Pilgrimage

Life is cheap…or so modern society would have us think it is. The cost of an early murder-in-utero is only a few hundred dollars.

Secular science has proven the life of a baby in the womb is distinctly separate from the mother. Secular science has proven that the baby in the womb IS NOT just tissue, but is an actual living human. The debate on abortion has moved past this concept. While in years past it would have been horrific to acknowledge these things and still be a proponent of abortion it is now becoming socially acceptable. Abortionists now argue that population control and the welfare of the more highly developed (i.e. the mother) is a more important consideration than protecting life in the womb. I have not time to articulate this slipperly slope other than to ask what are the future implications for the mentally handicapped? the elderly? terminally ill?

In a ministry leadership sense, abortion is fairly chic as well. It is abortion of a different kind but nonetheless leaves a similar stench. The church is aborting its future leaders. Just as society has deprived itself of great thinkers, artisans, philosophers and humanitarians, the church is depriving itself of its future apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers.

This is one of the main reasons evangelical churches are becoming rapidly and even overly institutionalized. Institutionalization maintains the status quo and provides stability for those in the system. When the overwhelming majority of evangelical ministers and denominational leadership are within 10 years of retirement, we are aborting our future generation of leaders.

Please know that I love the church. My heart yearns to be with God’s people and enjoy the fellowship and dynamic of corporate worship. I believe; however, that God is calling us to a new reformation. The system of active church leadership must change or we will fail the future. Personally, I need the direction and counsel of those who have gone before me and those who stand beside me in pastoral ministry…and yes, I even need the counsel of those who are coming up after me. This is the inherent beauty in the body of Christ.

The local church is the engine that drives the training and development of future men and women of God. Unfortunately, the plague of power-preachers who fill the pulpit every service, every Sunday and then proclaim their tedious work of mentoring others are a stain on the church. When I was in Bible College, there were guys studying to be pastors who had never had the opportunity to preach in any venue in their home church! They had not been mentored and preached their first sermon for a semester grade.

After His disciples were with Him only a little while, Jesus sent his disciples out two by two to cast out demons, preach the gospel, and heal the sick. He trusted them with ministry. In His three years of earthly ministry, Jesus spent the majority of his time with 12 men preparing them to take over what he had started. After His death, He spent only 40 days teaching them the reality of His resurrection and coming earthly triumph.

Prophetically, scripture indicates that in the last days all generations will equally share in the abundance and blessing of the Lord’s anointing. There is a reciprocal relationship between younger leaders and their aging counterparts. We all have something to learn from one another. For those in Christian ministry, let’s purpose to “choose life” both with regards to the littlest of God’s wonderful creations and with regards to those who are called into His harvest.