Reforming church: selling leaders

Not only do we sell ourselves, but we sell out our leaders. Part seven, Reforming Church: selling leaders.

There are several ways this happens. We are all in this together. Regular pew dwellers like me and leaders have sold themselves and so we perpetuate cycles of sin and decay. In the leadership, this looks like this: we only look for charismatic, well spoken leaders that command a crowd. We create images of the man we want in authority, and we seek after that man.

Then when that man sees us as mere numbers in the pew or as means of gain, we grimace. We leave. We complain. We’ve stopped looking for leaders who are humble, contrite, down on their knees in desperation and prayer. We’ve stopped seeking out men who hunger and thirst for God, and have replaced them with men who meet standards of the world. It is incredible how a small lie can lead to an overcoming deadly deception that ruminates everything we do.

Jesus rarely chose men like this: He chose the unlearned and ordinary. That’s not to say that God does not call or choose well spoken leaders. At times, He does. But we need to remember that “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). When such a leader is chosen, we need always to check our hearts because ultimately we are still a people in search of a king, and we often hang our hats on the leadership of men rather than those of the Lord Jesus who is the only King. In other words, we easily make idols of men, and there are many pastors who have been given improper placement and credence on our heart-thrones. We hope these men are the salvation of our churches when in fact, the Savior has already come, but we’ve stopped listening to His voice.

As I drive down the road by my local McDonald’s, there is a sign. It boasts of being the fastest drive thru in only 60 seconds or less or else you will receive a free burger. Do you know what this does not take into consideration anywhere? The persons in the drive-thru as well as the workers taking orders. Why you ask? If one is so focused on speed, numbers, and marketing, less personal interaction will occur. If and when I drive-thru, people rarely look me in the face anymore, and if they do, it is rushed without sincerity. In the next post, we’ll look at the ones driving thru, but today, look at the workers. They are tired.

When we demand more have it your way church, we burn out our leadership, which is a major problem in church leadership today. Take note, when was the last time you saw your ministers being served or being able to go to a worship service? As church consumerism grows, this spreads from burnout leaders to burnout lay-leaders who take on more and more responsibility.

And when our leaders do not say stop, when they buy into the notion that they can be sold, then it makes a pew dweller trust them less. Because if they are willing to climb the ranks and sell out the gospel, they will sell anything including me. The small way they step over the line makes it easier to add in a little deception here and more deception there.

Again, I think most of our leadership come hoping to making decisions pleasing to Jesus. Where is the line? I cannot say – but we will know something is amiss when leaders and laymen are tired, burning out, when they’ve stopped serving in humility. We need to make it okay for them to rest in Jesus – which is essentially the gospel.

To read other posts in this series, click here.

photo credit: Nick in exsilio via photopin cc