The Pastor’s Sales Commission

To continue my series on “There’s a sermon in that”, I wanted to write about this idea of why Pastors are trying to “win souls”. I got into a conversation with a colleague of mine who just happens to not agree with me on the basis of faith. He began to ask me why I always try to talk to him about Jesus and the sacrifice Christ made on the Cross for him. Then he made the statement that inspired this post, “What, do you get like a sales commission for every soul you win or something?”

I have thought long and hard on this idea of a pastor’s sales commission. It seems ridiculous, however it is very interesting in how the comparison is made between pastors and salespeople. I think it comes down to the way that we present what we are talking about. Being a pastor, I know that I am very passionate about the awesome gift that God has given us through the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross. I realize that I do my best to portray the amazing gift that it truly is, then I watch these videos on Facebook of people who try to sell their products and make it seem as though it was a miracle that their product exists. I think this enthusiasm for what both pastors and salespeople have is the reason why we get compared.

I do want to make one thing clear, pastors are not in it for the money. My fiancée and I joke heavily on this manner, her being a future school teacher and my job in ministry that we are totally in this for the money. Even my spiritual brethren talk about the rewards we will receive in heaven for witnessing to people, yet I do not think that this promised reward is the reason why we are witnessing. Pastors do not minister to others for the hope of repayment later for their longsuffering. We do not love others for the money, we love for Christ loves us. It is simple, if I find the best gift ever and I know that I can keep it no matter what, yet someone told me that everyone in the world could have the same best gift, why would I not tell the rest of the world?

We must remember that Pastors are not in the business for some great reward or commission, they do not get a chuck of the profit, they do not have stocks in the business, what they do have is the amazing outpouring that Christ gave on the Cross. The amazing thing is that Christ is offering that same outpouring to the world and Pastors want you to know about it. I want you to know about it and how you can have this same amazing gift that I received when I was 13.

For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. (John 3:16-17 KJV)

It is as simple as believing in Christ in His entirety. It does not take much to accept the free gift that is offered to the world. If young ones around the world can understand and accept Christ as their personal savior. Why don’t you?