Culpable Popularity

A long-serving minister in the area preached his last sermon. One of his congregation told me: “He is very popular. People adore him.” Another told me: “You can count the people in his Church on your fingers.” OBSERVATION: Assuming both to be true, it might seem a feather in his cap to move on with the reputation as "a great guy". But I would consider that he failed to do what he needed to. While not every Church must grow, ministers are not called upon to be popular at the expense of the Kingdom. I think one of our deacons got it right: “He was kept in check by elderly members. It killed the Church.”