How To Choose A Pastor For Your Congregation
By Dr. James. A McBean D.Th., MCC
Copyright © 2008 Library of Congress
Washington.D.C.20559
I n today rat race the churches is infested with church robbers and church con-men posing as pastors. How do we choose a pastor? How do we know the ones that mean well, but are not save, and do not know the lord? From the ones that know the lord and are save but has no theological training? Then there is a third group that know the lord, and has theological training, but are very self righteous to the point that they became a treat to newly converted people who will need time to grow up into spiritual maturity.
A church should not have any problem finding a pastor. Each deacons must be given preaching privilege, so they can learn. We see Stephen was a deacon, yet we saw him preaching in the book of acts. Philip also was one of the deacons, and we saw him preaching. The qualification for the bishop was the same for the deacons. If you cannot find a pastor appoint one of your deacons to serve as pastor until a pastor is found.
Act 6:3 Therefore, brothers, look out among you seven men being witnessed to, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this duty. Act 6:4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the Word. Act 6:5 And the saying pleased all the multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicholas, a proselyte of Antioch. Act 6:6 They set these before the apostles. And having prayed, they laid hands on them. Act 6:7 And the Word of God was increasing. And the number of the disciples in Jerusalem was multiplying exceedingly; even a great crowd of the priests obeyed the faith. Act 6:8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
Be Aware Of Politicians Mascot
Some pastors are politician’s mascots. They are not there to serve Jesus by serving the church. Any time the pastor indicates his or her political beliefs’ system he or she is not serving the Lord. It is the lord that set up kings and take them down. If a pastor is fighting secretly or openly against the governments that are ordained he or she is not serving God.
I heard my pastor friend preaching against “Opera” By saying that “She does not believe in God” and encouraging his members not to watch her programed. He also speaks against “Bill Clinton” When a pastor uses the pulpit to teach hate by attacking influential people. He or she is not smart nor demonstrating good judgment. When you insulted the heroes of the people, you insulted the people.
Ecc 10:20 Do not curse a king, no, not in your thought; and do not curse the rich in your bedroom; for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which has wings shall tell the matter.
Be Aware Of Old Prophets
1 Kings 13:11-19 (KJV) Now there dwelt an old prophet in Bethel; and his sons came and told him all the works that the man of God had done that day in Bethel: the words which he had spoken unto the king, them they told also to their father. [12] And their father said unto them, What way went he? For his sons had seen what way the man of God went, which came from Judah. [13] And he said unto his sons, Saddle me the ass. So they saddled him the ass: and he rode thereon, [14] And went after the man of God, and found him sitting under an oak: and he said unto him, Art thou the man of God that camest from Judah? And he said, I am. [15] Then he said unto him, Come home with me, and eat bread. [16] And he said, I may not return with thee, nor go in with thee: neither will I eat bread nor drink water with thee in this place: [17] For it was said to me by the word of the Lord, Thou shalt eat no bread nor drink water there, nor turn again to go by the way that thou camest.
Old Prophets are expert when it comes to half truth and lies.
1 Kings 13:18 (KJV) He said unto him, I am a prophet also as thou art; and an angel spake unto me by the word of the Lord, saying, Bring him back with thee into thine house, that he may eat bread and drink water. But he lied unto him.
Be Aware Of The Money Hungry Pastors
The work of God always need money. However, a genuinely man of God will not be in the ministry primarily for gain and personal vendetta.
1Pe 5:2 Feed the flock of God among you, taking the oversight, not by compulsion, but willingly; nor for base gain, but readily; 1Pe 5:3 nor as lording it over those allotted to you by God, but becoming examples to the flock.
2Ki 5:26 And he said unto him, Went not mine heart with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants? 2Ki 5:27 The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.
FIRST, BE PROVEN.
1 Tim. 3:10 (KJV) And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
1 Tim. 3:1 (KJV) This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. 1 Tim. 3:2 (KJV) A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach; 1 Tim. 3:3 (KJV) Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; 1 Tim. 3:4 (KJV) One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; 1 Tim. 3:5 (KJV) (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) 1 Tim. 3:6 (KJV) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
GOOD REPORT TODAY MEAN THE PERSON IS LIVING BAD.
