Posts by John – Page 35 – The Gospel First

Things I’ve learned on personality, power, friendship, and integrity.

Pastoring for over 30 years has taught me a lot about myself and a lot about other Christian leaders. I had a friend early on with whom I spent a lot of time discussing ministry. He was like a mentor to me. By human standards he was a successful pastor with enormous influence. I liked being around his engaging personality and enjoying his favor. As time went on, I suspected that he often played loosely with the truth. Some would even say that he was a pathological liar. Yet, he was my friend and I excused his ‘imperfection’ and overlooked it. As time moved on and my journey took me down a different theological and philosophical path, our friendship ended and I became the object of his innuendoes. Looking back, our friendship was not deep for if it had been, I would have confronted him along the way about his lack of integrity and he would have loved me even though I took a different path. Admittedly, as a young pastor I loved the presence of power and influence too much. Later in life, we pursued friendship again. I had experienced enough disappointment to no longer be enamored with personality and success, and he had suffered enough pain to be humbled. Continue reading “Things I’ve learned on personality, power, friendship, and integrity.”

‘as a matter of fairness’

13 For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness 14 your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. 15 As it is written, “Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.”

Is there a biblical call and example for Christians and churches with greater resources to share those resources with people and churches that have need? Has the personal pursuit of the ‘good life’ and the obsession with ‘bigger and better’ in American Christianity not only deterred Christians and churches from their obligation to the poor in general but also caused them to disregard the needs of people and churches in impoverished areas? The answer to both questions is resoundingly, YES! Continue reading “‘as a matter of fairness’”