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Have you ever experienced a hireling personally or do you know someone who has?
We have faced many of them ourselves in the last few years and it never ceases to amaze us how they act and what they are capable of. Perhaps you have heard this word before and wondered what it is talking about or who it is describing? The Lord's Word speaks of hirelings (false teachers) and we will look at some of those verses. It is important to note that they are not shown or spoken of in a good light at all. Basically a hireling/false teacher would be a false pastor or a man who is appearing to take on the role of a biblical pastor/elder but does not teach the truth, has unbiblical motives and using questionable methods in the process. His wrong motives could be for profit, pride, evil, control or for the favor of men. Because of the false foundation of the entire denominational system and its seminary schools; it is sadly a breeding grounds for these men and so the modern pulpits today are filled mostly by unbiblical hirelings.
Just recently we had a experience with a hireling from a local Baptist body Wisconsin. We visited them last year at a gospel event and I spoke to their leaders about some biblical matters including the biblical gospel and role of a biblical pastor vs the modern CEO pastor that most are practicing today. I was concerned about their weak gospel and how worldly the people are that attend there. I gave them many scriptures and some reading material and asked him to meet with me to test/discuss it all in detail. He was "very cold" to us that day and so it was no surprise after several letters to him, he never got back to me to reason in the Word. Please keep in mind the standard of a true Titus 1 elder is to be able to teach, to be hospitable, holy and willing to assist others.
Read Titus 1 here:
For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict. Titus 1:7-9
So we decided to visit again this year and instead of talking to him I got up before their service started and I began in love to reason with the people about God's Word. I then mentioned how the modern pastor would not meet to reason in the Word and he quickly rushed to throw us out of his building - with force. (I called him a hireling on my way out and I feel justified in doing so) He hid from meeting to talk in the Word and he hid the truth from the people there by removing us and not allowing any discussion in the Word. Keep in mind also, he never allowed a chance to talk about issues and let others voices be heard. He is also lording over those people when Jesus said to NOT do that ( see Matthew 20) When these hirelings are not in the truth they must hide and keep the facts from the sheep or else they are exposed! They cannot stand on the Word.
Most times the sheep are so worldly/fooled/undiscerning they praise the hireling for his actions (throwing out those who love the truth) which only serves to doom them even more over time. He will lead them into more unbiblical ways and perhaps to hell in the end. If he was a man of God and able to reason in the Word he should have said to us 'tell you what after our meeting we will meet with you and discuss biblical matters as the people in the pews listen on.' A biblical Titus 1 elder could and should do that. But he cannot do that as the Word will show he is a hireling and so he must run from going to the Word.
In this case; the hireling hid from the call to reason in the Word and this is so very common today among hirelings we encounter. This is the fruit of a unbiblical false teacher indeed! There was never any 1 John 4 love for other believers only the desire to hide in unbiblical ways and to use force to silence others in their midst. This is terrible fruit per God's Word.
One example of a hireling is Kevin Lawver at this false religious body: http://bewareoffalse-unbiblicalteachers.blogspot.com/2017/04/lighthouse-baptist-church-hillsboro-wi.html
Now that you have a better understanding of what a biblical pastor is versus what a hireling is: let us look at what the bible tells us about hirelings and false teachers.
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep / John 10
Here Jesus is showing us the difference between a man who has real love and concern for sheep vs a man who is only doing it as a job/for money. The hireling/false teacher is not truly concerned about the sheep and so he will do all kinds of harm and damage to them without hesitation. A good example of a shepherd not protecting the sheep is when he allows false teaching or false teachers to enter in. He is not testing and vetting out what the sheep are being fed and so in this he fails them. This also includes the entire religious system they most often practice that is false and not of the biblical New Testament church Christ ordained. Often it is another wolf teacher, the deceptive popular author or a new program or church growth technique that is "allowed" to enter the body in the hopes it will put more people in the pews and please those already there. A true shepherd would never allow this to happen as he is sound in the faith (Word of God) and cares not about filling up a building with happy pew sitters but only in proclaiming biblical truth/gospel to others for God's glory. Hirelings often have an ill gospel and many man made false ways to support who they are. None of this is of God at all.