1 Tim. 3:7 (KJV) Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
Let the pastor open his mouth one time and speak any thing bad against same sex marriage and see how far he reach and see what kind of report he get from that day onward? Good report depends on whom you are talking to. We se where Joshua sent out the spies, to spied out the Canaan land and ten spies came back with bad report. Saying that they saw giants that make them look like grassappers. However, at the same time the grapes that they brought back was big as a lemon. Only two spies brought back the correct report. I am one of the most stubbornness preachers and I have to leave certain topics alone even to remain in the pulpit.
LOOK AT THE REPORT PAUL GET.
Acts 24:5 (KJV) For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes:
Acts 25:7 (KJV) And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove. Acts 24:13 (KJV) Neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me.
LOOK AT THE REPORT THAT JESUS GET.
Mark 6:2 (KJV) And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands? Mark 6:3 (KJV) Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him. Mark 6:4 (KJV) But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honor, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house. Mark 6:5 (KJV) And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.
ALL THE TRUE SERVANTS OF GOD REPUTATION WAS CASTRATED BY THE PEOPLE OF THEIR TIME.
Acts 7:52 (KJV) Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:
SO HOW DO WE PROVE THEM?
It is important to look at their resume, it is important to call those whom they say knows them. It is important to do police check and background check about them. You have to do these necessarily things. You need to do fingerprinting, because many deceivers are gone into the churches. But after you have done these things, it only proves that the person is supposedly clean and is following certain protocol. A bishop must have only one wife. But the church only saw him with one. A smart sinner will never keep a sweet heart in his own neighborhood, in his own Church, and on his own job, because common sense told him that he is only asking for trouble. But that does not mean he does not have girl friend in Tampa, if he is living in Orlando. So how do we prove them?
LET THEM PROVE THEMSELVES.
The best way to catch a wild pig is take the dogs off his trail. The dogs make too much noise and the pig will hear the noise and also smell the dogs. Let the pastor’s work prove him. Seven mouths before you decide on who is going to be the pastor of your church. You must take all the applications, and look at all the applicants. Give them preaching time. You will need to hear them. In Africa, natives do not condemn a piece of stick until they first sound the stick. Choosing a pastor does not go accordingly to color, friendship, or even brilliancy. In the space of seven months, give each applicant several preaching time. Then let the members of your church vote, then the church board votes.
ON WHAT GROUND DO YOU VOTE?
2 Tim. 3:16 (KJV) All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 2 Tim. 3:17 (KJV) That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
We all know that there are some four basic food groups, and the key to health is eating a verity of foods from the four basic food groups. We have dairy products, vegetable and fruit, meat and fish, and finally Bread, Cereals, Rice, and potatoes. It is the same way the word of God has four basic food groups. We have doctrine, reproof, correction, and instructions. Can this pastor feed the church from all four spiritual food groups? Many pastors do not even bother use the reproof sections of the word of God any more, because they scared the money stop roiling in.
My pastor always get empty envelops, when the reprove, correctional section of the word of God is being preached people get offended and sent him empty envelops. The pastor must be able to feed the church from all four basic spiritual food groups. He must be able to defend the church from cults. I never had one member backslide from the faith while I was their pastor. I never had a member who was taking way from the church by cults. I never had a member leave the faith due to hard times. I take from Peter who has more that he can use and give to Paul that are in need.
< A church has one hundred members. And if the pastor ask each member to donate $20 per week differently from their tithes. This equal $2000, this money could be given to one member as down payment on a house, it will not be the best house in town but it is something that one can live in and be proud of.
In one year, fifty two of his members who are paying rent will become home owners. These are the people who came to support the church, because the church was there for them when they were in need. This pastor can ask for tithes, this pastor can preach tithes and offering. He has vision, he is helping the people not only by preaching dry sermons, but he is helping in real time. As you deal with a prospective pastor, you will see his spirit.
REPROOF SECTION OF THE WORD OF GOD.
Proverbs 15:12 (KJV) A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise.
Proverbs 9:7 (KJV) He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.
CHOOSE ABLE MEN.
A good pastor always have a Joshua and a Caleb in training to takeover from him. Every good Paul has a Timothy and Titus in training. Bad pastors are very intimidating of the under dogs.
Exodus 18:21 (KJV) Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:
Exodus 18:25 (KJV) And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.
3 John 1:9 (KJV) I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. 3 John 1:10 (KJV) Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.
The Bearer’s Of The “Mind Sword”
