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How the Church is Killing the Gospel

Five and a half years ago our son died.

My husband and I had been kingdom workers for a long time. We had made our living by the gospel for about 10 years at that point.

In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel. 1 Cor 9:14

Then, during this wretched season of loss, when we were totally crush, a church that had been supporting us withdrew their financial support. Not because a different gospel was being preached (Galatians 1: 6-10), not because a distorted doctrine was being preached (2 John 10) and not because the work had been deserted (2 Timothy 4:10) but because of a Facebook post. A Facebook post that a member found offensive to his or her sense of tradition.

I have sat on this for five plus years. I have shared this with only a handful of people. Today I feel a need to come out with what this did, not just to me, but what this thing is doing to the church of Jesus Christ.

What is this thing?

Treating preachers of the gospel (Romans 10:14-15) and their financial support with a callous disregard for who they are as men, the families they support and the personal wars that are waging within.

Preachers are not employees. 

Paul evokes an Old Testament image when he calls Timothy, “man of God” in 1 Timothy 1:11. This description is used of men like Moses, David and Elijah. It draws our attention to who these men are employed by. They are employed by the One True God.

Churches are not employers. 

Does the church hire a preacher? Should preachers come “try out” and see if they make the cut?  My imagination hears the words of the Apostle Paul saying, “MAY IT NEVER BE!”

The picture of ministry that is painted throughout the New Testament, and especially the life of Paul, is that of men who are called to preach, leaving their occupation and their homes to do the only thing that will quench the burning in their bones.  As they travel or settle, the household of God, the church, meets their needs.

The Philippian church excelled in this. (Read Philippians here.)

The church is described as a body, a family and a bride, but never a company, a business or corporation.

Cruelty 

The prophet Malachi said, “To divorce your wife is to overwhelm her with cruelty” (Malachi 2:16).

“The godly care for their animals, but the wicked are always cruel” (Proverbs 12:10). 

Abandonment is cruel.

Five years later I still catch myself sitting in this moment of my life. I remember the feeling of disbelief. I remember the feeling of rejection. I remember feeling abandoned. In the single most difficult moment of my life these people pulled in the life line to let us drown and it was cruel.

Preachers don’t want it.

We don’t do this life for the praise of men. We don’t do it to be wildly adored. But many good men and women are running away from their calling because they are afraid of how they will be treated by their own.

Sinners don’t want it. 

There is one distinguishing mark of true believers. Jesus said, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). 

Here’s the thing about the average sinner, we know the tricks of the trade. We know fake. We know insincere. We have been raped by the world’s cruelty for years and we run from it.

We just want to be loved by with an unfailing, faithful love that won’t leave us behind but carries us to the finish line.

Let’s be that. Let’s be that to the preachers of the gospel. Let’s be that to their families. Let’s be that to the world.

 

Jun 12, 2018Serena
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Comments: 9
  1. J.J. Woolf
    7 years ago

    We love you and want you to know that!! We are so sorry for that pain and want you to rest in the fact that Jesus said “it is finished” and He has completed the work on the cross so we can live in His amazing grace and serve Him out of a love that is completely in awe of Him and dependent upon His goodness and grace. Your greatest misery God can make into your greatest ministry.

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  2. Vicki Melton
    7 years ago

    I can’t fully express how heartbreaking your story is to me. If ANYONE represents the LOVE that we are commanded to have, it’s you and Daniel! Love is the first word that comes to my mind when I think of you both. I’m so very sorry for your pain. Please just keep doing what you do. It matters. And you are changing lives that you don’t even realize. May God bless you and always make a way for you. I will be praying for you both, for your children, and for the individuals who caused this hurt.

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  3. kathy wright
    7 years ago

    Your works have shown your heart….I thank you for the support you have given to my children. you and Daniel are hardworking soldiers for Christ…so sorry for all the hurt you have experienced

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    • Serena
      7 years ago

      You know I just want us to do better. To take better care of each other.

      ReplyCancel
  4. Kathy Cooper-Boyle
    7 years ago

    I am aghast.

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    • Serena
      7 years ago

      More of us should be. What is sadder is how many messages I have gotten privately today of people who have very similar experiences.

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  5. Sister in Christ
    7 years ago

    Only the spouse of a gospel preacher or the man himself can know how utterly crushing it is to be regarded as an employee. There is so much more to say here, but perhaps I need another five plus years too.

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  6. Auburn
    7 years ago

    Hey Serena. Still reading your blog after all these years. IMO-Unfortunately, the way many people try and handle “church” is like a business model and that is why people get treated so terribly. It always starts out with good intentions but man can never replicate what God intended for body life. It’s unfortunate and hurtful but God is there in the midst of it all and I am so thankful to have a loving Father who understands and cares for us all. Authenticity is rare and when I find it in someone I cherish it. The fact is many people in “church” are hiding from their sin and can’t be real. They either haven’t been taught or yet learned about Fathers love for them, so they are still insecure and unable to rest in that love to share it with others. Jealousy, gossip, competition, envy .. all these things and more arise from that insecurity. My challenge and struggle is to not become bitter or angry ,but understanding and merciful like Father. I’m not there at all and still insecure myself at times, but know he can transform me to be more like him. Neel and I think of you guys often and hope we have opportunity to see y’all again sometime soon. So much has changed since our last meeting. Keep fighting the good fight.

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    • Serena
      7 years ago

      Still fighting <3

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Serena
7 years ago 9 Comments Uncategorized1,870
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