As I was sitting trying to think of what it is that I might bring to you all today, I struggled because nothing was really coming to me. Then I had the opportunity to have a conversation with a friend and co-worker who is probably reading right now (hi lol) and our conversation sparked something in me to bring about this topic. I was asked a question concerning gifts which will be a post for a later time but during the course of the conversation a statement came about that jolted my spirit in to spiritual mind writing due to the context of the statement which for the purposes of you reading is inconsequential. What that statement jolted in me was to blog the topical question, who do you serve Pastor (man) or God?
See the body of Christ, the Kingdom of God holistically from my experience and a lot of circles I have been in have decided to put the Pastor and other church leadership in the place of God. Hence the question who do you serve Pastor (man) or God? The word man is in the () because it represents church leadership regardless of gender. We look to them as doctrinal teaching has taught us to do. Sometimes that leadership or even Pastor doesn’t have to be our own leadership. We will search out Pastors, Teachers, Evangelists, Prophets, Apostles, Ministers, Elders, Church Mothers, Deacons, Church Trustees, etc. If they have a church title we will seek them for it or even seek God to allow one of them to speak into our lives or concerning our ministries. We will seek them for affirmation of the ministry we are walking in. But yet we won’t seek God. That is a huge slap in the face of God. It says we trust them more (mostly because we can see them) than we trust God. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m all for church leadership and I believe in and know the role of the Pastor and the importance they play in the spiritual development of the people of God. The problem I have is they are not God and we have given them the authority that should only go to God.
Let me give you an example of what I am talking about. You believe that God has given you a gift but know that you aren’t sure how to operate in that gift so you pray and ask God to send you someone to train you and teach you the gift. You ask God to send you someone to impart the mantle of the gift, or you ask God to send you some to confirm that you even have that gift. All of that seems reason able right? I mean you’re seeking God after all right? But really look at the prayer that is being prayed. You are asking God to send you someone or put someone in your path to help you do something or understand something He gave you. If I have a problem with a Sony 45in flat screen tv, I’m not going to go to Toshiba to find out what’s wrong with it. I’m not going to call Sony and ask them for Samsung’s I.T department because I’m having problems with their (Sony’s) product. No, I’m going to go Sony. So why aren’t we going to God? Why aren’t we asking God the questions we ask our Pastor and Church Leadership? Why are we so dependent on man and so nonchalant when it comes to God?
Our relationship is supposed to be with God first. The only person we have to go through to get to God is Jesus Christ. Jesus said “I am the way, the truth, and the life: No man comes to the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). He is the only one that stands between us and God. So why do we act as if the Pastor or Church Leadership are the ones we have to go through. I hear many Christians make fun of Catholics because they do confessional. They say “I’m not stepping in no box and telling no man what I did wrong. I go to God and him only” , yet these are the same people who when they need an answer the first thing they do is, “Oh Pastor, I need your help. Please pray for me, I don’t know what to do”. When are we going to get out of that mindset and get into a mindset of I go to God first?
Here’s some Real Talk for an answer, the reality is we don’t because we have no relationship with Him. We don’t know Him and He don’t’ know us. Now that is some sad news. John chapter 10 verses 4 and 5 teach us that if we are His sheep we should know His voice and not follow a strange one. We mess around and get caught up by every foul doctrine of interpretation (as will happen in the end times), because we seek man and not the voice of God. So when God really does speak we don’t recognize His voice. It’s strange to us. I don’t just blame us for not knowing His voice rather than the voice of the Pastor and Church Leaders. I blame them too. See leadership in a lot of churches (not all) spend so much time building their agendas, some much time seeking for their name to be on everything, so much time telling you to follow them and pointing to scriptures outlining commitment and outlining following your leader and no time telling you to seek God. No time telling you to develop a relationship with God. No time telling you to get on your knees and spend time in prayer and even fasting to develop and strengthen your relationship with God. Heaven is not like the club you can get into because you have a connection but your connection must be with the owner of the club not the bar tender who works the club. I work for the state of Ohio (at the time of this writing), I can’t work my 40 hours at my job and then expect a paycheck from my home state of Pennsylvania. PA can’t get me paid only OH can. Pastors can’t get you into heaven only Jesus can. Pastors and Church Leadership can’t give you spiritual gifts, they come from God. Pastors and Church Leadership shouldn’t be who you look to, to affirm your ministry it should be God. I have never seen someone pray in the name of (insert church leader or pastor’s name here) and someone be healed or blessed. No, it’s only through the name of Jesus. Stop seeking people and seek God. Stop serving people, churches, and ministries. Serve God. Otherwise you will be like the people who Jesus taught saying: “Lord, Lord have we not prophesied in your name? And in your name cast out devils? And in your name done many wonderful works”? But Jesus will say to them all who are like that but didn’t develop a relationship with Him: “Depart from me, worker of iniquity, I never knew you”! (Matthew 7:22, 23)
Do you want that to be you? Do you really want to go through all that you go through in this life, sacrifice all that you have sacrificed in your life, endured all that you endured throughout your life just to not make it in? Then stop slapping God in the face. Listen, I’d be highly upset if my daughter asked me to send her to someone that can show her what a Husband and Father should look like. I’d be upset if she asked someone else first how to teach her how to drive. I’d be upset if she had some other man to check out her boyfriend before deciding if he’s the right one. If I’d be as upset as I know I’d be, how much more upset do you think God is when we seek the people he placed here to guide us to Him as opposed to seeking Him. The bible teaches us to seek Him first and to serve God only. No man can serve 2 masters. The question is who are you serving, Pastor (man) or God?
If you have any questions or comments please feel free to email me at jesse.jones@highpraiseministries.com. Remember, Grow in God’s Grace and Abide in His Love!
