There’s a controlling spirit in some Christian churches
Rod Smith
April 18, 2008
It has become more and more evident in recent years. The people (maybe they should be called sheeple) are controlled and manipulated from the platform.
Usually it’s done by two or three, who literally do everything while all the others are spectators. Pastors will often say, “The church is us” – meaning everyone - but the behaviour doesn't match.
A mindset is created that only the pastor and one or two others are spiritual enough to take part in the action. The rest, in the eyes of the controllers, don’t measure up. Many church attendees read their bibles and are spiritually mature – yet their talents are ignored.
The controllers reveal their true colours if challenged. Immediately they become defensive. Anyone questioning the status quo is branded a stirrer or troublemaker and accused of “disrupting the unity.” A truly humble leader would listen, and ask him/herself if there is any truth in what the challenger is saying.
A church service is probably the only public meeting where everyone sits and listens like the proverbial church mouse, and never gets to comment on or question publicly what is said and done.
Controlling should have no place in the church. In fact the Bible says in 1 Peter 5:3 that elders (surely pastors too) should not be lords over the flock. Most of the controllers don’t seem to have read that bit.
We see control in praying over the sick. The sheeple are conditioned to believe that the only persons worthy of doing so are the controllers.
An example: the pastor says, “Jim is sick. He’s having an operation next week. Will some of you gather round Jim and pray over him.” It sounds democratic, and a few people duly surround Jim, Some do pray, but the only prayer that can be heard by all is either the pastor or his wife speaking the prayer into the microphone. They make sure theirs is the overriding prayer.
What does the Bible say? “Believers shall lay hands upon the sick and they shall recover.” That was Jesus speaking in Mark 16:15. Who are believers? Those (plural) who believe! Every church has plenty of them but they’re not invited to take part.
People should be taught how to have their own faith, so they are not dependent on the pastor/assistant when they get sick. What will church members do when experiencing a stabbing pain at 3 am - and the pastor and his offsider are at a conference 300 miles away?
Another aspect that needs cleaning up is the area of spiritual gifts. The dynamic Early Church identified who had what gifts, then made sure they were used by all for the benefit of all. Many of today’s churches (those who don’t dismiss the gifts outright) make no effort to identify and make use of those in the congregation who have those spiritual gifts. This is part of the controlling that goes on.
It takes discernment to spot that, but when the churchgoer sees it, he/she would do well to relocate to where there is genuine humility – and no-one being a controller.
Leonard Ravenhill said: “The Holy Spirit never gets to operate on Sunday. What He will do is decided the preceding Wednesday, when the Sunday program is printed.”
Usually it’s done by two or three, who literally do everything while all the others are spectators. Pastors will often say, “The church is us” – meaning everyone - but the behaviour doesn't match.
A mindset is created that only the pastor and one or two others are spiritual enough to take part in the action. The rest, in the eyes of the controllers, don’t measure up. Many church attendees read their bibles and are spiritually mature – yet their talents are ignored.
The controllers reveal their true colours if challenged. Immediately they become defensive. Anyone questioning the status quo is branded a stirrer or troublemaker and accused of “disrupting the unity.” A truly humble leader would listen, and ask him/herself if there is any truth in what the challenger is saying.
A church service is probably the only public meeting where everyone sits and listens like the proverbial church mouse, and never gets to comment on or question publicly what is said and done.
Controlling should have no place in the church. In fact the Bible says in 1 Peter 5:3 that elders (surely pastors too) should not be lords over the flock. Most of the controllers don’t seem to have read that bit.
We see control in praying over the sick. The sheeple are conditioned to believe that the only persons worthy of doing so are the controllers.
An example: the pastor says, “Jim is sick. He’s having an operation next week. Will some of you gather round Jim and pray over him.” It sounds democratic, and a few people duly surround Jim, Some do pray, but the only prayer that can be heard by all is either the pastor or his wife speaking the prayer into the microphone. They make sure theirs is the overriding prayer.
What does the Bible say? “Believers shall lay hands upon the sick and they shall recover.” That was Jesus speaking in Mark 16:15. Who are believers? Those (plural) who believe! Every church has plenty of them but they’re not invited to take part.
People should be taught how to have their own faith, so they are not dependent on the pastor/assistant when they get sick. What will church members do when experiencing a stabbing pain at 3 am - and the pastor and his offsider are at a conference 300 miles away?
Another aspect that needs cleaning up is the area of spiritual gifts. The dynamic Early Church identified who had what gifts, then made sure they were used by all for the benefit of all. Many of today’s churches (those who don’t dismiss the gifts outright) make no effort to identify and make use of those in the congregation who have those spiritual gifts. This is part of the controlling that goes on.
It takes discernment to spot that, but when the churchgoer sees it, he/she would do well to relocate to where there is genuine humility – and no-one being a controller.
Leonard Ravenhill said: “The Holy Spirit never gets to operate on Sunday. What He will do is decided the preceding Wednesday, when the Sunday program is printed.”
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