The more the pastors increase …
“The more the priests increased, the more they sinned against me; they exchanged their Glory for something disgraceful.” (Hosea 4:7)
Is it really better to have more pastors? Is it really better to have more believers? Is it really better to have more churches? Although I feel like I have to say “yes” with my lips, I feel like I have to say “no, maybe not” with my heart. The reason is because it isn’t important whether there are many or few churches, members, or pastors. But more important is what kind of church, what kind of members, and what kind of pastors there are. In other words, it's not the quantity that matters but the quality.
In Hosea 4:7, the Bible says that the more the priests increase, the more they sinned against God. What kind of priests are the Bibles saying that the more they increase, the more they sin against God? The Bible says they are priests who don’t know God (v. 6). In other words, the more priests who rejected the knowledge of God, the more they sinned. Then, in the days of the prophet Hosea, what kind of sin did the priests who rejected the knowledge of God committed? Those ignorant priests ceased to follow God (v. 10). This is because their spirit of prostitution led them astray (v. 12). Furthermore, the ignorant priests caused the sinful instincts of God's people whom God had entrusted to them to eventually sin (v. 8). And the priests who rejected the knowledge of God hardened the hearts of the people rather than softened them (v. 16). As a result, the Israelites joined to idols (v. 17). Therefore, because of the priests who rejected the knowledge of God, “a people without understanding will come to ruin!” (v. 14). If I were to say this in today's words, it means that the more pastors there are, the more they sin against God. What kind of pastor are we talking about here? These are the pastors who reject the knowledge of God. Even though it seems like they know a lot about the Bible, pray diligently, and serve the church well, the pastors who don’t grow in the true knowledge of God causes the sheep that God has entrusted to commit sin. In other words, the hearts of ignorant pastors relish their wickedness (v. 8). That’s why the pastors and the believers sin against God (v. 9). As a result, the understanding of the pastors and the believers, who stop following God, are taken away by the world (v. 11). So they are stubborn, like a stubborn heifer (v. 16), turn to prostitution (v. 14), and worship idols (v. 17). They are sinning against God. They no longer hear the voice of God. Rather, they are determined to follow man’s command (5:11). They are compelled to sin against God because “A spirit of prostitution is in their heart” (v. 4). Their sinful deeds don’t permit them to return to their God (v. 4). Is it better if there are more pastors who have rejected the knowledge of God?
As a pastor, I have a fearful heart as I meditate on this word of God. The reason is because as the number of pastors who have rejected the knowledge of God increases, He doesn’t punish them as He sees the church that commits sins (4:14). I think it is a blessing for God to discipline pastors who commit sins (2:14-15). But if God doesn’t punish them, then I think it is rather a curse. It could be more terrifying. I think that it is a terrible result of sin that God leaves the pastors who sin. But there is still hope for these pastors. The message of hope is the words of Hosea 5:15-6:3 – “Then I will go back to my place until they admit their guilt. And they will seek my face; in their misery they will earnestly seek me. Come, let us return to the LORD. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence. Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him. ….” The message of hope that God gives is the promise that God will not forsake the pastors who have rejected the knowledge of God, but will wait until we repent our sins through suffering and seek the face of the Lord. Holding onto that promise, we pastors must return to God and earnestly seek His face. And we must press on to acknowledge God (6:3). God desire acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings (v. 6). I hope and pray that we will be devoted to know and acknowledge God as God wants us to be.