...What the church needs is a revival of sacrifice. We are lazy, and fat, and drunk, on the pleasures of this world. You need to quit trying to push your agenda, railroading your pastor, and bartering with God.
How about a spirit of meekness and service instead? Would God that someone would FOR ONCE IN THEIR MISERABLE LIVES try their best to support their pastor and his family instead of bashing their heads up against the wall every time they do something you disagree with."
WOW! I was fine until I got to this part of your speech. Here is my response to the attitude in these two paragraphs...
I have been in the UPC movement for 3 generations and my wife for 4 generations. We love this truth and have instilled a love for it and the Holy God who sanctioned it. HOWEVER, over the last 20 years, we have watched ministry in the UPC ranks become rich and increased with goods to the extent that it is sinful! We see and know men and women in the ministry, pastors and the families, who think that they are not supposed to fellowship with the saints; pastors wives who will not even speak to the saints who pay for her $1 million home, clothes, expensive cars and trips, her children's education, etc; pastors who take in 100% of the tithes ($1.5 to $3 Million a year) and don't account for a penny of it; pastors who hunt, fish, and golf: pastors who travel and go to every conference around the continential U.S. and are never available for the sick and elderly in their churches.
YEA, we need sacrifice back in the church, but it needs to start with the leaders, not the saints. GOD himself became the sacrificial example for us all through sonship and death. SACRIFICE begins at the top.
Sell your motorhomes, sell your fishing camps, sell your million dollar+ homes and start fasting and praying and you will see a change in the saints of GOD!
Look, I have been living extremely sacrificially for many years now. If you only knew the extent of it. I have given literally everything I have to God.
My house is small, my vehicle is a minivan that is seven years old, and my camper is a pop-up. The reason why I fish is because it is relaxing and cheap entertainment.
There is definitely abuse by some.
But sacrifice should be an equal opportunity Christian experience. We shouldn't demand leadership to sacrifice when laity isn't willing to either.
Look, I have been living extremely sacrificially for many years now. If you only knew the extent of it. I have given literally everything I have to God.
My house is small, my vehicle is a minivan that is seven years old, and my camper is a pop-up. The reason why I fish is because it is relaxing and cheap entertainment.
There is definitely abuse by some.
But sacrifice should be an equal opportunity Christian experience. We shouldn't demand leadership to sacrifice when laity isn't willing to either.
Amen. We will all reap what we sow. This is the patience of the saints.
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His banner over me is LOVE.... My soul followeth hard after thee....Love one another with a pure heart fervently. Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
To be a servant of God, it will cost us our total commitment to God, and God alone. His burden must be our burden... Sis Alvear
Look, I have been living extremely sacrificially for many years now. If you only knew the extent of it. I have given literally everything I have to God.
My house is small, my vehicle is a minivan that is seven years old, and my camper is a pop-up. The reason why I fish is because it is relaxing and cheap entertainment.
There is definitely abuse by some.
But sacrifice should be an equal opportunity Christian experience. We shouldn't demand leadership to sacrifice when laity isn't willing to either.
I don't think a pastor owning things, boats, cars, campers, and homes is abuse. Conversely, pastors shouldn't feel they need to quantify the lack of their belongings in order to try and prove that they have taken an Apostolic vow of poverty in order to garner respect.
Frankly, it is none of anyone's business (except in the rare case of a leader breaking the law) what the pastor drives, where he lives, or how much he spends on suits.
I don't think a pastor owning things, boats, cars, campers, and homes is abuse. Conversely, pastors shouldn't feel they need to quantify the lack of their belongings in order to try and prove that they have taken an Apostolic vow of poverty in order to garner respect.
Frankly, it is none of anyone's business (except in the rare case of a leader breaking the law) what the pastor drives, where he lives, or how much he spends on suits.
I am so sick and tired of Apostolic Socialism.
Call the law. I think folks still have a thread of Catholicism in them they expect the preacher to take an oath of poverty. Their philosophy is we will keep him poor and you keep him humble. If the oxen ate more than they should the laws of nature took care of him. And I myself have seen that happen to preachers who were not good stewards of the Lord's money.
My soul followeth hard after thee....Love one another with a pure heart fervently. 
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