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They will make you think you’re all one big happy
church family. The pastor may refer to you as his or her son
or daughter. You love your pastor and would do anything
for him. You begin to feel like an actual member of the
pastor’s family.

To get you fired up to give your last dime, your last
drop of blood, and to work hard they convince you that
you have some pseudo-ownership in the church. They
will tell you, “This isn’t my church. This is our church!”
If that’s the case, find out who owns the church on paper.

This kind of leadership isn’t new. It dates all the
way back to the Old Testament. There have always been
preachers who were more concerned about themselves
than their flock. In the book of Isaiah, The prophet, Isaiah
called them greedy dogs who had nothing worthwhile…
to say to the people.

“All their watchmen are blind, they are unaware.
All of them are like mute dogs, unable to bark. They
pant, lie down, and love to snooze.
The dogs have big appetites; they are never full. They
are shepherds who have no understanding; they all go
their own way, each one looking for monetary gain.”

Isaiah 56:10-11 (NET)
One way you will know this is true is when only
immediate family members can rise to executive
leadership status. The regular members who actually paid
for, and built the church will never be able to surpass a
member of the church’s first family… no matter how
qualified that member may be. Or how unqualified the
first family members may be.