The Problem of Young Dictatorial Pastors

Source: Frank, a manuscript excerpt from "Epistemological Problems of Theology"

The fundamental intention of the dictatorial pastor is never to serve the congregation, but to relentlessly attempt to rule over the behavior and thought of every individual, forcing submission to his absurd dogmas. To exploit reputation for church control, such individuals even adopt factionalism as their new modus operandi, presumptuously claiming the title of the "Anointed One" to strip the congregation of their right to question orders. Yet, no one fails to recognize this basic fact: the arbitrary dictates of a pastor are by no means equivalent to the divine will of God.

The origin of love is never found in domination or subjugation—a blind spot evidently invisible to today's young pastors. To them, Hitlerian military oratory seems more effective at inciting zealotry... yet they commit a grave logical fallacy by equating this collective passion with love and instrumentalizing it. Little do they know, these dictatorial pastors are essentially no different from Barabbas; for what Barabbas did was precisely to exploit passion to coerce the assembly, the inevitable outcome being the mob, in their blindness, ruthlessly condemning Jesus and utterly forsaking Him. Pastors ought to emulate Paul, not Barabbas.

Those self-aggrandizing young shepherds, you are unworthy of the holy office, and forever shall be, as confirmed by your cynical assertion: "The Church does not truly practice the 'Prodigal Son'; the Church cannot tolerate our mistakes!"... They fail to realize that the prerequisite for the Prodigal's return lies in repentance, not in shouting slogans while clinging to fallacies to flaunt the self rather than expound the truth. Paul never defined love as dominion. Love is not dictatorship, not control, nor management; love is certainly not coercive persuasion, intimidation, or moral kidnapping.

Ignorant heretical congregants ask: "Who gave you the authority to judge our shepherds so?" To dismantle this hollow sophistry, one need only cite the scriptural text: "The Father who sent me." They will immediately reenact the conduct of the Pharisees and pronounce your death sentence. Following the inevitable logic of this script, you will cry out: "Lord, take my soul!" My intention in recounting this story is by no means satirical.