During the course of my career in gospel music, and what I came to refer to as corporate ministry, I had the opportunity to observe a great deal of that human nature, to which I refer in another article titled, "Pathway to Paradise". From my perspective, it seems that I was allowed to become thoroughly acquainted with a fairly large number of Christian artists, teachers, preachers and musicians. What I saw then is still at work today. So this is a word of warning to those who think times, cultural revolution and revelations of corruption have altered the course of man's behavior.
Before I comment further I want to make it clear that not all corporate ministry is bad. In fact, a great deal of good work, which would otherwise be lacking, is done by those laboring under difficulties and obstacles that boggle the mind. The body of Christ is quite alive and well despite all efforts of the enemy to marginalize the greater good that exists within whole body of sincere believers. My comments are specifically about those who are in ministry for the wrong reasons... wolves in shepherd's clothing so to speak. Professional Christians with worldly ambitions of greater power, authority, influence and wealth by means of producing products and selling goods to the foolish, the gullible and the ignorant. It is about those who preach, teach and prophesy falsely that they have the final and most 'certain' interpretation of Scripture. Many of us, who seek to walk before the Lord with fear and reverence know that those who do these things almost always end with legacy lost, or worse, death and destruction.
The malefactors, of whom I write, occupy the thrones of their ministry kingdom with the same absolute authority of a sitting monarch. Beyond the reach of mere mortals, they have an inner circle; a royal court of die-hard sycophants who endorse the king's every utterance as though they were the words of God. There is an outer court of inner court hopefuls pushing, shoving and warring among themselves for any recently vacated inner court position, and a vast majority of serfs and slaves whose only purpose is to finance and serve the opulent lifestyle of the monarch in whom they have placed their faith. These misguided would-be monarchs behave as though they bear the royal title, 'Fourth Person of the Holy Trinity'. On stage, or in the pulpit, the spotlight illuminates the outer appearance of their perceived magnificence, but rarely, if ever, reflects the hypocrisy, selfishness and psychopathic megalomania that truly defines them. They put on a good show, playing the role of God's anointed; a show that is entertaining, compelling and all too often, convincing. This is a tragedy as both king and kingdom have imagined that their tiny domain represents a majority of the redeemed.
It is no wonder then that I have often concluded that it is a good thing, in fact, a 'blessed beyond belief' thing, that these ministerial kings and their kingdoms are confined to a minuscule minority. God forbid they ever gain control over a vast population for their domain would be no different than Marx in theory, Hitler in holocaust or Stalin in terror. It's likely, they would have me beheaded for the audacity of these comments. But know this, humanism, vastly more than Christianity, is their true world view.
Remember, true believers are citizens of a Kingdom not made by man and the moving parts of a body directed by the will and mind of God.
Keep in your heart these words written by Paul the Apostle (Ephesians 4:1 - 6 KJV)...
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.