THE OFFERING BECOMES THE PRIEST’S PROPERTY

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THE OFFERING BECOMES THE PRIEST’S PROPERTY:

As mentioned, every contribution means “to lift off” and signifies elevated or set apart for holy purposes. It can be from the earth’s produce (Num. 15:19–21) or of plunder from war (Num. 31:29, 41, 52). People can use it of tithes (Num. 18:24, 26–29) or material for the Tabernacle (Exo. 35:5, 21, 24), and even of the half-shekel (Exo. 30:13–16).

In sacrifices, it is the shoulder of the peace offering (Exo. 29:27; Lev. 7:34; Num. 6:20).

These diverse items are all in some sense dedicated to Yahweh. So, the târumah is never offered “before” Yahweh, but always “to Yahweh.” It was a dedication without ritual outside the sanctuary, achieved by oral declaration (Jdg. 17:3) or physical activity (Lev. 27:32). In general, Numbers 5: 9-10 stressed that each gift becomes the personal property of the priest to whom it is given and does not, therefore, belong to the priestly community as a whole.

The passage’s context is about the righting of wrongs within the community, the kind of wrong in which damage has been done, and loss is persistent. Confession, full restitution, and an additional payment of 20% are required of the guilty party, in addition to the ram of atonement.

If the man is dead and no next of kin can pay, then the money, along with the ram and other offerings, automatically goes to the priest.

In the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, you can find how the neglect of the priesthood support hurt priestly practice and morale. There is still great relevance of such law in the post-exilic context. The degree to which the church could enforce the 20% norm was immaterial; the principle mattered.

In verses 9–10, there is a concern to protect individual priests’ rights and prevent favoritism. The author uses the compensation question to affirm the community’s principle of proper priestly support through the system of sacrifices and offerings. For the moment, the principle is sufficient.

 

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Confession and Restitution with the Tărūmāh

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Confession and Restitution with the Tărūmāh:

“Believing and confessing go together, and you cannot be saved without you take them both. With the mouth of confession is made unto salvation. If you ever see the kingdom of heaven you have to take this way.”

-Dwight L. Moody

Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.

James 5:16 NRSV

Numbers 5:5-10 is a report of the proclamation of the Law. Yahweh pronounced a Law through the intermediary Moses. A law has to be spoken to Israel, which is what the purpose of the text is for. It functions as a legal instruction, in which the pronouncement of the law and the reference to its author is combined.

5 The Lord said to Moses, 6 “Speak to the Israelites. Say to them, ‘Suppose a man or woman does something wrong to someone else. Then that person is not being faithful to the Lord. People like that are guilty.

7 They must admit they have committed a sin. They must pay in full for what they did wrong. And they must add a fifth of the value to it. Then they must give all of it to the person they have sinned against.

8 But suppose that person has died. And suppose that person does not have a close relative who can be paid for the sin that was committed. Then what is paid belongs to the Lord. It must be given to the priest. A ram must be given along with it. The ram must be sacrificed to the Lord to pay for the sin.

9 All the sacred gifts the Israelites bring to a priest will belong to him.

10 Sacred gifts belong to their owners. But what they give to the priest will belong to the priest.’” (Numbers 5:5-10)

In verses 9-10, specific situations about how priests are becoming deprived of the târumah given to them.

The setting of this text is an instructional setting of the priestly writers, during the post-exilic time. In verse 8, the situation is the temptation of keeping property when the original owner or his next of kin was unavailable. For this situation,  the text institutes the law, and not just an ethical obligation, that restitution must be made nevertheless, now to Yahweh and hence to the priest, because the misuse of human property is also a violation of trust against Yahweh. The priestly body becomes under this condition the legal receiver of liable compensation. In verses 9-10, specific situations about how priests are becoming deprived of the târumah given to them.

By designating the priests as receivers of the restitution, also secures the livelihood of priests.

 

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PROTECTION

EVIDENCE OF GOD’S PROTECTION

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EVIDENCE OF GOD’S PROTECTION: 

King Hezekiah began his independent reign when he broke the treaty which his father Ahaz made with the Assyrians (2 Kgs. 16:7), probably during the reign of Sargon II (722-705 B.C.). Sargon’s successor Sennacherib (705-681 B.C.) decided to bring Judah into line, and he led a campaign against Hezekiah in the king’s 14th year (2 Kgs. 18:13). Hoping to prevent Jerusalem’s capture, Hezekiah hid the city by concealing the outside water supplies (2 Chron. 32:3-4).

