LIST OF TOM JOLLY’S RULES
These are a list of rules of Tom Jolly's from Yoke Of Bondage.
(By Wayne Hamburger) If these sound normal to you and are practiced in your church,
and even if you feel comfortable with them, it might be wise to take a second
look at what you are part of. I'm not saying every one of them is wrong or
controlling but the majority are. These fit the word Destructive CULT in every
sense of the word. Many RED FLAGS……!
1. Attend all church services.
2. Take part in all church
activities because they provide experience and training for your future
work.
3. Contribute to the
financial burden of the church.
4. Bear your part of the spiritual burden in worship
services, church activities such as choir, ushering,
bible school, visitation, church maintenance, and etc.
5. Avail yourself of every
opportunity to get experience in ushering, offerings, praying with
people at the altar, conducting funerals, and visiting the sick and shut-ins.
6. Make yourself an example of humbleness and obedience.
7. Your life should be above reproach and your reputation should rate very high in the local church as well as
"The Body".
8. If you are gifted with a talent, you should use it and never feel too important to fill any place you are
called to fill.
9. Laymen should not
promote new doctrines, methods, or systems of operating a church. The
pastor will introduce new doctrines, methods and
ideas.
10. A good layman does not have all
the answers but depends upon the pastor to constantly give him direction.
11. A good layman is a keen observer
and reporter. He keeps the pastor informed about
any conversation or information that would be helpful to the pastor in
diverting trouble in the church.
12. A keen observer is a profitable
person, but this does not mean that he should be nosing in people's
affairs.
13. The layman should not hold any
type of fellowship gatherings, socials, or other activities such as dinners,
outings, etc. This would tend to give laymen influence
over one another outside the jurisdiction of the pastor.
14. The laymen
should not hold bible discussions with groups of people in the church.
It is never wise to fill the role of bible teacher unless
the pastor has given you this authority. "You need that another
teach you".
15. A good layman is a "lover
of the saints." He must not cater to any age group or class group.
16. A layman cannot be independent
of other workers in the church. Recognize all of the student ministers
and workers in their place.
17. Don't think more highly of yourself than you should.
18. Love, honor, respect, recognize,
support and cooperate with your pastor.
19. Start no projects.
20. Assign no responsibilities
to others.
21. Do not look for
improvements in the system, but be an
admirer of the order in which the church was planted.
22. When you are in charge of a service, never try to contrast your meetings with the rigid teachings
of the pastor when he is there. If the service is lively, you should always
remind the people that the "rain follows the
planting of the seed by the minister." Never
take credit to yourself. Give God the
glory and the pastor the honor due him.
23. When you are in charge of a service, never call for special services such as dedication
services for families, children, groups, activities or bible school.
24. Give no advise. Counsel with no
one. You are to handle the simplest of needs and
this only in case of an emergency, and only if you have been authorized to do
so. Always ask yourself, "Should I answer this question?"
"Does this decision have to be made before the pastor returns?"
25. A doctor can prescribe medicine, but laymen can only offer a glass of water.
26. If you are qualified to handle
serious problems you should apply for the place of a pastor.
27. Keep the words and messages of
the pastor alive. Do not try to be original.
28. Never talk longer, louder, or
more authoritatively than the pastor.
29. You should never have a different
judgment on any issue than the pastor. You should know your pastor's attitudes and methods of working and then
support them.
30. Study your pastor. What
are his methods of working in a service, with individuals, and different
categories of people?
31. Never show any more mercy or
tolerance to people than your pastor shows. If you do you will draw people to you and away from the pastor, and
thereby work iniquity.
32. Never assign responsibilities,
delegate authority, or change personnel in the church.
33. No one has the authority to make purchases for the
church without authorization from the pastor.
34. If you have been given a responsibility by the pastor,
fulfill it to the best of your ability in the manner he
directs you.
35. If the pastor sees fit to make a change in personnel of
the church, methods or systems, it is your
responsibility to support him.
36. Never challenge the authority,
knowledge, or experience of the pastor. The Lord will take care of any
deficiency on the part of the minister.
37. "Touch not thine anointed" "Do my
prophets no harm" These bible quotations are referring
to ministers.
38. Your wife is your help meet and
has no voice in the affairs of the church. The man is the head of the woman,
and the woman "ain't the head of nothing".
39. You should never be a part of a
dissension group within the church. You will render your life useless. Never be a party to gossip, discontent, or confusion in the
church.
