Jesus made a distinction of "Pastors called" and hirelings for profit.
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them.
Jesus the Good Shepherd
"Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.
“Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”
John 10:1-17 (KJV)
How can you discern a called Pastor verses a Hireling corrupt for profit?
There are two "tell-tell-sign" indicators of a Hireling for profit disguised as a Pastor.
(1) If you follow scripture and confess your sins to one-another and the other is the Hireling for profit; he or she will betray any confidentiality and tell the world of your sins.
(2) The Hireling for money disguised as a Pastor will always betray their own brethren, like Judas Iscariot did to Jesus. Always the betrayal to the true believer over a secular humanist in a church division or personal disputes. "Birds of a feather flock together!" Note: Churches with Deacons often error on the side with the Hireling for profit disguised as a Pastor, for retaining profit. Churches with no Elders should be avoided.
Elders within Judeo Christian churches generally differ with wisdom and understanding from studying scripture themselves and having both a calling from God and personal relationship with Jesus. Thus providing a path to reconciliation between the Pastor or Hireling for profit disguised as a Pastor.
Judeo Christian church Elders are not necessarily elected as they tend to be more inserted by a trust factor through congregants and a called Pastor. This is unlike Deacons who are elected like board members of a corporation to serve in profit decision making for the non-profit. A conflict of interest and Christian liberal theology which clearly makes a cult of the leadership because the focus is revenue and not of wise counsel with Elders toward financing the Great Commission.
Further, a Pastor or Hireling for profit disguised as a Pastor must not be allowed to handle the church finances without Eldership oversight. Avoid any church without oversight of the entire culture or venture. Ask the leadership in the church if there is financial accountability? Specifically, who handles the finances of the tithes and offerings coming into the church. Where does the money go? Be direct and assume the best but expect some neglect.