He also repaired any weak spots in the wall and built towers around it (1 Kgs. 9:24), and added to the weapon supply. He also mobilized the people under army officers. He encouraged them not to feat, but to trust the Lord — a power far superior to a nation like Assyria. Hezekiah assured the people that the Lord was with them to help them.

What was Hezekiah doing in the previous chapter? (Protection)

He was securing the tithes of the people and also making sure the priests are provided for and encouraging people to be consistent about their giving.

He took care of the priests — God’s workers. As a result, God protected Hezekiah’s reign and gave him victory.

In 2 Chronicles 32:9-15, Sennacherib boasted that no other god had been able to protect his people from the Assyrians. He was mocking the God of the Israelites, saying He was just another God. After his taunting through letters and addresses through his messengers, he would send delegates to speak in Hebrew on the wall to demoralize the people about their God.

Hezekiah took care of the provision for the priest. In return, the Lord protected him and his kingdom.

Hezekiah turned to the Lord with the Prophet Isaiah. With the help of the prophet, they prayed for divine deliverance. God gave the king assurance through the prophet (2 Kgs. 19:20-34). God sent an angel to destroy the Assyrian host forcing Sennacherib to retreat in humility (2 Chron. 32:20-21a). Hezekiah took care of the provision for the priest. In return, the Lord protected him and his kingdom. He upheld Hezekiah’s throne against the Assyrian army. This protection only comes from God.

 

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PROTECTION

PLAGUE

THE PLAGUE

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THE PLAGUE:  “Require each of the men to pay money to me in order to keep him safe from danger while you are doing this [counting].”

In Exodus 30, if a person does not give a ransom for himself to the Lord, thus declaring himself to be separate from God and putting oneself outside God’s protective care, this person becomes stricken by a plague. There will be no plague among them who would give an offering. The word plague means “blow” or “affliction.”

In any case, this word implies a disaster in the Today’s English Version (TEV), and danger in the Contemporary English Version (CEV) that God would bring upon people who do not bring in an offering. It is also possible to combine the final two sentences of the passage to get a better context of it. Doing so, we can read it like this.

“Require each of the men to pay money to me in order to keep him safe from danger while you are doing this [counting].

Are you experiencing disasters or turbulence in your life right now? May I ask how are you handling your finances? Are you bringing in your tithe? If so, maybe it’s because you are not bringing in your târumah. When you are failing to do any of these things, in your actions you are saying you do not belong to God, therefore His hedge of protection cannot be around you. God is a gentle God. He basically lets you be when you reject Him, along with that His protection and favor can also be withheld.

The money offering received served as a memorial unto the children of Israel before the Lord. In the Bible, there are different kinds of memorials. When the people gave as they were numbered, the children are a witness to this act. As the Israelites obeyed, they are also teaching their children to obey. The parents’ act of obedience also serves as a blessing and inheritance to the next generation.  The next generation would know that they also belong to the Almighty God.

The parents’ act of obedience also serves as a blessing and inheritance to the next generation. 

 

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PLAGUE

The-Tarumah-and-The-Protection-of-God

The Tărūmāh and The Protection of God

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The Tărūmāh and The Protection of God: 

“With time you can learn where to go for nourishment, where to hide for protection, where to turn for guidance. Just as your earthly house is a place of refuge, so God’s house is a place of peace.”

– Max Lucado

No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing, he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.

1 Corinthians 10:13 NRSV

Exodus 30 shows us another interesting purpose for the offering and how it is made for atonement. It is an offering that is used to save people’s lives. First, let’s examine the passage below:

11 Then the Lord spoke to Moses. He said, 12 “Make a list of the Israelites and count them. When you do, each one must pay the Lord for his life at the time he is counted. Then a plague will not come on them when you count them.

13 Each one counted must pay a fifth of an ounce of silver. It must be weighed out in keeping with the standard weights that are used in the sacred tent. The payment is an offering to the Lord.

14 Each one counted must be 20 years old or more. He must give an offering to the Lord.

15 When you make the offering, rich people must not give more than a fifth of an ounce of silver. And poor people must not give less. The offering you give to the Lord will pay for your lives.

