Pastor Ben -Main Character
How could a pastor miss out on rapture?
It's a question I have pondered for years. When a person shares the gospel as his or her career or vocation there's an assumption that they would be closer to God. There are many assumptions. I think that we want to believe that those who lead us would know more and have more experience. It's an American value that our leaders should be qualified and so we assume if someone is a leader then they must be qualified. But this is not a new concept. Throughout history we're led to believe that the most spiritual people are the most religious and so we assume that the most religious are also the most spiritual.
However as followers of Jesus, we know that's not true and relate modern religiosity and legalism to life of a Pharisee. It was true in Jesus' time and it's true today. Yet we continue to expect or hope that our church leaders are spirit-filled and godly. The higher (worldly) expectation that is placed on pastors today is truly unjust.
There are biblical requirements for a church leader but too often the congregation has worldly expectations which are not biblical. The worldly benefits of leadership can see tempting and particularly when a pastor has become worn and tired from the work of sharing the gospel and not taken the time to seek out restoration in the Lord.
Several pastors have told me their story since I started writing Meek five years ago. Some told of how they fell from the congregations' grace and had to find Gods' grace again. One told me he lost his home, his wife, his church, his position as pastor, and had to move out of his hometown. He couldn't work as a pastor anymore. He was worthless to the world. These stories filled my heart with a compassion for those who lead us in our walk with the Lord. They are all fallible and human. Of course the Lord, touched my heart in this area and so began the character of Pastor Ben.
Why wasn't Pastor Ben raptured?
Pastor Ben accepted the expectations placed by his congregants and enjoyed the worldly benefits of being a leader. He loved the attention because it was a part of his sin nature as a child to seek out others to get his need for attention met (see Tiny Garden, Big Trouble for Ben's childhood). He felt important only when others valued him. He didn't find his value in Christ but within himself. This selfishness is the common sin we all must battle as we walk with Christ. He chose himself rather than choosing God.
I began writing his character in 2012. He wasn't the main character at the time. One of my influences for my writing has been the Left Behind series. In it a pastor who's left behind says, something to the effect that he knew the message and preached the message but he didn't live the message. I wondered about his back story and what would likely be his role during Tribulation.... and Pastor Ben came to life. He's inspiring because he knows why he wasn't lifted up with the other worshippers. He accepts the responsibility for his lukewarm faith. What I love about his character is that his heart is open to growing his faith and enduring trials. He's willing to get back up and keep going -for the Lord- and for his relationship with the Lord to grow.
Will Pastor Ben be in the next book of the White Stone Chronicles: Martyr?
Yes. Pastor Ben is the main character for Book II.
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