I was once privy to a situation where one man or group or men had power and control over the success and/or failure of another man’s ministerial career. They proudly exercised their denominational and ecclesiastical authority over the young man- effectively stripping him of any individuality, self-esteem and divine direction from God and turning him into a replica of themselves and a peddler of their doctrine.
One day the young man became acutely aware and convicted of his fall from God’s original calling and he dared to challenge the status quo and began to preach and teach what God sent him to preach and teach [The Gospel of The Kingdom of God] with power, conviction demonstration and authority.
When the ecclesiastical power structure could not again indoctrinate him into their clique and politics, he was summarily dismissed from any preaching or pastoral assignments and “blacklisted” as undesirable and removed from any possibility of being reassigned or recommended for a pastoral position until such time as he complied and met with their political and unscriptural demands.
The contemporary religious leaders of his community effectively closed the doors of career opportunity for this young man and denied themselves and their congregations the saving Truth sent to them by God through his servant. (Mark 12:1-10) They also denied God's servant the right to serve and complete his mission.
I am so happy that I don’t sit so high as to determine who God can or cannot use. (Acts 10:9-15) I am so happy that I don’t sit in the seat of power where I can stand in the way of God’s plan or another man’s calling or kill another man’s opportunity to serve God, be successful and earn a livelihood. (Matthew 25:40)
Those who sit that high will answer to God one day.
O.W. Prince
