At that time, the church provided the senior pastor with a staff car, a high-mileage sedan purchased at an auction by an auto broker in the church. When that pastor retired, the associate pastor became the senior pastor and, almost immediately, a problem arose: he was six-foot-four inches tall, and the existing pastoral vehicle was a compact sedan. The auto broker was tasked with finding a bigger car.
A week later, he drove up to the church in a beautiful Lincoln Town Car with a deluxe trim package. It had high mileage, but was in excellent condition, and it met the budget. The senior pastor climbed into it and, for the first time in his adult life, was able to sit upright in a car. It was perfect except for another lesson I had learned from the retired pastor. It troubles some congregations to see their pastor driving a luxury car, even a used one. The elder board sent the auto broker back to the auction. He returned with a plain Ford sedan with less miles, less headroom, and a price tag significantly higher than that of the Lincoln. The church purchased it. We spent more money to appear to have spent less money. I am chuckling even as I type this!
The Apostle Paul wrote to his associate, Titus, “An overseer (elder), as God’s steward, must be above reproach.” The word “steward” in the Greek language is the word from which we get the word “economy.” The oikonomos was the head servant who managed the household according to his master’s oikonomia, his house rules. God’s Word is admonishing elders to manage God’s household, the church, according to His oikonomia. Every decision the overseers of God’s household make must be above reproach, always truthful, always lawful, always upright, always God-honoring – always! Sadly, some church leaders operate by the practices of the business world, which is not concerned about God’s economy nor about honoring God. Elders are God’s stewards and must honor God, but so must every member of God’s household, every Christian, always and in everything.
There was no impropriety in that crazy car purchase, just a group of godly men overly cautious about not giving the appearance of impropriety. They should have purchased the Lincoln and explained why to the congregation. Instead, that poor pastor had to keep his head tilted in that car. I hope he hasn’t suffered permanent injury!
