Culture of Obedience
6 min read
40 Early the next morning they set out for the highest point in the hill country, saying, “Now we are ready to go up to the land the LORD promised. Surely we have sinned!”
Numbers 14:40
The Israelites were responding to God’s judgment upon them for their lack of obedience. Every step of obedience is a step of faith. Every step of faith is a step of obedience.
The leaders who gave a bad report would die of plague, and virtually all of the adults who came out of Egypt would not enter the promised land and enjoy its fruit. Except for Joshua and Caleb, they would all die in the wilderness. However, their children would enter the land, according to God’s covenant faithfulness and because of Moses’s intercession for the Israelites.
Sinful humanity always wants to repent and obey God on its own terms—how we want, when we’re want, and for all the wrong reasons.
Living on our own terms, we just end up dying in the “wilderness” of this world, but what about our families and communities?
I heard this presentation from a Christian businessman at a pastor conference. He is very wealthy. He said that his goal in life is to show the world that being a Christian is “fun.”
And he said some other things that were even more concerning. He was telling the “young,” next generation pastors (eighty-five percent of the audience was over forty-five) to bless the businesspeople in our congregations to pursue wealth and just give money, rather than devoting any time to serving the church.
He also was telling the “young,” next generation pastors (many of whom have been underpaid and overworked forever) to seriously consider bi-vocational ministry—basically, pastor a church, but also get a secular job to supplement income.
As he was saying these things, a few things came to my mind.
First, it seemed to me that this gentleman had absolutely no sense of his audience. He was more concerned about HIS message.
Second, it seemed to me that he was justifying his own pursuit of worldly wealth and serving God on his own terms, rather than being guided by the word of God.
Third, it seemed to me that he assumed that pastors really don’t do that much work, and that whatever measly salaries they get are fair. Therefore, whatever “spare time” they have should be spent in doing “productive” work … to “support” their families … not with our presence, but with money.
Finally, I know of the church that he had been a member of for over forty years. That church used to be the largest Korean church in the San Jose area a long, long time ago until constant infighting splintered the church.
Oh! One more thing: He suggested very strongly that AI would be the answer to the challenges of ministry.
And so, as I was listening to this “wise” businessman’s counsel to “young,” next generation pastors, what I was really thinking was: “He is exactly why Korean American churches die and why less and less and less young people (truly young people) go into ministry to become pastors and missionaries.”
No one can serve both God and money. And we are called to serve God on God’s terms and not our own.
And this gentleman also suggested very strongly and clearly that he has been all things to all people so that by all possible means, he might get some money out of people’s pockets to line his own pockets.
Honestly, the more I think about it, the angrier I get. Instead, I just pray for this man. And pray for our Canvas family too.
Father, I know that You are sovereign and faithful. Your will will be done, and Your great plan of redemption for the world will be accomplished in Christ Jesus. But don’t leave me behind. Don’t leave us behind. Be patient with us and also stir us to faith and obedience. Make us have the right priorities in this life so that we would seek first Your kingdom and Your righteousness. In Jesus’s name. Amen.
