Two Groups Of Pastors Every Christian Must Know

By James Quansah, Pastor

Paul, the Apostle, reveals in his letter to the Corinthian church that there are two key groups of men of God in the world. He writes: “For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ” (2 Corinthians 2: 17, ESV).

Let us also read what the New Living Translation (NLT) puts it: “You see, we are not like those hucksters – and there are many of them – who preach just to make money. We preach God’s message with sincerity and Christ’s authority. And we know that the God who sent us is watching us.”

From this verse of Scripture, we see two main groups of ministers who preach in the name of the Lord, but with different motives. The first group preaches just to make money for themselves. And the Bible says they are many.

I believe these ministers are filled with the lying spirit or the spirit of error which controls them to distort the truth of God’s Word thereby succeeding in deceiving people to pay money for consultations, prayers, healing and concoctions in the form of oils and water.

Paul, again, speaks about these deceitful ministers in his letter to Titus, a minister of the Gospel in a community called Crete. He writes: “For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by TEACHING FOR SHAMEFUL GAIN (money) what they ought not to teach” (Titus 1: 10- 12, ESV, emphasis mine).

Now, from 2 Corinthians 2: 17, Paul also speaks about the second group of ministers, and he was one of them. He described them as sincere men prepared and sent by God. These ministers go about their duties with the understanding that God is always watching them so they are careful to walk worthily of their holy and heavenly calling.

Thus, they are committed to preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, knowing that they shall give account to God about their preaching, teachings and counseling on the Day of Judgment (James 3: 1). Unlike the fraudulent preachers, ministers like Paul believe in heaven, eternal salvation and damnation.

Of course, genuine men of God also receive offerings or donations from their congregants, but they do not trick them or use the money to buy big cars and build mansions for themselves and go about boasting. I do not say here that it is sinful to possess good cars and houses. God is good and blesses His children with good and perfect gifts. And we know that the gospel does not advocate living a life of penury.

However, the truth remains that Christ-centred and gospel-focused Pastors do not live a life of flamboyance; they may be materially blessed, but do not flaunt their wealth as some of the world’s celebrities do. They allow themselves to be used as channels of blessing to those in need. This is why they are givers.

Often they are modest in their outward appearances but powerful spiritually as they are possessed of the great God of the Bible. Genuine servants of Christ do not boast of their material riches. They have seen and known someone who is matchlessly greater than everyone and everything else– God, and they understand and glory in knowing this God who practices steadfast love, justice and righteousness in the earth (Jeremiah 9: 24).

Sincere men of God who minister in the sight of God know that they are stewards of God’s resources. Therefore, they wisely use the church money to provide for their needs and the needs of the Church members especially, the poor, orphans, widows, the aged and the community in which they operate. This they do to glorify the name of the Lord who called them.