The Sad State of Pastors Today

Last week I was contacted by one of my cousins in So. Florida who was going through a very stressful time in his life and needed someone to pray with. After we prayed and I shared some scripture he expressed that he wanted to get back in church and asked if I could help him find a good church in his area. I contacted three Pastors in the area and explained the situation to them; all three promised to follow-up with my cousin and help him get back into church. Only one actually followed through and contacted him.

At first this bothered me, even made me a little angry. However, as I prayed God called to mind the study we have been doing in the book of Jude on Sunday nights. Jude warned of a coming age of apostasy where many who claim Jesus only know him in their minds and not their hearts. The surest way to know an apostate is through their deeds. The deeds of an apostate rarely match up with their words. One of the lying pastors was quick to brag about his work and the speeches he gives to the men’s group “Iron sharpens Iron”. He travels across the state to stand in front of large groups to hear their applause but will not drive around the corner to help a hurting soul.

The other lying pastor is a man whose church I attended when I lived in So. Florida. He was confused as to why his ministry had not grown in the past 10 years and blamed it on people moving away. People can sense sincerity. To stand in the pulpit tell people to reach out to your neighbors when you will not pick up the phone sends a conflicted message. People want a pastor who does what he says and is willing to lead by example.

The comfort I drew from this is that the book of Jude is the doorstep to the book of Revelation. We are living in the days that Jude described; we are living in the days of apostasy.

Revalation 22:7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

By the way, the pastor that did respond was Pastor Frank with Grace Fellowship Church of West Palm Beach. I know very little about him or his church but I do know he cares about those who are hurting and he does what he says he will do. Apparently, those are rare traits among pastors today.

Pastor Jay McCaig