. . . Take heed lest any man deceive you: For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. – Mark 13: 5 and 6.
THERE?IS?NO?QUESTION some are saying today that they are of Christ – and deceiving others as they are themselves. This we all know.
It has happened everywhere else.
It’s just that we didn’t think it would be of any significance here in sedate Barbados. So to some extent, we are taken aback that there came the need for the Pastors’ Prayer Fellowship Network (PPFFN) to be anything other than an organization building covenant relationships among pastors, functioning as a support group for pastors, and planning and implementing programmes designed “to transform the moral and spiritual life of the nation, and to develop and uphold high ethical standards for pastors so that the good name of the Christian Church is not devalued”.
At last week’s official launching of the PPFFN, apparently in reaction to considerable criticism by some Barbadians that pastors were less than upright and were asking for money for miracles and what might be termed religious services, an officer of the group was sure to point out that members “each have a responsibility to conduct ourselves in a manner appropriate to our calling”.
Members, we understand, have recognized that this mission is imperative, having “been called individually to the ministry of the Gospel of Jesus Christ whether in the role of apostle, prophet, pastor, teacher or evangelist”.
As importantly – and for some critics, specifically – these spokespersons of God are being called upon to be above board in the finances of their various churches. The love of money has not been unknown to be the “root of all evil”.
The church leaders have already responded to the public carping with regard to moneys. Anglican Archbishop Dr John Holder has spoken to the transparency and accountability of church officers’ handling of funds; as have the Methodist and Wesleyan heads.
But concern still lingers as it relates to what have been labelled the “newer churches”. Here, we believe the PPFFN might be of influence and guidance, as it pursues “open honest relationships” among its members and those who might be merely its observers.
It will be nought to the furtherance of the Kingdom of God, if the Lord’s work is undermined by distrust from the public and a belief by them that among the shepherds there lies too much of a love of money.
