The American Church’s Dirtiest Little Secret

Check out this amazing post by David Foster on “The American Church’s Dirtiest Little Secret”…

The real dirty little secret in the American church is that we regularly, relentlessly, and without mercy beat-up, chew-up and spit-out our leaders.

I have to say that I have experienced every one of the five characteristics Foster lines out.

1. We starve them
2. We have outrageously unreasonable expectations of our leaders.
3. We strip them of power.
4. We let pretend leaders bully them.
5. We leave them in financial peril.

I really appreciate a ministry veteran who sticks out his neck to help change the system. That has been my prayer all these years when I have been in the middle of being “beat-up, chewed-up, and spit-out”– that I would be able to help the next generation of leaders behind me.

I honestly don’t plan on retiring from ministry. I don’t see retirement in the Bible, actually. We are all on mission, our entire lives!  I suppose I will preach until I am able to do it physically. However, while I am young (sort of) and have the energy and some influence to do something about it; I want to make the Church the beautiful thing she was created–for everyone involved, especially the leaders in the Church! I want to be able to give back to the Church and her leaders what my mentors poured into me! I am not the same pastor today because of their help along the way!

I absolutely love his heart as he concludes his post! Thank you, David!

The church’s dirty little secret has to grieve the heart of God.  For how do we say we’re churches who love Jesus, respect God, and believe His Word, and treat His leaders so badly? If we want to set the example to the world around us of what Christians ought to look like, can we really do that and continue to fire, malign, and starve out God’s called leaders?

I, for one, am thankful for those who have loved me, taken care of me, supported me, and carried me; those who have come to my aid and watched my back.  Because I’ve gotten the love and support I’ve needed, I’ve been able to not only sustain my ministry for 38 years, I can say that I am more excited and have more vision for the future than ever before.

Love your leaders!  Those who serve you and lead you are worthy of double honor!  Think about it, if your church’s leaders are growing up in Christ and flourishing in their faith, won’t your church do the same?

Check out the Full Post: The American Church’s Dirtiest Little Secret « David Foster.