Don’t Sell Out!
It was fall quarter in my fourth year of bible college when I had to make some hard decisions. Most of my experience in ministry up to this point had been with youth ministries. The focus was more on entertaining and making Jesus exciting for young people. I was ministering more and more with adults, but I was struggling with what I was learning in bible college and from the Holy Spirit. I was starting to have questions, I was starting to get ministry job offers and did not know what direction to go.
Personal Questions
As I started applying to universities for my Masters program, I had selected Northwest University. I was sure to have a seat as my biblical counselor teacher sat on the board at Northwest. However she had to go back to Florida for an unexpected emergency and she asked her son to come teach the class. Her son had a strong Apostolic anointing and we connected right away that day in class. He asked me what the spirit of the Lord was saying to me. I replied that the Spirit was saying “don’t sell out.” He became very intrigued with my response and asked me more questions. I responded that I did’t really know exactly, but I am becoming aware of things in ministry and I am afraid of my ministry not lining up with the bible. He offered a job as an associate pastor that day in class. I accepted the position. I withdrew from Northwest University and spent the next three years in Seattle being mentored in the ways of Jesus, to be specific the Jesus model of ministry.
Catalyst for Change
In Spring of 2021 my spiritual father passed away unexpectedly from cancer. As he had just graduated from George Fox and was going to teach in the fall at Portland Seminary, I once again took a step of faith and applied for the doctoral program and was accepted. I was hesitant with enrolling in the program with having a new church plant, food ministry, and a daughter with down syndrome. I was obedient to the Lord and enrolled not knowing the why? But I have come to find out that Dr. Clark and the staff at Portland Seminary are continuing what the Lord said to me years ago “to not sell out!”
Dr. Clark takes Weber’s ideas accompanied with David Bebbington to show us how much capitalism drives the church.[1] We see how much the world has influenced the church in becoming a place of commerce in hopes of supporting ministry and salaries. We see the molecule of more and ego is continually driving the church for bigger buildings and more programs.[2] The focus seems to always be increasing influence or expanding the Kingdom of Heaven. However we have to ask the question is this working? Is this what Jesus wanted for us? Are we really fulfilling the Great Commission in the Western Church? Why do we come up to a new threshold and not step through the door?[3] Have we sold our souls to the devil trying to build the church in America? Have dopamine driven pastors taken over and kicked out the Holy Spirit from leading the church?[4]
Personal Application
These are all questions I have wrestled with planting a church and our food ministry. I remember six years ago standing before a board of a mainline denomination where my head pastor was being reprimanded for allowing me to start the Well Church. That this church was not an economic advantage to the denomination. Worse, I was invited to go to Las Vegas to study how the casino’s set up their foyers to make as much money and create excitement so a new visitor would want to come back. Leaving that meeting I knew I was done. The board asked me if I had anything to say, I replied with, “Since when has it been so wrong to love and help people. To share the Good News of Jesus Christ?” The board looked at me and said nothing, they asked me to sit down and they would let me know their decision.
What is the Problem with Revival?
We see in Bebbingtons book how each revival challenged the present system and status quo.[5] This is the real problem with any move of God, because it challenges the present status quo. Through the Great Awakening and other revivals that each move of God seemed to shake and restructure the current system or way. We also see how revival and the lack or revival affects our economy. Even at our college George Fox was a man of uncompromising faith. He often upset the religious leaders and system of his time. He had few friends, but the ones he had such as William Penn and Oliver Cromwell stood with him. These were all people who would not sell out for personal gain or more numbers in the pews.
We see in Matthew chapter four that the Devil offered Jesus many things of this world if Jesus would bow down and worship Him. Jesus replied with the Word of God (it is written). Ministry is difficult, and sometimes we have to make hard financial choices. But those choices can be rooted in Jesus and His Kingdom and not in greed and covetousness. We can make financial choices without selling out, especially for personal gain.
