Do you love your pastor or worship him? Has the media influenced the way the church views ministry today? Has the “prosperity gospel” created a monstrous beast called the Gospel Celebrity? Hmm.
Has too much television exposure, movie parts, and flashy websites made ministers of the Gospel think they are rock stars? Some are acting like it. Driving cars that cost more than some houses, and wearing tailored suits and expensive watches to show that they are “blessed” and highly favored children of God.
But then the news arrives.
We don’t mind reading in the tabloids or online about a rock star and his “mistakes.” But what happens when our pastors, preachers, or prophetesses start making HEADLINES, and we read about their filth?
So we are in shock because they really are not what we portray. Or did we just see what we wanted to see? Was it there the whole time and money was the magnifying glass?
I will never forget the children’s story. “The Emperor’s New Clothes” by Hans Christian Anderson. I really liked that story because it illustrated that just because you think you’re right, doesn’t mean you are, even if other people seem to think the same.
The Emperor surrounded himself with people who feared him. They put him on a pedestal and felt like his “goddess”. They were afraid to disagree with anything he said or thought. They were the “yes-men” consumers. So they dropped him on some really dumb stuff. Like walking in “invisible” clothes.
That’s the problem with having “yes” people around you. They will let you look stupid instead of challenging you because they are too scared. In the story, it wasn’t until a sincere boy came forward and told the Emperor that he had no clothes on, that the Emperor finally had a revelation!
There are two sides to this story and both are based on things that are ungodly: fear and pride.
If the people hadn’t been afraid, they might have told the Emperor the real problem. And if he hadn’t wrapped himself in pride, he might have recognized that he really did look ridiculous.
Fear and pride are elements that can kill a soul and destroy a nation. By crawling into church, you can stop the move of God.
The Word of God says that we must submit to those in authority. We must respect and revere them, not be afraid of them. First Peter 5:5 says: “Clothe yourselves with humility one with the other, because ‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble'”.
We must respect each other. When we worship a pastor to the point of being afraid to tell him the truth, it is dangerous. The pastor will be exposed to deception and he will not even know it. We must never worship or esteem man above God – he is detestable in the sight of God. It is idolatry, and whatever you idolize you will not dispute, even when you know it is right to do so.
If we really love our pastors, we must tell the truth.
Ministry leaders must also learn to temper their stubbornness, which stems from pride. The Bible says that there is safety in a multitude of counselors. Wise advice is godly. If a pastor thinks he knows everything, he is headed for destruction. The Word warns us that “pride precedes destruction.”
If God gives grace and favor to the humble, we must all be willing to say, “I was wrong. I am corrected.” Stubbornness prevents us from doing what is best, so in the end we harm others and ourselves.
Confrontation requires courage. Reverence does not mean that we cannot speak the truth to our pastors in love. Mutual respect is the key element. It flows both ways.