A Pastor's Position In The Kingdom

A Pastor’s Position in the Kingom
Bishop Freddie Steel – LIFE Church of Chicagoland
09-16-11
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It’s an age-old issue. Jesus dealt with it and, unfortunately, it continues to be an issue today – seeking for preeminence, power or position. It is called a Diotrophese spirit, recognized by Paul. It was a problem for Cora. Jesus dealt with it frequently.

The mother of James and John asked Jesus to place her sons in posts of preeminence, one on His left side and one on the right. He assured her that it was not His perrogative to assign such acclaim but was left up to His Father. However, Jesus taught that the greatest in His Kingdom must be a servant of all.

20 Then the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus with her sons. She knelt respectfully to ask a favor. 21 “What is your request?” he asked.
She replied, “In your Kingdom, please let my two sons sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.”
22 But Jesus answered by saying to them, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink?”
“Oh yes,” they replied, “we are able!”
23 Jesus told them, “You will indeed drink from my bitter cup. But I have no right to say who will sit on my right or my left. My Father has prepared those places for the ones he has chosen.” Matthew 20: 20-23

Servant-style leadership can be something hard to come by especially in today’s cultural climate where self-promotion and striving for the best or highest place, by almost any cost or means, is idolized and idealized. There is a pecking order in the animal kingdom and the propinsity for the same also exists in social order, even among the ministry. However, It is NOT the order of the Kingdom of God.

The Kingdom of God is suffering violence and the attack is not only from the outside.

THE ODDITY OF KINGDOM DYNAMICS AND THE DANGERS OF SUCCESS

In the operations of the Kingdom of God, up is achieved by going down. Living is achieved by dying. Gaining is secured by giving. Winning is achieved by what appears to be defeat. The ‘higher’ you go in authority and influence, the greater the need is for accountability and humility. When asked about preeminence in the Kingdom, Jesus brought a child, sat him in the midst using them as a visual aid and taught that unless we were converted and became like a little child, lowly and trusting, we would in no wise enter the Kingdom. That warning and admonition is something that I take seriously and re-visit regularly as a reminder and safe-guard for my heart.

Success is dangerous. I had the opportunity to spend time with Ted Haggard in various settings across the country and his home. The scope of his ministry and influence were absolutely global. What went wrong? Whatever it was, it happened right in the middle of success, prestige and power.

Success is no indication that we have arrived at anything other than a vulnerable place. Positions of prominence do not indicate our importance to anything other than to remembering we are in that position to serve with humility as well as with confidence.

I remember hearing a sermon years ago on ‘cassette tape’ by a leading pastor in our denomination who was serving one of the most prestigious posts available. I was travelling with two pastors who were great friends with him. As we listened to his dynamic message, I remember that he said that he wanted to be so open and accessible that even a child could reach him with a word. I was touched and impressed to hear that. His close friend spoke up and said that would be great if it were true but that as far as he could tell, his friend’s life, behavior and fruit did not bear witness to that statement’s validity.

Sadly, this tremendous pastor had a problem exaserbated by the great demands of ministry and the success. He fell and after more than thirty years I don’t believe he ever recuperated.

THE THREE-PRONGED DAGGER

A war is raging within each of us: it is the battle between the flesh and the Spirit. We will always have to deal with the three-pronged dagger that also tested Jesus: the lust of the flesh; the lust of the eye; the pride of life.

When success arrives, the flesh wants to glory, at least a little. When attention is being paid to a pastor, when important decisions that affect many are being laid at our doorstep and we see the power behind our decisions and influence, it is a dangerous and vulnerable time for any leader, especially pastors. We can be made to feel important and validated by people and by God when the blessings are flowing. A cavalier deportment can set in and attitudes and behavior contrary to Christ’s can be adopted and justified if we lose focus and lose sight of our humanity and vulnerability.

PROTECTED THROUGH MUTUAL SUBMISSION

How can we safeguard our hearts during the showers of blessings? Don’t be surprised that I did not mention accountability first. Mutual submission is in the family of accountability. It is just a broader field of accountability as opposed to choosing one or two as accountability partners / mentors. Mutual submission is probably the most sure-fire safe-guard against being tainted by success.

Mutual submission is achieved and maintained when we properly value relationships and roles and the part they play in our life, ministry and success. However, it is hard to reconcile humility with power and success because the flesh develops an appetite for these delicious, self-exalting delicasies. These sweet concoctions (praise, success, power, etc.) are not reality just as eating rich desserts three times a day are not. They will make you sick, eventually. There must be a balance and the way to balance out the dangers of success or power in ministry is to practice mutual submission.

DON’T BECOME UNCOVERED

Everyone us needs a covering. Covering is mentioned throughout Scripture. It means that God has a proper order and alignment to things spiritual and social. We are ‘above’ somebody and somebody is always ‘over’ us. We cannot afford to fall into a trap where we demand or expect respect from others for our role or position but withholds it from those God has placed above us. ‘Proper alignment in God’s Kingdom of delegated authority means that I am almost always ‘over’ someone and someone is always ‘over’ me.

On more than one occasion, I have observed spiritual leaders react and respond to those God has placed over them in positions of authority and rule (Apostolic Influence) in ways that they would not tolerate from their church members or staff.

