ENCOURAGEMENT 70 NOVEMBER 2025 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition S Last month, one of our contributors wrote an article in which he decried the behavior of intolerance, cynicism and anger in some Christians. He expressed embarrassment by this conduct, and certainly there is no push back from this corner regarding his sentiments. Besides, he is a wellrespected member of our community who has had "the finger on the pulse" of the local faith body for decades and has a deep understanding of all things Christian around us. For lack of a better term, he is an "insider," a power player, the consummate networker, a humble pastor and a man who has earned the trust of our faith village. Interestingly enough, the bulk of the columnists who compose monthly for this periodical is made up of national figures, theologians, local pastors, seminary chancellors, university presidents, powerful law firm attorneys and para church administrators... all "insiders." On the other hand, I may be the lone dissenter, the "outlander," the one outside looking in, the nonnative. My connections to the local church are strictly client based, basically a "holy user." My recurring offering is presented under the heading of encouragement, a catch all caption not necessarily expounding expertise. There is a certain freedom to that, not to be "bound" to a specific assembly. As such, I would like to give my take on the local church leadership. They are the faces, the voices, the advocates, the mentors, the tutors and the directors of the sheep. Much accountability follows that, as James 3:1 aptly warns "my brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment." The role of pastors First and foremost, it is hard to imagine a more challenging profession in today's world than that of a faith captain. Many Christians consider the pastor's job on a pulpit-based interpretation without taking into consideration that the task calls for much more than that... so much more. Let's face it, behind the worship music, Scripture reading, upcoming events, special dedications and the preaching, there is a "business" to be run Monday through Saturday. And therein lies the difficulty of the endeavor, stewarding the sacred. Mea culpa for not taking into consideration the challenges of our CEO's (Christ's Earthly Overseers) and dutifully and earnestly praying for them daily. The question of Hell That being said, I am occasionally disappointed by the tepid approach manifested not just from the podium but from the institutions themselves. Acknowledging that there are many ways to "get people in the boat" and that we must cast a wide net to reach an unbelieving world, we likewise must be on alert in becoming too "user friendly." Which leads me to the subject of Hell. In my 30 plus years of attending services as a believer, I have been privy to diverse topic preaching, from salvation to sanctification, from Heaven to healing. However, the question regarding the eternal inferno is rarely discussed at length, possibly for fear of misinterpretation or probably for its bleak implications. It is therefore intriguing that Jesus spoke of Hell more than anyone else in the Bible, calling it a "place of outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." In fact, my perception of Hell was rather blurry until I read the sermon by Jonathan Edwards entitled "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," presented on July 8,1741, a highly recommended review for those unsure of the subject matter. In my humble estimation, a megachurch pastor would be left with only a small parish the following Sunday if this homily was carefully presented to his audience. My Christian health regimen started with a "general practitioner," the founding pastor of a small Hispanic Presbyterian church whose weekly message was tailored to the audience at large, a broad missive served to the avid Christian, the non-believer and everyone in between. My second place of worship was a Baptist church whose founding pastor had given way to a younger successor, who tried to please everyone and thus ended up pleasing very few. Unfortunately, he was ousted due to a serious moral fall. My third home then became a non-denominational megachurch, where the pastor had the unique ability to directly address the concerns of thousands while presenting the Word of God in a personal and refreshing fashion. He was a general practitioner who specialized in numerous spiritual diseases. Tragically, he likewise caught the moral virus and was removed. And today, we are privileged to attend a church where the pastor gives us an unadulterated dose of God's Word, one which is applicable to whatever spiritual malady we may be suffering at the time as well as to the current state of our walk. We have learned through time that spiritual specialized healing can only occur when we go back to basics, the personal reading, study and application of the Word of God. The pastor needs our help every time he steps up to share; we must prepare ourselves spiritually and biblically to insure we receive the appropriate dosage. Qualifications for leadership The qualifications for acquiring and retaining church leadership were dutifully delineated by Paul in his first letter to Timothy, Chapter 3, verses 1-7. These are indeed lofty but necessary credentials for one who is entrusted as God's representative on earth. I might not have standing, but here it goes anyway; God not only equips the unqualified but restricts the disqualified. Moses was disqualified from entering the promised land for disobedience apparently of lesser degree than moral failure, whereas David was not allowed to build the Lord's temple due to his warring ways. Both were stalwarts of the faith who glorified Jehovah and sacrificed much for His Kingdom. Yet, their "transgressions" kept them from achieving their dreams. What about current church leaders who seriously violate their job descriptions but insist on returning to their positions? It would be akin to being allowed back into federal law enforcement after being indicted, convicted and sentenced after committing a serious felony... just a thought. The responsibility and fortitude needed to represent and instruct the church body is immense, and not one reserved for the weak of heart... or spirit. Those who choose this vocation should be extreme risk takers, for they become Satan's prey as soon as they humble themselves and allow Christ to lead them and their sheep. I see nothing political in insisting that there is only one way to Heaven, to openly assert the sanctity of life and marriage and to accept the impact of the Holy Trinity in our lives. This, however, "goes against the grain," antagonizes folks and creates "divisions." Yet, it was Christ himself who stated that he came to us not to bring peace but a sword. Our pastors are being challenged daily by a disbelieving world and combative principalities, and sadly, many are fighting in isolation. They need us to daily raise their arms, much like Aaron and Hur did with Moses in defeating the Amalekites. We are responsible for insuring that our church leaders do not become disqualified. I encourage you to link your arms around them and stand by their side as they help us battle for our salvation, redemption and sanctification... to His Glory. Omar Aleman is a retired federal agent and consultant. He and his wife Julianne assist and support several Christian non-profit organizations both here and abroad. A Call to Arms - Omar Aleman - Aleman and Associates Aaron and Hur holding up Moses' hands. Credit: The story of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, Unknown Artist C
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