ONE OF MANY WHO BETRAY THE TRUTH
Judas may be the most infamous character in the Bible. What he did and his name has been memorialized in literature and culture as the ultimate betrayer. The name Judas is so loaded with negative qualities that no responsible parent would even consider calling their male child Judas. It is the name that comes to mind for people who have been betrayed to call their betrayers no matter what they might have done. To be called “Judas” is the ultimate curse name because it stings with pain and deceit of the most evil order.

It is with these considerations in mind that we hesitate to include Judas for readers’  consideration. We have had many friends and acquaintances in ministries of one kind or another who will likely take serious offense at our characterization of Judas because they will find it a direct attack on them and their ministry. And they should take offense because what we have to say about people in ministry does apply to them to one degree or another.

We must take that risk of offending old friends, however,  because we see Judas-like qualities in all forms of professional ministry, and are compelled to write about him to edify both clergy and non-clergy about those qualities so they might identify them in themselves or in others. After all, the story of Judas is in the Bible and believing as we do that  “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” So what we write here is the way we see it, and if others do not see it the same way that is God’s business. And if others do see it the same way, it is also is God’s business and he will do whatever he will regarding the teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.

Without softening the message in any way, however, we must also say that anyone who takes offense at these pages is not a unique Judas-like character. There were Judas-like people in ministry before the Judas who betrayed Jesus and there have been even more Judas-like people since Jesus. In other words, being like Judas is not uncommon. Untold numbers of religious leaders with titles like Pastors, Priests, Rabbis, Apostles, Bishops, Elders, Deacons, Overseers, Popes, Missionaries and Evangelists have played the role of Judas in the last two thousand years as they have used their position in ministry for personal gain. The entire Commercial Religion system would not have emerged or matured without people like them ready to step into positions of religious leadership unless they had seen others do it successfully and unless non-clergy had been willing to support them.

In other words, there is much historical precedent that appears to legitimize and enable people in their efforts to profit from ministry at Jesus’ expense. But despite all that history, profiting from ministry is still betrayal of Jesus and what he stands for. Therefore, the practice must be exposed so that some may repent and quit before it is too late.