16 Receive the money from the people of Israel. Use it for any purpose in the tent of meeting. It will remind the people that they are paying me for their lives.” (Exodus 30:11-16)

The context of the passage above took place at the numbering of people for the purpose of enrolling them in the arm of Jehovah (Num. 1:3, Exo. 7:4, 12:41). Everyone who passed over to those that were numbered was to pay half a shekel to the sanctuary as atonement money. Both the rich and the poor paid the same amount 1/5 of an ounce of silver.

Both the rich and the poor both paid the same amount 1/5 of an ounce of silver.

We are all equal in the sight of Jehovah. This payment was to be a târumah (Exo. 25:2) for Jehovah for the expiation of souls.

If we relate it to today’s context, the tithes are the same for both the rich and the poor, it is the first 10%. In terms of the târumah, it is 1/40th for the generous person.

The shekel of the sanctuary, which contained 20 s, can be considered as the original shekel of full weight. There was a lighter shekel which was currently in ordinary use. The sacred shekel, according to the present valuation is worth 26 groschens. One Euro is equivalent to 13.76 groschens. In dollar former, one sacred shekel is about $2.14.

During this time, it was a huge task to take a census. However, this is what Israel will undergo. If you have ever done an inventory, you know that the only one who can order this is the one in authority. Only the person who owns whatever is counted can order an inventory. We only have the authority to count things that are rightfully ours. We cannot put our numbers on other people’s stuff. The census declares that the Israelites who were numbered are God’s.

They were His people, and He alone had the authority to count them.

Who had the right to number the Israelites? It was only God who has the authority to do this. They were His people, and He alone had the authority to count them.  According to the commentary of A. W. Pink “When God numbers or orders anything to be numbered, taking the sum of them denotes that they belong to Him and that He has the sovereign right to do with them as He pleases. The action itself says of the things numbered, ‘These are Mine, and I assign them their place as I will.” The only way to properly count the Israelites was for God’s glory alone.

There is a risk that whenever the Israelites took a census, they are in danger of forgetting this. After all, they are the ones physically doing the counting. Thus, they would be tempted to think that their great numbers were a credit to them, rather than to God. They would be tempted to think that their great numbers were a credit to them, rather than to God. It’s not a sin to take a census, but it is a sin to rob God of His glory.

They would be tempted to think that their great numbers were a credit to them, rather than to God.

King David experienced this downfall. He started saying and feeling pride about how big his army was, without attributing its number to the Lord. David got caught up in the numbers game. This boasting can be a temptation for everyone, even a temptation for churches. Pastors always want to see the latest church attendance figures, especially based on the tithes and offering. This information is indeed useful since we want to measure if what we are doing is productive. However, we cannot use it to keep score and to compare our ministry with that of another senior pastor. We are not in a competition. We are on the same team, with the desire to advance God’s Kingdom.

In this context, to make sure the Israelites remembered that they did not belong to themselves but to God, God required a târumah. He required a ransom for every man in Israel. By paying half a shekel, they were acknowledging that they did not belong to themselves, but to God. In the same way, our tithes and offering declare that we belong to the Lord, and we (as well as our finances) are therefore protected.

In the same way, our tithes and offering declare that we belong to the Lord, and we (as well as our finances) are therefore protected.

 

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RECEIVING THE PROPHETIC MANTLE

THE RESPONSE FOR THE CONTRIBUTIONS (EXODUS 35:21–29)

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THE RESPONSE FOR THE CONTRIBUTIONS (EXODUS 35:21–29):

The response was excellent. The people immediately began bringing their contributions to Moses. Exodus 35 shows us that their hearts were stirred up, they were willing-hearted (Exo. 35:21-22, 26, 29). There were no gimmicks required. The instructions of God moved their hearts.

Târumah is given from nothing. God already provides what we are to give.

Like the Israelites, we are to give as we are enabled. Târumah is not given anything. God already provides what we are to give. God gives us the ability to give. You do not need to give anything that you do not already possess.

23-26  They came, both men and women, all the willing spirits among them, offering brooches, earrings, rings, necklaces—anything made of gold—offering up their gold jewelry to God.