In the book of Ezekiel 34:2 we see this:
And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God to the shepherds: “Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks? You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool; you slaughter the fatlings, but you do not feed the flock
Again the charge here is they are looking after themselves more than the flock and we have seen this as well in our area. One local Baptist hireling pastor rides a expensive Harley motorcycle just for fun; while the people in his pews barely have enough money to pay the rent. Still he boldly extracts his unbiblical tithe from them "weekly" so he can have "more things" himself. This is shameful and more evidence of a hireling in their midst and yet they have fed his ways for many years there and do to this day!
The Apostle Paul warned about such wolves/hirelings who would come in and also would come from the inside. Acts 20 says this:
For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.
We see this on every denominational corner in America today. Men who look like well meaning pastors but they are wolves and they do not teach the full counsel of God's Word (Acts 20:27) to the people who need to hear it so badly for their own spiritual lives. This is why it is so important that "we all know God's Word" so we are not led astray by these charlatans. We cannot preach enough that God's Word it tells us to "study to show ourselves approved" (2 Timothy 2:15) Sadly most are happy to let the paid modern pastor do it all for them and just give them a 30 minute sound bite on Sundays. This is why we proclaim the truth about man made religion as it is very unbiblical and not God honoring at all. The Lord Jesus said we must have "spirit and truth worship" (John4:24) not lies and false traditions.
Most people have laid down their deep bible study and "hired a man" to be the one to tell them what the bible says and what they should do as they relax in the pews and are fed spiritual fluff due to their itchy ears. That is NOT the role of a biblical pastor as Paul said the gathering is an open meeting where many can teach and speak. (1 Corinthians14:26) For when the opportunity is there to take control total and be the lone person to proclaim impart truth; they most often go corrupt and pervert the Lord's Word.
So we can spot the good from the bad... Peter talked about what a true elder/pastor is in 1 peter 5:
The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.
The elders/pastors are to be godly examples to the sheep and NOT to lord over with total unquestioned rule as they do today. These men who won't go to the Word, who hide the biblical truth and who would throw out of their buildings those who come in love and truth to reason in the Word; are in great danger . They are not on the side of the Lord and they will answer for their deeds!
The tiny book of Jude also deals with the false teacher / hireling as well. Here we read this:
Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ. Jude 1:3-4
We are told by Holy scripture to "contend for the faith" and this is an active pursuit not a passive venture. Jude warns us about those who will creep in who trample the grace of God. This can be seen today in how hirelings most often allow and even model worldly carnal lives in the body that are full of disobedience and sin as they proclaim "the blood of Christ covers all our sin"! Jude is speaking about such men as Paul told us in Romans 6 that we don't continue in sin if we are dead to it. The Word of God does not teach that his saints are EVER called sinners at all! We are called to leave sin not give in to it because Christ pay our debt. That is grace abuse and it must be called out as false!
Jude goes on to say this in verses 17-19:
These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage. But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts. These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.
What we find so interesting is that when we go and ask a modern pastor (who are most often hirelings) why he doesn't teach on holiness, the true New testament church model, separation from the fallen world or the importance of killing your flesh in obedience to ALL of God's Word for purity; they often call us divisive. The truth is that the bible calls THEM divisive as they allow their lusts to guide them and not the Holy Word of God so we rest in that alone not in the opinions of these false teachers and hirelings.
We would encourage you to always test all people who claim to be Christian's to the fullness of His Word (including us) lest you be swept away in man's false ways (Colossians 2:8) But if a man desires to be an elder/pastor he is to be held to the highest of standards and called out publicaly if he refuses to be in line with the full word of God. This is commanded as a protection for Gods glory, to contend for His Word and to help those in sin to come out of it via repentance. There is no place in the holy set apart New Testament church for false teachers or men who have their own agenda outside of the eternal scriptures. We need to be on guard as Paul warned us in 2 Timothy 3 and 2 Timothy 4 that it will only get worst in the last days ahead. By the fruit of the most popular denominational religion today full of hirelings and false ways we may be in those last days indeed!
Please read or listen to the biblical gospel here will you and examine to see if you are in the faith as 2 Corinthians 13:5 tells us to do?
http://www.dontperish.com/the-gospel.html
Let us know how we can assist you in anyway at all,
For God's glory.........
www.dontperish.com
But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, 11 persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3
http://www.dontperish.com/john-424-radio-audio.html
Have you ever experienced a hireling personally or do you know someone who has?
We have faced many of them ourselves in the last few years and it never ceases to amaze us how they act and what they are capable of. Perhaps you have heard this word before and wondered what it is talking about or who it is describing? The Lord's Word speaks of hirelings (false teachers) and we will look at some of those verses. It is important to note that they are not shown or spoken of in a good light at all. Basically a hireling/false teacher would be a false pastor or a man who is appearing to take on the role of a biblical pastor/elder but does not teach the truth, has unbiblical motives and using questionable methods in the process. His wrong motives could be for profit, pride, evil, control or for the favor of men. Because of the false foundation of the entire denominational system and its seminary schools; it is sadly a breeding grounds for these men and so the modern pulpits today are filled mostly by unbiblical hirelings.
Just recently we had a experience with a hireling from a local Baptist body Wisconsin. We visited them last year at a gospel event and I spoke to their leaders about some biblical matters including the biblical gospel and role of a biblical pastor vs the modern CEO pastor that most are practicing today. I was concerned about their weak gospel and how worldly the people are that attend there. I gave them many scriptures and some reading material and asked him to meet with me to test/discuss it all in detail. He was "very cold" to us that day and so it was no surprise after several letters to him, he never got back to me to reason in the Word. Please keep in mind the standard of a true Titus 1 elder is to be able to teach, to be hospitable, holy and willing to assist others.
Read Titus 1 here:
For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict. Titus 1:7-9
So we decided to visit again this year and instead of talking to him I got up before their service started and I began in love to reason with the people about God's Word. I then mentioned how the modern pastor would not meet to reason in the Word and he quickly rushed to throw us out of his building - with force. (I called him a hireling on my way out and I feel justified in doing so) He hid from meeting to talk in the Word and he hid the truth from the people there by removing us and not allowing any discussion in the Word. Keep in mind also, he never allowed a chance to talk about issues and let others voices be heard. He is also lording over those people when Jesus said to NOT do that ( see Matthew 20) When these hirelings are not in the truth they must hide and keep the facts from the sheep or else they are exposed! They cannot stand on the Word.
Most times the sheep are so worldly/fooled/undiscerning they praise the hireling for his actions (throwing out those who love the truth) which only serves to doom them even more over time. He will lead them into more unbiblical ways and perhaps to hell in the end. If he was a man of God and able to reason in the Word he should have said to us 'tell you what after our meeting we will meet with you and discuss biblical matters as the people in the pews listen on.' A biblical Titus 1 elder could and should do that. But he cannot do that as the Word will show he is a hireling and so he must run from going to the Word.
In this case; the hireling hid from the call to reason in the Word and this is so very common today among hirelings we encounter. This is the fruit of a unbiblical false teacher indeed! There was never any 1 John 4 love for other believers only the desire to hide in unbiblical ways and to use force to silence others in their midst. This is terrible fruit per God's Word.
One example of a hireling is Kevin Lawver at this false religious body: http://bewareoffalse-unbiblicalteachers.blogspot.com/2017/04/lighthouse-baptist-church-hillsboro-wi.html
Now that you have a better understanding of what a biblical pastor is versus what a hireling is: let us look at what the bible tells us about hirelings and false teachers.
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep / John 10
Here Jesus is showing us the difference between a man who has real love and concern for sheep vs a man who is only doing it as a job/for money. The hireling/false teacher is not truly concerned about the sheep and so he will do all kinds of harm and damage to them without hesitation. A good example of a shepherd not protecting the sheep is when he allows false teaching or false teachers to enter in. He is not testing and vetting out what the sheep are being fed and so in this he fails them. This also includes the entire religious system they most often practice that is false and not of the biblical New Testament church Christ ordained. Often it is another wolf teacher, the deceptive popular author or a new program or church growth technique that is "allowed" to enter the body in the hopes it will put more people in the pews and please those already there. A true shepherd would never allow this to happen as he is sound in the faith (Word of God) and cares not about filling up a building with happy pew sitters but only in proclaiming biblical truth/gospel to others for God's glory. Hirelings often have an ill gospel and many man made false ways to support who they are. None of this is of God at all.