Conclusion
At first I really questioned if a rural pastor with a food ministry with a bunch of foreigners needed a doctoral program. Now, I am forever grateful for this program and what I have learned. The peace to say no to how bigger more successful churches and organizations do things. But just like every revival started with a small group of people praying and fasting and wanting more of Jesus and a little less of this world. Just like the great leaders in Bebbingtons book, we also can take what we have learned and be that self differentiated leader and taking those perils and turning them into pearls around our necks.[6]
[1] Max Weber, The Protestant Ethic and Spirit of Capitalism (Wilder Publications, 2015).
[2]Daniel Z. Lieberman, and Michael E. Long. The Molecule of More: How a Single Chemical in Your Brain Drives Love, Sex, and Creativity and Will Determine the Fate of the Human Race. Reprint Edition (BenBella Books, 2019).
[3] Breaking Through: Threshold Concepts as A Key to Understanding: Robert Coven;
[4]Daniel Z. Lieberman, and Michael E. Long. The Molecule of More: How a Single Chemical in Your Brain Drives Love, Sex, and Creativity and Will Determine the Fate of the Human Race. Reprint Edition (BenBella Books, 2019).
[5] David W. Bebbington, Evangelicalism In Modern Britain: A History From the 1730’s to 1980s (Routledge,1993).
[6] Eve Poole, “Leadersmithing|Eve Poole| TEDxDurhamUniversity.” October 16, 2018
About the Author
Greg McMullen
Pastor Greg resides in Lake Stevens WA and pastors a small rural church in the Machias area . The Well Church has a large food ministry in which many different cultures come each week to gather food and counsel. The Church has a small school that is bearing good fruit. Pastor Greg has a large family of 10 children and enjoys fishing and hiking.5 responses to “Don’t Sell Out!”
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Outstanding post, Greg. I could pick out so many things to comment on. The board meeting comments in particular make me sick. I’m glad you have strong faith and a backbone to stay true to the gospel and not sell out or cave because of some council has an agenda. Also, switching life courses on a dime. So cool! It’s dropping the nets and going. Keep listening to the Spirit. Lastly, “Have dopamine-driven pastors taken over and kicked out the Holy Spirit from leading the church?” Yes is my answer. Well, many of them anyway. This is why I left my church this past Christmas break. I spent years watching our leaders chase a circus. Each week was a new gimmick and the only thing I could see them get excited about was the new lights and production experience. I had all I could take after years of pouring my soul into the congregation. I love them very much but my kids and family need more and I was becoming embarrassed to invite people.
Thank you so much for your Spirit and humbleness and love for God. It’s always inspiring!
“That this church was not an economic advantage to the denomination.” This line in your blog hit me, stuck with me, and haunts me. Thank you for sharing what you wrote Greg.
Michael,
Bless you my friend. Thank God for spiritual fathers willing to call us out on things. I really struggled at first in having a spiritual father, but I am so grateful to have someone who challenged me.
I will never forget this one moment with my head pastor, we had an incredible service with a large offering. I was pretty charged up and excited. I came into his office and had a seat. I was expecting an attaboy or something to stroke my ego.
My head pastor looked up from his book, he said to me “you’re a pretty amazing churchman, but you are a lousy follower of Jesus.” I stood up, went and walked to my office and prayed the next couple weeks on that moment.
Most of us are just trying to become slaves of religion while our Heavenly Father desires for us to become sons and daughters.
Bless you Michael, God is doing a great work in you. Keep being strong for the weak.
Wow Greg! First of all, what a fantastic integration of the material we are reading this semester. So well done. I am so sad to hear about how you were treated as a pastor who is passionate about people. Since when is planting a church about “economic advantage to the denomination?” That just makes me want to cry. Keep doing what you are doing. You are such an inspiration. I can see God moving in you and doing incredible works for His Kingdom.
You are a perfect example of how you can utilize self-differentiated leadership to help create positive and lasting change in the world……
Great job, friend! I’m proud of your tenacity!