to simply come and share the gospel has been totally deleted from the list of pastoral responsibilities.

Some pastors encourage others to do these visitations and bible studies. But the pastor is a leader. He is not the one to point the way. He is to lead by example and be a partaker of those things he instructs others to do.

The pastor should not refuse a genuine request for a house visit. This is a cry for help that must not be ignored. He or she must also be able to discern when a home visit is needed.

Though visitations are good and needful, a pastor must be wise and tempered in such visitations.

5. INTERACTION

The pastor must be one who interacts with the flock. There might be any number of reasons a person will join one of our churches, but it is their interaction with the members and the leader that will keep them there.

Acts 2:46

And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house

Proverbs 25: 17

Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour’s house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.

The pastor must not be a respecter of persons. He must interact with all kinds of people, for the flock of God is diverse in cultures, races, and socio-economic issues. The pastor must not be biased in his or her interaction with any.

The pastor must be hospitable and make everyone feel that they are significant and cared for. They must feel that, “My pastor loves me and does indeed pray for me.”

Interaction with the flock will dispel any misconceptions people may have of the pastor. It is not fruitful for the pastor to take the “I don’t care what you think” attitude.

The pastor’s interaction with the flock will bring about more commitment to the ministry. Interact with a friendly, smiling face.

The local church is a community of people who have decided to unite together to worship God in like manner. The pastor is the leader of that community. You must make all the citizens of that community feel welcome and cared for. The life of Christ within you will do it.

Proverbs 18:24

A man that hath friends must show himself friendly

Hebrews 13:20-21

20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen