20071114

Knowing Him Was A Real Pressure

Years ago, I contracted for several months to work as a church growth consultant to a legalistic pastor. He was the first I ever knew who deducted a tithe from the paychecks of his staff. He also burdened his wife with heavy expectations to support his career and well-being. She cried to me on several occasions about her unhappiness and broken health. I dared to tell him of my own failures in legalism. His explanation was that his demands and expectations of his staff and family were appropriate to guarantee their performance. Then he terminated my contract to punish my impertinence. I thanked him, stepped outside his office, grieved a moment, tapped my shoes to knock off the dust, then left. (Last account, he left his wife and church.)