Are You Following A Nimrod? (Ambitious Pastors Series)

The rise of Pastoral kingdoms

The people in Genesis 11 began to build a city that had a huge building that reached the sky as the centerpiece. That should sound familiar. Many churches don’t just have sanctuaries they have campuses. The goal of many churches is to build a huge sanctuary and a campus around it. Some pastors will label this as their “vision”. Nimrod and most kings in the bible would call this a kingdom.

Nimrod’s vision for building a campus or should I say kingdom got God’s attention. God said in Genesis 11:6 “Look! The people are united, and they all speak the same language. After this, nothing they set out to do will be impossible for them!”(NLT) Did you catch that? This whole thing was not God led or inspired. Under the leadership of Nimrod, these people were going to build a city and a huge building and nothing could stop them. I didn’t say it, God did. That is powerful. If any group of people is unified they can do what they decide to do.

I am not the only one who can use exegesis to break down this text. Some pastors, like Nimrod, understand the power of unity as well. Nimrod used his understanding of influence and unity to build his campus/kingdom just as some pastors use influence and unity to build their campus/kingdoms. Nimrod’s goal was to build a city with a large building as a monument to his personal greatness. Some pastors want to build a campus with a large sanctuary as a monument to their personal greatness. Notice the people in Genesis 11 did not say, “let’s make a name for ourselves by making sure the lame, children and the widows are healthy and eating”. How many pastors do you know are building housing, food distribution centers and care facilities for those in need at the same rate they are building sanctuaries and campuses. The key is the phrase at the same rate because philanthropy is viewed by some ministries as merely a form of PR.

The push to build large sanctuaries and campuses are given merit because they fall under the category of “vision”. Pastors are never accused of building kingdoms to rule, they are now called visionaries. Some of you may say that I have gone too far. Have I gone too far? Think about it, is that youth center really to help youth or is it in place to manipulate new subjects for the pastoral kingdom. Is creating a larger sanctuary to accommodate those needing to hear the gospel or is it to accommodate more people so they can be manipulated to give money and buy the church’s goods week after week. When did all of this fall under the category of “vision” as opposed to ambition?

I wondered why more people have not caught on to this form of manipulation. In many churches the “seeker sensitive” movement has flourished. In some churches scripture is taught and study is encouraged. The difference is in the parishioner. “Seeker sensitive” ministries target the non-Christians and the jeans-on-Sunday crowds. These two groups are more apt to follow inspirational messages rather than messages that focus on proper biblical context and proper exegesis of scripture. What can be done with the “seeker sensitive” crowds often is manipulation. Many pastors realize that they can’t go to serious bible students about the building fund because serious bible students will go to James 1:27 and ask for the correlation between building bigger buildings and helping widows and children.  Serious bible students will not take what any pastor says at face value.

Some “Seeker Sensitive” ministries get it right and the parishioners in those churches grow spiritually.  In the churches where the parishioners are taught the word of God properly it shows in the communities that are around them.  Lives are changed and they are viewed as an asset to the community even by those who don’t agree with their beliefs.

On the other hand some pastors know that entertaining messages that focus less on helping the world and more on helping one’s self, gives them influence over the people they are leading. With that in mind, many pastors target demographics that are not versed in scripture. Those pastors also target those who choose comfort over substance so they can build their kingdom a.k.a. “vision”.

You may question why I say that some pastors are building their own kingdoms. Well, let’s define a kingdom. Look at its root words, king and dominion. A kingdom is where a king has dominion. A king is the main person in charge who has ultimate authority as it relates to decision-making. Unlike a founder or CEO, a king has authority that is a birthright. Most pastors operate under the presumed authority that is given to them by God at birth. As a side note, some pastors call themselves gifted to pastor. Look up the passage in Ephesians 4:11. No one has the gift of being a pastor. Pastors are gifts to us the church by God. Many pastors are pampered like kings. A lot of pastors weather good or bad are treated like celebrities weather they ask for it or not. In a lot of churches pastors have ultimate authority. Some pastors say that God mandates their decisions. A close look at scripture would indicate they are fulfilling their own aspirations. Parallel what your pastor is doing to what the apostles were doing and ask yourself if their houses and cars are a result of their faith, God’s mandate, or a result of capital they accrue from loyal subjects also known as parishioners.

Let’s recap. Kingdoms require taxes that are under the king’s authority. Many churches require tithes that are under the pastor’s authority. The concept of kingdoms resemble the concept of many church campuses.  Kings are chosen by city vote or are rulers by birthright. Many pastors are voted in by a church or claim to be chosen by birth. Kings like many pastors are pampered like celebrities. Kings are the chief beneficiaries of the wealth of the kingdom. Pastors, do I even have to say it? These kingdoms are built to expand as well. Campuses grow. Kingdoms spread to other territories to build an empire. Many churches plant other churches in other areas that often already have churches in those areas. All of this is falls under the pastors “vision”.

Is it just me, or have you been hearing a lot of kingdom and vision talk lately at  yourchurch? I often hear some pastors talk about “kingdom business” or say “it’s all about the kingdom”. What these pastors are not saying is that they are building their own kingdoms and labeling it a God given vision. This is scary.

Before you help another man pursue his ambition to build a kingdom that he labels as a vision from God read:

Matthew 6:33 “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” (NLT)