These days, you can read every reaction from vengeful glee to heartbreak concerning Mark Driscoll, the pastor of Seattle mega-church Mars Hill who is being asked to step down amidst a swirl of accusations. Find out more here: Nine Current Mars Hill Pastors Tell Mark Driscoll To Step Down from All Ministry
I’ve visited Mars Hill a couple of times, read a number of Driscoll’s books, and listened to some podcasts. I believe Mark has accomplished much for the sake of the gospel, yet it’s tragic that his leadership has evidently created an abusive environment.
My purpose here is neither to rant against Driscoll nor to side with him. Instead, I suggest we look at this situation in light of our own lives. Because here’s the thing: you don’t have to be a mega-church pastor to stray from God’s trajectory for your life.
The following observations apply to all of us:
- Ministry can grow explosively in just a few years; character building moves at a snail’s pace.
- Preoccupation with our ministry/purpose/gifts can hide our blind spots. It’s possible to feel validated by successful ministry despite having major character flaws.
- A leader with unresolved character issues is a time bomb waiting to explode. This applies to every pastor, worship leader, Bible study/small group leader, blogger, whatever. The bigger our ministry, the more people we can wound if we don’t deal with our personal baggage.
So how do we prevent damaging those in our spiritual care?
First, ask: Do I focus my time, energy, and attention on what God is doing in other people through me, or on what God is doing in me?
When the disciples returned from a missions trip, excited because they cast out demons in Jesus’ name, he told them not to rejoice about that, but because their names were written in heaven (Luke 10:20).
In other words, rejoice in your identity, not in your ministry.
If you don’t, you may stand before Jesus on that great day, stammering, But Lord, didn’t I prophecy and do miracles and ladle soup for the homeless and sponsor a Compassion child and write worship songs in your name? (Matt. 7:22)
And he may reply, Depart from me. I never knew you.
How sobering is that?
Identity, not ministry. In Soul Keeping, John Ortberg quotes Dallas Willard, “The most important thing about you is not the things that you achieve; it is the person that you become.”
Second, ask : Am I submitted to other people?
Jesus commended the soldier who called himself a “man under authority” (Luke 7:8). He tells us the first will be last, and the last first (Matt. 19:20). We are to submit to one another (Eph. 5:21). This means you need to listen to three kinds of people:
- Those with spiritual authority over you – pastor, mentor, elders. Do I honestly seek input from my spiritual leaders, and follow it? Or do I believe I hear most things directly from God? (That’s a red flag.)
- Your peers. Is it easy for my spouse or friends to lovingly tell me the truth, or do I defend myself and avoid true repentance? (Hint: when was the last time you made a change based on painful feedback from people who love you?)
- Those following you. Do I humbly allow others to speak into my life, even those I consider to be less mature than I? (Some of my greatest growth spurts have come when I accepted spiritual insight from Christians much younger in the faith. Hard, but so worth it.)
There you have it. Focus on identity, not ministry. Allow God to deal with your character issues. He’ll use other people to do it, so humble yourself and listen.
Regardless of whether you and I influence ten people or ten thousand, our leadership has impact.
I pray it is for the good.