Anyone who had blue, purple, and scarlet fabrics; fine linen; goats’ hair; tanned leather; and dolphin skins brought them.

Everyone who wanted to offer up silver or bronze as a gift to God brought it. Everyone who had acacia wood that could be used in the work brought it. All the women skilled at weaving brought their weavings of blue and purple and scarlet fabrics and they’re fine linens. And all the women who were gifted in spinning spun the goats’ hair. (Exodus 35: 23-26)

They already have these objects in their possession. God prepared them for the act of giving.

If you notice the verse above, they already had what they offered. They did not take the time to gather or save up for it first and did not have to go on an expedition to get these things. They already have these objects in their possession. God prepared them for the act of giving. They offered what God supplied.

 

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STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART

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STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART: As soon as Moses finished giving the instructions, they obeyed straight away and began giving.

The Israelites gave from the heart. Their repentance is true, and their response to the second time the Lord instructed them showed it. They gave what they had to give and did what they are skilled to do. They did it right away. As soon as Moses finished giving the instructions, they obeyed straight away and began giving.

They did not do many things like think about it, do an inventory first, spend time dwelling if it was something they can do.

They just obeyed. Their hearts were moved and they brought an offering to the Lord (Exo. 35:20-21).

It’s a shining moment for the Israelites. In the whole Old Testament, we see the people of God disobeying, and rarely do they obey immediately. Instead of following God’s instructions, they’ll do their own thing or complain. But this time, they did what God wanted them to do. Their obedience came from the heart. Everyone was willing to bring the Lord an offering.

More than anything else, God wants us to trust Him. We can willingly give when we have are sure that the source of everything is the Lord. God wants our hearts. When we give wholeheartedly, we offer God our hearts. No one else, not even the priest, can determine the status of your heart. God wants our wholehearted devotion to Him.

 

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GIVING WHAT YOU HAVE

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GIVING WHAT YOU HAVE: In order to make a holy dwelling for God, the Israelites had to give the right materials for the work of the Lord. Exodus 35 depicts how they gathered what they needed for this huge project. They all had a contribution to make. What is so wonderful is, God, blessed the community so that they had something to contribute.

From their example, we learn what it means to have a unified heart forgiving. One person could not have provided for the whole project. It took the Israelite community to give an offering of what they have, and what they can do for the glorious work of the Lord.

Exodus 35 begins with Moses telling the Israelites once more to honor God’s holy day (v. 1-3).

Each of what the people gave was needed somewhere in the tabernacle.  The gold, silver, and bronze were used to make the altar, ark, pillars, furniture, and utensils. The linen and yarn were used for the coverings, curtains, and veils. The animal skins covered the tabernacle itself, while the acacia wood was used to construct its framework. The oil, incense, and spices were used by the priests who served inside, with the precious stones adorning the sacred garments of the high priest. The people’s gifts were ordinary things, but they became sacred because they offered them to the Lord.

The people’s gifts were ordinary things, but they became sacred because they offered them to the Lord.

All of the materials that built the tabernacle came from the Israelites. The people gave from what they had, and in this way, they participated in God’s work. God could have made a tabernacle magically appear. However, He was working on the hearts of the people. God had a process. God made plans, but the people did the work. They experienced what it was like to be used to accomplish God’s purposes. They also experienced how God provided so that they can contribute.

God is intentional. God would not give you something that you do not need or that He does not need for you to give.

The people gave the right materials, giving God what they had. Everything they had come from God in the first place.

However, it is the grace of the Lord that allows you to receive what you can contribute so that you are part of the big picture.

The people were willing to give. God only accepts offerings that are freely given, otherwise, the curse is on the giver. Paul restated how God loves a cheerful giver (2 Cor. 9:7). Thus, the collection for the tabernacle — the contribution of the people, is a freewill offering.

Even today, we have a similar opportunity to give something to God. Everything we have comes from God in the first place. Sometimes, it is literally a building project so that the church can have a venue to meet at. However, most times, God wants you to contribute to keep the church running and to provide for His ministers. When we bring in our tithes and offerings, we are supporting God’s work through the Gospel.

The Lord is sovereign, He can deal with His ministers, as well as He can deal with anyone. Your duty is to obey and to worship the Lord.

