Thread by @subomiplumptre

SOME RECENT THOUGHTS ON THE CHURCH | I'm beginning to understand that almost every #socialmedia post (complaint) that begins with "The #Church", actually means, "The Pastor". Part of the problem is the "inversion" of the Christian model.

Instead of physical churches being training grounds that equip saints for the work of the ministry in the world; they've become central expensive bureaucracies where Christians bring their gifts to church. Then, the churches centrally dispense on their behalf, through Pastors.

So, when we say, "Church doesn't do something", we actually mean, "The Pastor doesn't do it", since local churches in Nigeria are "undemocratic" and run by Pastors.

The thing is, no one ever stops Christians from doing anything. You collaborate everyday in business and in society. Stop waiting for a Pastor's permission to make an impact. Stop resenting the fact that the Pastor is not using the money you freely donated, on societal issues.

It was your money in the first place. You can deploy it where you like. Stop enabling central bureaucracy. The "physical" church was originally designed to be a place of teaching, fellowship and power. It is NOT the administrative arm of God's government. The PEOPLE are.

On the issue of money and Pastors - I don't know if there is any New Testament model, where the Pastor solely allocates excessive funds for his personal and exclusive use.

Paul, who designed the first administrative model for the church chose not to. Jesus chose not to. So, I wonder where we got it from.

To those who quote that we must not muzzle those who work, it is instructive that in that analogy, the cattle and the workers are never better fed than those they serve. Soldiers never get entangled in administration.

Teachers never compete with or dominate their students. They equip them for greatness and delight in them graduating and moving on to greater exploits.

There's so much intellectual property the Pastor legitimately owns. So much goodwill that he/she possesses. There are freewill gifts & legal remuneration they have access to. They can be rich if they choose to be and if money is essential to their happiness & family prosperity.

PS: It is amusing to remember that many of our Pastors began ministry as teenagers and young adults. They were exactly in the same shoes we are now. They were frustrated about how church was being practiced and desired something fresh and new.

Many have now become the establishment. Like Nigerian politicians, they are sensitive to criticism and have a tendency to look down on the young and hold on to power.