Chuck Baldwin: Confessions from a Pastor

I am constantly asked, "Chuck, why don't pastors take a stand and speak out?" Here is the stark reality:

The vast majority of church ministries today are "success" oriented. Beginning in Bible college or seminary and continuing throughout a pastor's ministerial life, the emphasis is "success." And that means church growth, larger congregations, bigger buildings, bigger offerings, burgeoning statistics, greater notoriety, denominational praise, invitations to speak at conferences, applause from fellow ministers, greater notoriety, etc.

And the way to be a "success" is to learn from the ones who have done it. Pastors constantly go to pastor's conferences to learn from the "big" church pastors; they buy books, magazines, newsletters on "how to" build a "successful" church; they are bombarded with "success" stories, testimonials, etc.; they are constantly being schooled in the latest and greatest methods of church growth and "success." This usually means more and more sophisticated programs, music, sound, atmosphere, coffee shops, classes, seminars, organization, etc. In truth, the vast majority of pastors more resemble CEOs of corporations.

And the one thing that is considered anathema to "success" is controversy. And nothing is more controversial than politics. Therefore, pastors quickly learn to avoid anything remotely resembling politics. They justify this decision by saying things like "God hasn't called me to get involved in politics," or "I'm trying to build a church," or "That's not our mission," etc. Plus, most churches are up to their eyeballs in debt and are afraid that if they say anything political, they will lose members--and that means losing offerings.

Have you not noticed how so many pastors spiritualize away virtually every Biblical example of resistance to evil government mentioned throughout the Scriptures? And if they are pinned down about it, pastors will say, "That was another time." Have you not noticed how they are unwilling to make any of the great Bible stories relevant to anything practical and germane in American political life? For all intents and purposes, the modern American church is completely irrelevant to anything and everything relating to our philosophical and political life.

And as long as people keep attending these churches, keep giving money to these churches, and keep supporting these churches, the pastors will NEVER take a stand and they will NEVER get involved. The only way Christians can start making a difference in turning this country around is to GET OUT OF THESE CLUELESS, COWARDLY CHURCHES. Find a pastor who is not trying to be "successful." You don't need a "successful" pastor; you need a truthful pastor.

But that means that the people sitting in the pews must truly WANT to be in a church that takes a stand, doesn't it? We have the kind of pastors and churches we support. It that's the case, we should stop complaining about the indifference of our pastors and churches and simply accept the imminent slavery to which they are leading us.