In the book of Ezekiel 34:2 we see this:
And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God to the shepherds: “Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks? You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool; you slaughter the fatlings, but you do not feed the flock
Again the charge here is they are looking after themselves more than the flock and we have seen this as well in our area. One local Baptist hireling pastor rides a expensive Harley motorcycle just for fun; while the people in his pews barely have enough money to pay the rent. Still he boldly extracts his unbiblical tithe from them "weekly" so he can have "more things" himself. This is shameful and more evidence of a hireling in their midst and yet they have fed his ways for many years there and do to this day!
The Apostle Paul warned about such wolves/hirelings who would come in and also would come from the inside. Acts 20 says this:
For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.
We see this on every denominational corner in America today. Men who look like well meaning pastors but they are wolves and they do not teach the full counsel of God's Word (Acts 20:27) to the people who need to hear it so badly for their own spiritual lives. This is why it is so important that "we all know God's Word" so we are not led astray by these charlatans. We cannot preach enough that God's Word it tells us to "study to show ourselves approved" (2 Timothy 2:15) Sadly most are happy to let the paid modern pastor do it all for them and just give them a 30 minute sound bite on Sundays. This is why we proclaim the truth about man made religion as it is very unbiblical and not God honoring at all. The Lord Jesus said we must have "spirit and truth worship" (John4:24) not lies and false traditions.
Most people have laid down their deep bible study and "hired a man" to be the one to tell them what the bible says and what they should do as they relax in the pews and are fed spiritual fluff due to their itchy ears. That is NOT the role of a biblical pastor as Paul said the gathering is an open meeting where many can teach and speak. (1 Corinthians14:26) For when the opportunity is there to take control total and be the lone person to proclaim impart truth; they most often go corrupt and pervert the Lord's Word.
So we can spot the good from the bad... Peter talked about what a true elder/pastor is in 1 peter 5:
The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.
The elders/pastors are to be godly examples to the sheep and NOT to lord over with total unquestioned rule as they do today. These men who won't go to the Word, who hide the biblical truth and who would throw out of their buildings those who come in love and truth to reason in the Word; are in great danger . They are not on the side of the Lord and they will answer for their deeds!
The tiny book of Jude also deals with the false teacher / hireling as well. Here we read this:
Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ. Jude 1:3-4
We are told by Holy scripture to "contend for the faith" and this is an active pursuit not a passive venture. Jude warns us about those who will creep in who trample the grace of God. This can be seen today in how hirelings most often allow and even model worldly carnal lives in the body that are full of disobedience and sin as they proclaim "the blood of Christ covers all our sin"! Jude is speaking about such men as Paul told us in Romans 6 that we don't continue in sin if we are dead to it. The Word of God does not teach that his saints are EVER called sinners at all! We are called to leave sin not give in to it because Christ pay our debt. That is grace abuse and it must be called out as false!
Jude goes on to say this in verses 17-19:
These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage. But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts. These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.
What we find so interesting is that when we go and ask a modern pastor (who are most often hirelings) why he doesn't teach on holiness, the true New testament church model, separation from the fallen world or the importance of killing your flesh in obedience to ALL of God's Word for purity; they often call us divisive. The truth is that the bible calls THEM divisive as they allow their lusts to guide them and not the Holy Word of God so we rest in that alone not in the opinions of these false teachers and hirelings.
We would encourage you to always test all people who claim to be Christian's to the fullness of His Word (including us) lest you be swept away in man's false ways (Colossians 2:8) But if a man desires to be an elder/pastor he is to be held to the highest of standards and called out publicaly if he refuses to be in line with the full word of God. This is commanded as a protection for Gods glory, to contend for His Word and to help those in sin to come out of it via repentance. There is no place in the holy set apart New Testament church for false teachers or men who have their own agenda outside of the eternal scriptures. We need to be on guard as Paul warned us in 2 Timothy 3 and 2 Timothy 4 that it will only get worst in the last days ahead. By the fruit of the most popular denominational religion today full of hirelings and false ways we may be in those last days indeed!
Please read or listen to the biblical gospel here will you and examine to see if you are in the faith as 2 Corinthians 13:5 tells us to do?
http://www.dontperish.com/the-gospel.html
Let us know how we can assist you in anyway at all,
For God's glory.........
www.dontperish.com
But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, 11 persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3