Bully Pulpit

When attendance and membership in a church are on the decline, it is not unusual for the pastor to turn the pulpit into a bully pulpit. Pastors begin to view the membership, not as their flock, but rather as the marketing arm of the church. They unabashedly tell the congregants that it is their job invite people to help fill the empty seats. That message is in error because it is not our job to fill seats in the auditorium for the pastor’s sermon. According to Jesus, the greatest commandment and our primary duty is, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” (Matt 22:37-40 NIV).