Some of the offerings go to the pastor, so he can fully devote his life to prayer and the ministry of God’s Word. Some of it goes to the other ministry and support staff who help us grow in grace and serve Christ. Few of it goes to outreach among the poor and the lost in the community. Some of it goes to support the work of missions around the world. When you give to the church, do not allow the enemy to plant lies in your mind accusing your pastor and church of using the money inappropriately. The Lord is sovereign, He can deal with His ministers, as well as He can deal with anyone. Your duty is to obey and to worship the Lord.

 

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THE SECOND TIME AROUND

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THE SECOND TIME AROUND: You probably think that Exodus 35-39 seems redundant. In chapters 25-31, God instructed the Israelites exactly how to build the tabernacle, and in chapters 35 to 39 they actually obeyed God accordingly. Since they built it exactly the way God told them to do it, large sections of the text were repeated verbatim. This picture is what we ought to aspire for in our lives. When we get a word of instruction from the Lord, we must follow it exactly as He says it.

The clarity of God is a breath of fresh air. We need to trust God on a level that we can follow each step He instructs us to do. We don’t know to think another way is better.

God’s clarity in this situation is actually gracious because a lot of times His instructions to us in the present days.

The clarity of God is a breath of fresh air. When God repeats Himself, He does it for a reason. A lot of people want to skip over these texts because it does seem redundant. Repetition is a common method in ancient literature because repetition builds suspense. In Exodus, our sense of anticipation escalates, as we wait to see whether God will come down and dwell with his people.

Furthermore, repetition also reinforces the memory. What better way to learn the layout of the tabernacle—and thus the structure of our salvation—than to read about it more than once. Instead of skimming through these chapters, or skipping them altogether, we should take the time to read them carefully. When God repeats something, He actually wants us to pay more attention to what He is saying, not skip it.

Another reason the author repeats himself is to display the obedience of Israel. They are not the most obedient bunch, but it shows us that when they do obey God’s blessings are apparent. The first time God gave the His instructions, they were busy doing their own thing. How many of us are like that?

The Israelites finally obeyed the instructions precisely, and in doing so, the glory of the Lord is revealed.

The time they actually obeyed, God did not change. His plans were already perfect the first time, and so He just repeated what He instructed them to do before. Similar to how we are, the Israelites had a hard time obeying because of their sinful nature.

The second time God gave His instructions, God told His people to bring their offerings, build the tabernacle, make the furnishings and dress the priests. The Israelites finally obeyed the instructions precisely, and in doing so, the glory of the Lord is revealed. God is exalted when we follow Him to the letter.

The repetition of Exodus 35-39 reveals to us the faithfulness of God. Even today, when you bring honor to the Lord by obeying His commands, He’s glory would still show up. Remember, these Israelites already fell into idolatry by making for themselves an object to worship. However, God waited for them to repent and to get on the right track. It doesn’t matter if your spiritual walk or ministry has gone off track, you can always go back to the path God set out for you. No one is perfect, and God is helping you let go of strongholds and issues that distract you from where you are supposed to be.

As a response to this restoration, the Israelites gave a contribution and obeyed the Lord’s instruction.

God has been faithful with Israel because He did not revoke the promise to be fully present among the people. The tabernacle was a sign of His divine presence. He allowed them to still build this, even when they committed idolatry. God has not revoked the calling and the mission of the people before the fall. The Israelites realized that God reinstated them in every respect, and mended what was broken. As a response to this restoration, the Israelites gave a contribution and obeyed the Lord’s instruction.

In our own lives, we tend to be so forgetful. In this context, we forget we are called to contribute to the work of the Lord. We forget we are supposed to bring in the tithe and the offering and are only be able to give because God gave to us first. We need God to tell us the same thing more than once and to read the Bible every day and listen to the sermons every Sunday to be reminded of God’s goodness and grace, as well as our joyful duty to live for him by serving others. Despite our rebellion, God still wants to have a relationship with us, to live with us, and to use us to display His glory.

Despite our rebellion, God still wants to have a relationship with us, to live with us, and to use us to display His glory.

 

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God is Working on the Giver

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Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

2 Corinthians 9:7 NRSV

“All you have shall some day be given; therefore give now, that the season of giving may be yours and not your inheritors.”

