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Author Topic: Leaders on a Pedestal  (Read 9161 times)
BrokenyetFree
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« on: November 09, 2013, 09:35:05 am »

Something I’ve been thinking of the past few days is the high status of leaders within the Great Commission.  I remember having my favorites, whose seminars I’d always go to at Faithwalkers, whose sermons I’d choose to listen to over and over again.  I remember friends who were “friended on Facebook” by women who gave seminars at Faithwalkers and their ecstatic comments about it.  It was like they had a celebrity status.  Due to GC teachings, I understand now that no one would have been able to discredit/challenge anyone’s teachings without being looked down on or “called out” by friends.  

In my own life since leaving, I feel like I have a fear/hesitation to exalt or praise any specific person (even those I consider to be commonly accepted solid Christians like CS Lewis, AW Tozer, Charles Spurgeon, Oswald Chambers…).  I am instead drawn to those who openly admit their faults, weaknesses and failures.  Those who make it impossible to place them on any pedestal, who prevent you from thinking they are any better or more spiritual than anyone else.  Those who see God’s grace and love clearly in their own lives.  Those who have had a clear connection with Jesus, and He’s changed their lives.  

I’ve also realized lately how the Great Commission doesn’t focus on Jesus.  They concentrate on the apostle Paul, but not Jesus’ teaching (besides the ones about dying to yourself, taking up your cross, and the more severe/harsh statements).  There is an absence of grace and love.  It’s like they’ve forgotten Jesus in the midst of all their church activity, obsession with the Great Commission, Bible reading, accountability, and many other things.  Since leaving, I’ve been focusing on just walking with Jesus, remembering that He’s always with me, loves me, is full of grace, and doesn’t need me to do anything to impress Him.  One of the few books of the Bible I can read without reminders of GC teaching in every verse is John.  I think because it is full of grace and shows Jesus’ more human aspects and His great love for people.  My relationship with Him has definitely grow and become more real again since leaving GC.  He is the only one who should be exalted, not leaders, pastors or anyone else.  In my life, my Christianity has become about Him again, and for this I’m very thankful☺
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Linda
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« Reply #1 on: November 09, 2013, 06:05:42 pm »

BrokenyetFree,

This is excellent. Thank you for posting.

Quote from: BrokenyetFree
In my life, my Christianity has become about Him again, and for this I'm very thankful.
All I can say is, "Amen!"

God bless you.
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wastedyearsthere
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« Reply #2 on: November 10, 2013, 03:38:31 pm »

I know they hold Jim McCotter on a pedestal.  A few years ago, Jim attended a former leaders funeral.  People that attended gushed about how incredible it was that he came.  As if a celebrity had attended..... ! 

For someone they give no credit with starting the church they seem to highly extol to the point of an idol IMO.
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Linda
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« Reply #3 on: November 13, 2013, 09:44:35 am »

Quote from: BrokenyetFree
I’ve also realized lately how the Great Commission doesn’t focus on Jesus.  They concentrate on the apostle Paul, but not Jesus’ teaching (besides the ones about dying to yourself, taking up your cross, and the more severe/harsh statements).  There is an absence of grace and love.  It’s like they’ve forgotten Jesus in the midst of all their church activity, obsession with the Great Commission, Bible reading, accountability, and many other things.  Since leaving, I’ve been focusing on just walking with Jesus, remembering that He’s always with me, loves me, is full of grace, and doesn’t need me to do anything to impress Him.  One of the few books of the Bible I can read without reminders of GC teaching in every verse is John.  I think because it is full of grace and shows Jesus’ more human aspects and His great love for people.  My relationship with Him has definitely grow and become more real again since leaving GC.  He is the only one who should be exalted, not leaders, pastors or anyone else.  In my life, my Christianity has become about Him again, and for this I’m very thankful☺

I can't express enough how much your post resonated with me, BrokenyetFree.

When I left, many things became clear. I think the biggest thing that became clear was that GCC was more about "them" than Jesus. Serving GCC. Obeying pastors. Never leaving GCC. I suppose they would say the way to love Jesus is to love his "bride", but I would remind them that GCC is not Christ's bride. The Church (big "C") is Christ's bride. Also, loving the bride is not the same as loving the groom.

John 6: 28,29 just popped out at me after I left my GC church.

"Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” -John 6:28,29

So, faith in Jesus is "the" work of God. So simple. So profound.

Recently, 2 Corinthians 11: 3 has struck me.

"But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ."

Pure devotion to Christ and doing "works" at a local church are not the same thing.

Finally, John 12:21 says: "So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, 'Sir, we wish to see Jesus.' ”

I echo the words of those who came to Philip. I wish to see Jesus.

When I go to a church, I don't want to hear about how great the church is, how devoted the pastors are to each other, how God is asking me to commit to a local church for life, how persecuted the pastors are, how sacrificial the pastors are, how relevant the church is, or anything else along those lines.

I want to see Jesus.

I don't want to see men.

« Last Edit: November 14, 2013, 07:39:08 am by Linda » Logged

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GodisFaithful
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« Reply #4 on: March 13, 2014, 07:29:25 pm »

This resonates with me.  I go to a Baptist church right now, we have actually been there for at least 10 years.  The pastor likes to be called "pastor". I will not call him "pastor" because I can't stand the idea of the abuse of the office, lording over.  I always include his last name.  Matthew, Mark, Luke and John were called by their first name.  They were human beings and they were not perfect and Jesus never wanted them to be put on a pedestal.  I do not see in Scripture that Peter would have insisted on being "Apostle Peter."  I do not serve the pastor.  I serve Christ.  When we are disillusioned with a church, movement, para-church organization, etc. it sure is  a good reminder that our focus needs to be on Christ.  It is Him who we adore, we lift Him up, we praise His name, we bow before Him, we acknowledge He is good and holy and righteous and truthful, all-knowing and all-powerful and all that good stuff.  Not any man.  I think it is important to be part of a local body, but our loyalty is to God alone.

Feels good to be on this soap box.  Thanks for being there.
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Differentstrokes
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« Reply #5 on: August 09, 2015, 09:57:18 am »

I remember when I moved to omaha I wasn't thrilled with the things that were being taught in college and high school small groups, and I remember very clearly talking to a friend from another church about it and her saying "oh but your soooooo lucky, you get to have Rory WHITNEY as your pastor! And you are so cool to be friends with all the Whitney kids, you should be so happy you know them" and I was just kind of like... Ok, so it doesn't matter if they're training young people to be celibate for the rest of their lives, and telling them to leave college to serve the church, and dictating who you hang out with and when and where and why.... I have a celebrity pastor who cannot fail because of his family so I should be happy?
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Outtathere
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« Reply #6 on: March 28, 2018, 08:59:46 am »

Not trying to stir things up. I know there is a controversy taking place that involves people's reputations. My hope is that this will give reflection to help people think through this issue more as to how people can be elevated to a point that they need not be.

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/time-reckon-celebrity-power/
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GodisFaithful
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« Reply #7 on: March 28, 2018, 12:31:17 pm »

Thank you Out of There,

That article was very helpful and extremely relevant to our culture outside the church, and what is happening at Evergreen and other churches around the country who are grappling with troubling allegations.
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omelianchuk
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« Reply #8 on: March 28, 2018, 04:07:52 pm »

Not trying to stir things up. I know there is a controversy taking place that involves people's reputations. My hope is that this will give reflection to help people think through this issue more as to how people can be elevated to a point that they need not be.

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/time-reckon-celebrity-power/

That's a great article.
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