In my lifetime I’ve been a part of many churches. I’ve both sat under and been used in a sundry of ministries. Unfortunately I’ve found that most weren’t concerned about helping me find my place in the body of Christ. Most weren’t interested in helping me in the development of the gifts and ministry the Spirit imparted to me. They were only concerned about how I could add value to their church or ministry. However this is wrong and not biblical. The Bible states, In Philippines 2:3-4, “3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”
It also states that each is given a special gift or talent, and those gifts and talents are for the benefit of the whole body, which is for the church. See 1 Corinthians 12. By church, the meaning is the church universal, not just the local body.
I always chringe when I hear of a minister calling their ministry by their name. The emphasis is on themselves instead of Christ which is the head of the church. By doing so they make it all about themselves and that often times turns out badly. They’re just men and women with a particular gift or calling, and when they mess up, or fall, it brings reproach on the name of Christ. For example, to name a few, Jimmy Swaggart ministries. He was a prominent televangelist in the 1980s. He fell into sexual sin. Jerry Falwell, sexual sin. And then more recently, renown Christian apologist Ravi Zacharias. Soon after his death it came out that he was involved in sex with several massage therapists.
Some promote their church instead of Christ. Their ministry actually becomes their god.
There’s one maga church here in Texas that does this. It’s all about their church. Every Sunday they show a video of what great things their church is doing.
They fall into this ministry trap of self promotion, and this is not the way of love. This is not the way of Christ. Christ taught the exact opposite. In Phil 2:7 we read, “But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.”
The pastor should recognize the different gifts and talents that the Spirit has given to each and help them cultivate that particular gift, talent, or ministry. Our gifts are for the church, not ourselves. And the job of the pastor is to actually help Christ build his church, not theirs. In Matthew 16:18 our Lord told Peter, “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”
Pastors, it’s time to let go of your preoccupation with your self and with just your church. Because in reality, it’s not your church, it’s His!