Recently I read a news story about pastors who have been led into atheism. These are all evangelical men, some with more than 20 years of experience in the pulpit. They’ve turned to a belief that God does not exist. Here is part of the article:
There is among us a prevalent manipulation that is relentlessly reaching out for us in order to destroy our faith. This force has an ally; and this ally is resident in us. My flesh becomes the connection that Satan needs to link with– to make it work. The Bible calls this residing connection, ‘the old man’.
Some of the ‘brothers’ who now walk in apostasy to the Faith still remain in ministry. Even though they don’t believe anymore, they continue to preach and counsel their congregations. Many will only speak out under the condition of anonymity.
One in particular said it was somewhat difficult to continue to work in the ministry. “But I just look at it as a job and do what I’m supposed to do,” he said. “I’ve done it for years.”
This pastor said, that when speaking to parishioners, he tried to stick to the sections of the Bible that he still believed in — the parts about being a good person. Many pastors say that they would like to leave their jobs but they can’t afford to.
Please someone, and correct me if I’m wrong, but doesn’t the Bible speak of shepherds and hired men? Some who are called by God, and others who do it for money? Does this disturb anyone but me?
“He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.”
John 10:13
These ‘pastors’ and their issues of faith are all on the heart of God. He loves these men. His Son died for them. They are precious. But they make an effort to conceal themselves, in order that they will continue to receive the wages/benefits they’ve become accustomed to.
When I was ordained into the ministry, it came with the provision that if I could not remain faithful that I was obligated to ‘step down’. If I ever become conflicted, I would voluntarily remove myself from the ministry. It was part of the ‘package’ and it came with that understanding. Ordination for me was as much a decision to be faithful as it was for empowerment from above.
There is so much confusion, but that is characteristic of the times in which we live. Our shepherds are an increasingly influential part of our lives in these last days. They guide and preach the Word to us. We owe much to our pastors.
Perhaps we have not prayed for them like we should? (!)
As a result they’ve become casualties. (Pray for your pastor).
There is a desperate need for us to take the darkness seriously. It has a pulling power to reach out and latch upon us. It opens its mouth to swallow us into a never-ending night. Everything that strays ends up in its claws. The thing that saves us is the presence of Jesus. His hand on our lives removes us out of Satan’s claim.
But the darkness has an incredibly sweet allure. It’s a power that is beyond our comprehension. It seems at first to want to enhance us. Satan causes us to think that we are immune or superior to all that God has commanded. Darkness is at work in our minds and we will begin to walk into even more foolishness. Our deception only deepens as we start to diminish the very tenets of discipleship.
Truth does not come to those who are trading their salvation for even more darkness.
Duplicity is just another form of hypocrisy and deception, you can’t sugarcoat poop and make it good to eat. A lie is still a lie no matter who is speaking it.
” But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.”
Galatians 1:8
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P.S. The story that ‘got me going’ is found here.
http://abcnews.go.com/WN/atheist-ministers-leading-faithful/story?id=12004359