40. Do not loan money to other
saints. Do not borrow money from the saints. (Please note that all
church members are referred to as saints)
41. If you are a business man, do not feel the saints are
obligated to patronize your business.
42. Do not make a merchandise mart out of the church. Never sell
items on the church property.
43. Be open minded on the ministry. Permit them to help you.
44. Your attitude, words and actions reflect your heart.
45. When you counsel with the pastor, keep his words
confidential. Do not use the pastor's name like a rubber stamp.
46. Protect your pastor. Don't use his title for job
applications and references.
47. Respect your pastor. Be considerate of his time.
48. Help your pastor. Willingly
perform all duties he assigns.
49. Make yourself available to the
pastor. Don't wait for him to come to you and ask you for help, but go
to him and offer your time and talents to him to direct.
50. What do you owe your pastor?
51. Keep your pastor
informed about your contacts with saints. Good reports are welcomed
and needed by the pastor. Evil reports are also needed.
Never harbor, or be an accomplice in a crime. Don't
assume the pastor knows. Tell him.
52. Respect the pastor's authority
and responsibilities. Don't challenge his right
to tell you what to do or to pass judgment on what you have done.
53. Express your ideas before a decision is reached, but not
afterwards. When you interfere with the pastor's
authority, even passively, you interfere with his ability to handle his
responsibility. He is responsible, not you.
54. Don't go around your minister. Don't cover a mistake to
keep him from finding out who should receive correction for a fault. If someone deserves credit the minister should be informed so
he can give it. Do not try to claim success others have earned.
55. Watch the pastor's timing. Learn
his schedule so that you don't interfere with the necessities of his schedule.
Call before you come to talk to him. Let him set the appointment according to
his schedule, not yours.
56. See the minister when he likes
to be seen. Don't stay too long. Many others are waiting for the
opportunity you have now.
57. Find out how your minister likes
to be contacted. Some prefer that you call before you come. Some like for
you to transact your business by phone. Some prefer to have a portion of your
visit in writing --- dreams, etc.
58. Know what you want to talk about before you call or come
to see your pastor. Make an outline or check list of things you need to discuss.
59. When you have stated your cause, do not repeat it a
second and third time. He hears you the first time.
60. When you ask the pastor a question, allow him enough
time to answer it. Don't keep talking until you have asked a dozen questions,
and then expect him to remember them.
61. Don't try to second guess what
the pastor means by what he says, an expression on his face, or an
action because you could be wrong.
62. Keep the pastor informed. See to it that you give facts
exactly as you know them. Be ready to use names when
you submit a complaint about the saints.
63. Hide nothing from the pastor
either good or bad.
64. Be a friend to all of God's people.
65. Be an example in thought, word, deed, dress, appearance,
manners, and conduct.
66. If your pastor assigns you a responsibility, first find
out exactly what he expects of you. Then proceed to
fulfill this responsibility to the letter. Remember, you represent him and his
vision.
67. Never act independently of the
pastor. Respect his advice.
68. Never challenge your pastor
either privately or publicly. If you disagree with him on an issue, you
owe it to yourself and him to discuss it with an open mind. Give him a chance
to help you.
69. A minister is God's
representative, God's messenger, God's interpreter of the bible and a
demonstrator of God's methods.
70. Deep spirituality should be evident on the minister's countenance. He won't have a high and haughty heart.
71. Speak with humility because a minister is God's
mouthpiece.
72. Have a high regard for the
position of a minister.
73. Do not demonstrate self, but stand as an humble servant
of God.
74. An attitude of belligerence has no place in the heart of
a man preparing for the ministry.
75. Be cautious about instructing the congregation in such
requests as having them stand or say, "Amen".
76. Never call a dedication service or direct a service in a manner differently than your pastor would direct
it.
77. Don't request people to fulfill positions your pastor
does not such as testifying, singing specials, or sitting on the platform.
78. Order the service as nearly like
your pastor does as possible.
79. Be faithful, consistent, and dependable in attending
services.
80. When the pastor asks you to speak, pray or fulfill any function during a service. Be quick to respond. Do not make it necessary for him to call people by name to get them to speak.
81. When a prayer service begins, just as soon as the minister moves toward the front, you
should move to the front with him. Don’t wait for him to ask you to
move.
82. Ask yourself if you share the work load of keeping the
property well maintained and clean; if you come on a regular basis and help or
do you leave it up to others to take care of the work. Have you ever cleaned or
painted the church? Have you ever mowed the lawn or taught a class?