The process of building

No one builds a building overnight. It starts with the intention to build one. After which someone renders a blueprint for the building of what it’ll look like once it’s done. The blueprint would be turned into a detailed copy, with full technical specifications. Builders need to have the fund and the materials they need for construction. Building any structure requires a great cost, not just financially but in terms of time, energy, and commitment. The actual construction of buildings takes from months to years. After which, it needs to be furnished before it is ready to be occupied.

The tabernacle project God intended for the Israelites is something similar. The project started with God telling Moses that He wanted to dwell with the people. God described His dwelling place in detail. He even showed Moses some sort of prototype. He carefully explained how to build it. It took some time for the Israelites to build it. God could have built it with His word. However, He made building the tabernacle a process in which the Israelites learn to listen to instruction and to obey Him.

God wants you to contribute because you change in the process of giving.

In the context of the târumah offering, God does not need your offering to the priest. He can easily provide Himself by making things appear. However, He wants to involve you in the work. God wants you to contribute because you change in the process of giving.

In the process, people sinned. There had been unexpected delays when people sin. The people set up an alternative worship service around the golden calf. They got distracted. God still forgave their sin through Moses’ intercession. They were ready to start construction.

When we are disobedient, there are delays in where we should be in our spiritual walk. We allow ourselves to get distracted by the things of this world, when the truth is, we cannot find anything better and more significant than fulfilling the purposes of God in our lives.

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COMPENSATION-FOR-PASTORS

GENEROUS COMPENSATION

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GENEROUS COMPENSATION: There are many accounts wherein the Bible reveals God’s desire to compensate properly those who labor in the Lord’s vineyard. When Jesus appointed the 72 and sent them out two by two, he gave specific instructions as to their conduct. He was very specific, and it clues us into how ministers must be compensated. Jesus instructed them if anyone was generous enough to offer them lodging and food, they were to accept it.

Jesus instructed them if anyone was generous enough to offer them lodging and food, they were to accept it.

7 Stay there and eat and drink anything they give you. Workers are worthy of their pay. Do not move around from house to house. (Luke 10:7)

According to Aubrey Malphurs and Steve Strope, authors and seminarians:

People are God’s human agents for ministry effectiveness (1 Cor. 3:5–9). Your ministry will be only as good as the people who serve the Lord and the church. Scripture is clear that the workers deserve their wages.… It’s unbiblical (and shameful) when a church fails to take care of its staff.

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COMPENSATION

COMPENSATION FOR PASTORS

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Those responsible for pastoral compensation need to understand it is unbiblical to “keep a pastor poor to keep him humble.”

Different passages instruct the churches to encourage their pastors through fair compensation. Many American churches undercompensate their ministers. Unfortunately, many families have had to struggle through years of financial hardships. This poverty that pastors experience is not because of God’s will for them to experience financial hardship, but it’s because church members are not generous.

Those responsible for pastoral compensation need to understand it is unbiblical to “keep a pastor poor to keep him humble.”Such a view is damaging and divisive for the church community. Paul wrote about how the church must care for certain Christians.

17 The elders who do the church’s work well are worth twice as much honor. That is true in a special way of elders who preach and teach.

18 Scripture says, “Do not stop an ox from eating while it helps separate the grain from the straw.” (Deuteronomy 25:4) Scripture also says, “Workers are worthy of their pay.” (1 Timothy 5:17-18) Notice how Paul quoted the Old Testament (Dt. 25:4) and the New Testament (Lk. 10:7) in this passage. In Galatians 6, Paul instructs: “Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor” (Gal. 6:6).

Failing to provide a fair wage to our pastors damages their ability to care for their own families (1 Tim. 5:8), and the Lord will hear their cry (Jas. 5:4).

Why would anyone in the church believe that the pastor is required to work under poverty-level wages for the Kingdom of God? Do you think it is God’s will for His ministers to suffer like this when He made ways to provide for His priests in the Old Testament? The biblical pattern is already clear.

Sometimes, it is the insecurity and distrust of today’s society that corrupts the system and makes the church community uncomfortable with blessing the pastor. The local church must encourage their pastors not only by submitting to their biblical leadership (Heb. 13:17) but also by suitably compensating them for the care they take over the souls of the church.

The biblical pattern is already clear. Sometimes, it is the insecurity and distrust of today’s society that corrupts the system and makes the church community uncomfortable with blessing the pastor.

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