Pastor Inheritance

[mickd7]

Have you noticed that in the church today especially these corporate churches have children that inherit the business so to speak!
Just take a look. Pat Robertson's sons are both big shots in the CBN organization and will inherit the org when he retires. Here is a list.
Oral Roberts son inherits his business
Billy Graham son Franklin inherits his business.
Joel Osteen inherits his dads ministry.
Jerry Falwell will leave his ministry in the hands of his children and they already have high positions.
Price son will inherit his fathers ministry
and on and on ad nauseum.
My question is , is this scriptural. I thought a person was called to the ministry by God not inherit it like some corporation. Fat Eagle..

 

[StevenL]

Yep, kinda like Samuel and Eli. I think it's a natural inclination for the Presidents to want to leave their "legacies" to their children, especially when there's a lot of money involved....or just kingdoms with their names on them. No it's not Scriptural eldership. Yes, it's evil.

 

[Asaph]

I don't follow those things very much, but the last time I heard anything about Franklin Graham he had his own organization called Samaritan's Purse.

 

[Trish1947]

I was wondering is there a spiritual mantle that is passed on to their sons, before the actual ministry itself?

I know that Oral Roberts did this by laying on of hands that His ministry is to be continued through the son.
We don't know what has taken place spiritually.

 

[JimB]

I was wondering is there a spiritual mantle that is passed on to their sons, before the actual ministry itself?

I know that Oral Roberts did this by laying on of hands that His ministry is to be continued through the son.
We don't know what has taken place spiritually.

Nope. No such thing as passing on a “spiritual mantle” (unless you can show me in the Book). I would think the one passing on such a mantle would first have to be spiritual, right? Anyhow, there is a big difference between the church (in which God works) and a parachurch (as in para-site, in which only money works). Who cares if some parachurch ministry passes it on to his kids.

Jim\o/

 

[enoch son]

God will rise up who He wishes and will take down the one's He wishes.

 

[Asaph]

Nope. No such thing as passing on a “spiritual mantle” (unless you can show me in the Book). I would think the one passing on such a mantle would first have to be spiritual, right? Anyhow, there is a big difference between the church (in which God works) and a parachurch (as in para-site, in which only money works). Who cares if some parachurch ministry passes it on to his kids.

Jim\o/

I think the reference is to Elijah and Elisha. Though to my mind it is a weak reference. Not only does the "mantle" reference stand alone to my recollection, but Elijah and Elisha were not related in any way that I remember either.

As a case in point, Franklin Graham is really a pretty good speaker, but his style is nothing like his father's. Personally, I got less a sense of Franklin as an evangelist as I did a teacher.

That's just my opinion though, I guess a person would have to ask him what he thinks the Lord has called him to.

Asaph

 

[enoch son]

Asaph the anionting on his sister makes him look like a piker.

 

[NacDan]

Nope. No such thing as passing on a “spiritual mantle” (unless you can show me in the Book). I would think the one passing on such a mantle would first have to be spiritual, right? Anyhow, there is a big difference between the church (in which God works) and a parachurch (as in para-site, in which only money works). Who cares if some parachurch ministry passes it on to his kids.

Jim\o/

Hehehehehe....I know your son....Appreciate your attitude.

Danny

 

[NacDan]

Maybe these parachurches think they are Levites?

Then Moses said, "You have been set apart to the LORD today, for you were against your own sons and brothers, and he has blessed you this day."

Danny

 

[Asaph]

Asaph the anionting on his sister makes him look like a piker.

ROFL. I haven't met his sister, but I understand Franklin. He's not always been a good little boy either, and I can relate to that. I do think God has been moving awesomely in him and with him though in the last 15 years or so. And that's always a good thing bro.

Asaph

 

[mickd7]

I think there is a consensus here that this passing the mantle in these corporation churches is not scriptural and this is one reason I do not watch these type shows. I skip all these circuses and just support the good ole local church.

Not to say some of these underlings arent spiritual or good at what they do, but they should do like they did in the good ole days and that is in any company the lad had to go out on their own and earn their way and make their own ministry or business. Fat Eagle.

 

[Father Rick]

Well...

We have plenty of scriptural examples of the sons of ministers assuming their father's ministry when the fathers died/retired (the priests/levites for example, as well as the kings).

We also have examples from the earliest days of the Church where this was the case. Four early popes were the sons of popes. Apparently this has long standing precedent.


Personally, I think that there are a couple of reasons for it. First, I believe that there can be calls of God on a family, not just an individual. In fact, both Abraham and Moses prophesied over families/tribes (depending on how big the family had gotten at that time) and described the call of God for that whole family's lineage. Second, those who 'grow up' in and around ministry learn many of the things of God-- almost by osmosis-- since they are exposed to it constantly. Many, many ministers are the children of ministers. Now, many churches go through great difficulty when a long-term pastor retires. For those that do have the luxury of training up someone 'in-house' to take over, it is a much smoother transition.

 

[Dr. Shon]

The assumption seems to be that God couldn't/wouldn't call the son (or daughter) of a preacher who had a LARGE church/ministry. Is it because of a personal dislike of large churches? Is it grouping ALL large churches together as inherently bad because there have been a few charlatans out there in large churches? (We'll not go into the fact that there are charlatans found in small churches also.) It is NOT uncommon for the preacher of a SMALL church to have a son/daughter that goes into the ministry. Why is it deemed wrong for the same thing to happen in a large church? It all seems to focus on the size/money of the church. Is that fair or just?

Just a reminder...Jesus' ministry had enough money to need a treasurer.

 

[JimB]

*****
Just a reminder...Jesus' ministry had enough money to need a treasurer.

But not enough to pay their taxes (Matthew 17).

\o/

 

[Asaph]

But not enough to pay their taxes (Matthew 17).

\o/

I tried to post about the same thing Jim, but the program kept locking up. I am tired of hearing such twisted logic. Just because they pooled their funds into one common keeper does NOT equate to them having bunches of it. Every bankrupt corporation that ever existed in America has had, by law, a treasurer. Having a treasurer does NOT equate to having money.

Asaph

 

[Dr. Shon]

Sorry my logic offends you and strikes you as twisted.

 

[NewSong]

Well...

We have plenty of scriptural examples of the sons of ministers assuming their father's ministry when the fathers died/retired (the priests/levites for example, as well as the kings).

We also have examples from the earliest days of the Church where this was the case. Four early popes were the sons of popes. Apparently this has long standing precedent.


Personally, I think that there are a couple of reasons for it. First, I believe that there can be calls of God on a family, not just an individual. In fact, both Abraham and Moses prophesied over families/tribes (depending on how big the family had gotten at that time) and described the call of God for that whole family's lineage. Second, those who 'grow up' in and around ministry learn many of the things of God-- almost by osmosis-- since they are exposed to it constantly. Many, many ministers are the children of ministers. Now, many churches go through great difficulty when a long-term pastor retires. For those that do have the luxury of training up someone 'in-house' to take over, it is a much smoother transition.

How can you have "sons of popes"....Thought they were celebate and single?

Next I agree with your response and think it is very intelligent and is there for the reason such as this.

Thank you FatherRick

NewSong

 

[Asaph]

Sorry my logic offends you and strikes you as twisted.

Don't be sorry, just don't try to pass it off as logical. The exact same "logic" is used to support the THEORY of evolution as fact. Neither are.

Asaph

 

[foursquareman]

Are these positions decided by the president/minister alone, or by a board?

I find it very common that the children of a minister grow up to take over the ministry from their parents.

I fully agree with Father Ricks post.