Too often, humility suffers or becomes extinct when success arrives. That might be due, in part, to the trappings associated with success. The trappings of success make us feel important and feeling important strokes the flesh. This euphoria causes us to rate people who are close us or are a part of our success more valuable or important than those far removed. That can be the case whether in relating to our congregation or to commrads in the ministry.

DIOTROPHES SPIRIT

Diotrophes was someone that Apostle Paul recognized as being fond of preeminence. From my observation, ministerial gatherings are great places to observe a pecking order or religious favoritism. Those who seem to be the most acclaimed are afforded the ‘higher seats’ while the ‘obscure’ watch from a distance. People can be made to feel important or less important so easily. That can happen even unintentionally. However, when it does happen or is permitted to happen because we do not consciously work to lift one another through validation, the Kingdom suffers violence. Whenever we move and manuver in such ways as to project our importance and influence or develop a disregard for those we perceive to be on a lower rung on the pecking order ladder, the Kingdom is suffering violence.

DIOTROPHESE SPIRIT

ALL FOR ONE, ONE FOR ALL

Whenever I serve in places of authority, such as boards, etc., I frequently remind myself of the reason that I am there. I am there to serve and not to rule. If I have a mindset of ruling, then my presence and input becomes more about me and my perspective. When I have a mindset that I am there to serve, I want to hear what my leader’s vision is and what is on his/her heart and determine to do all that I can to help see it realized.

Serving is a real matter of trust – trusting God. I have told those whom I am serving or have served that they can count on me to give my wisdom, insights and opinions when they are sought and if they ever cross with my leader’s, no one will ever know of the difference. It is far more pleasing to God and fits into Kingdom order for me to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace than to find myself striving and politiking to impress my way or my opinion. It has to constantly be an issue as to whether or not my heart attitudes and behavior are pleasing to God or not.

I learned a long time ago that God did not call me to fix everything I see wrong. What a liberating revelation!

TO EVERYTHING THERE IS A SEASON

Kingdom dynamics do not cease to be pertinent or necessary when we enter the role of pastor. These are universal dynamics that work, regardless the setting or whether they are considered to be simple-minded or not.

Being a pastor does not mean that the authority invested in us is not to be reciprocated, somehow. The laws of the Kingdom that we want to introduce and endorse in our own ‘realm’ are also necessary when it comes to our responsibility to those above us in positions of higher authority. It’s simplistic but not meant to trivialize, but the saying is spot on: ‘What’s good for the goose is also good for the gander.’

ADVANCING IN THE KINGDOM

If I am to experience a greater anointing in my ministry and greater authority, power and influence in the Spirit, there are some things I have to learn (or have learned) and keep before me.

If I can be found faithful over a few things, Father God will make me ruler of many ‘things’ in His Kingdom (Matthew 25: 21, 23). Therefore, I find myself being more conscious and cognizant of the opportunities sent my way that I consider to be ‘tests’ for advancement in the Kingdom of God.

We never cease being ‘tested’ when it comes to matters of the heart. Gaining a position, such as a pastor, does not mean that we have ‘arrived’ or are now exempt from being Kingdom conscious. Instead, our effectiveness and longevity in any positionof authority depends on our ability to practice an uninterrupted, ongoing submission to authority, especially with the right attitude.

In other words, we never reach a point where we expect greater loyalty and agreement with our authority by those we are called to lead than we expect of ourselves.

On too-frequent occasion, I hear of the behavior of someone in the pastoral ministry that Is completely cavalier and disassociated and engage in attitudes and actions that they would never condone if found present in those on their staff or in their leadership.

When such conditional behavior does occur, it seems as though the same authority that endorsed our ministry and credentials is worthy of alegience until that superior authority requests or expects from us something we do not wish to deliver, such as submission and obedience with proper attitudes.

Yes, in the Kingdom of God, attitude is important – it is everything. Man looks on the outward appearance but God looks on the heart (1 Samuel 16:7).

JESUS, THE PERFECT SERVANT OF ALL

If we want to get it right, find a good example to follow. Jesus is that Perfect Example. He did not come to be served, but to serve. The Apostle Paul tells us in Philippians 2 to permit that same attitude found in Christ to have it’s home in us, in our hearts.

What is my position as a pastor? I do have titles and roles that are important, but I am, more than anything else, a servant and not just a servant to those who can recompense me in some way.

My position is really that of a dead man. If I have been crucified with Christ, then the Cross is my post and position. Since I have been crucified with Christ, it is no longer the ‘I’ who is living in me predominantly but it is Christ who has the leading role from the platform of my heart.

Any position I have, I use as a means of lifting people and affirming their value and worth. From my perspective, the ground is level at the foot of the Cross. There are no big ‘I’s’ or little ‘yous.’ I see all of us as fellow-strugglers and no one will ‘arrive’ independently of God or His amazing grace and mercy.

If any of us want to glory, let us glory in the Cross.
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Bishop Freddie Steel – Sr. Pastor, LIFE Church of Chicagoland – 6600 W 127th Street – Palos Heights, IL 60463
revfts@usa.net - www.lifeinchicago.org