I think most people get into ministry for the right reasons. Our motives are pure but over time we easily become seduced into playing games which feed ego.
- Power
- Performance
- Praise
- Perfectionism
All become these mini god’s which promise us increased satisfaction and purpose but leave us feeling unsatisfied and empty.
John Ortberg recently wrote a fantastic article for Christianity Today where he ended with the following questions. He labeled the series of questions the “Idol Quotient Test.” While this is geared toward people in ministry I think you can easily adapt each question to your current situation.
—Where does my sense of security come from—from God or from how my church is doing?
—After a worship service, do I find myself grateful that God is God and feeling joyful that I get to live in his care? Or, if I’m honest, are my emotions dictated more by how many bodies were in the room?
—Do I spend more time thinking about God, or thinking about how to make my church/ministry do better?
—How do I feel when the prospect for more prizes in the church tournament—recognition, praise, reputation, applause—get taken away from me?
—Does my sense of identity flow more out of my relationship with God or out of my performance at church?
—How much do I sacrifice to know God better versus how much do I sacrifice for my church to work better?
Oh dang! Idolatry has never been more clear.
Which question is most convicting to you?
“Do I spend more time thinking about God, or thinking about how to make my church/ministry do better?”
I had to talk about this kind of thing in college. It was depressing for sure, especially when the statistics of who goes into ministry came up, but it was an eye opener. Talk about spiritual smackdown.
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At times, I think all of the questions apply. Staying true is a continued struggle.
I think it is important to surround yourself with people who keep you grounded, who do NOT always “praise your ministry”, etc.. I think the Enemy uses those around us to stoke the flames of self-idolatry.
Great post, Pete!
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This is a great post, Pete. I know the context of your post is leadership/ministry, but this is applicable to just about anything. I work in the music industry and what you have posted here has been 100% my story. I’ve been walking through a process where God is showing me this junk in my heart and systematically deconstructing these things I’ve amassed and looked to for value, approval and identity. And for the first time I’m letting Him. It’s been the single most beautifully painful experiences of my life and wouldn’t trade it for anything.
I had a feeling these questions didn’t only apply to ministry. Glad there was a crossover.
.-= pete wilson´s last blog ..Seduced Into Idolatry =-.
Man…do I have to pick one question or can I just say “All of the above, Pete”?
If I had to pick one, I’d end up choosing #2. I don’t know how many times I’ve walked out of the sanctuary challenged by the sermon but feeling nothing from the worship time. No connection to God. Forget joyful…not even mildly giddy.
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Does my sense of identity flow more out of my relationship with God or out of my performance at church?
I have to be transparent here…This has been something that I struggled with…For the longest time I used to feel like I had to validate myself to the church because I was a younger guy…this is still something that I have to remind myself of…Whew…Thanks…
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I’m with you Michael. Thanks for your honesty.
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—Do I spend more time thinking about God, or thinking about how to make my church/ministry do better?
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thanks for highlighting this, Pete, and for the link to the Ortberg article (always good stuff!)…
One of my friend says, “The church is an idol factory and we are just whores.” How’s that for sine cera?
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Unfortunately so true!
.-= pete wilson´s last blog ..Seduced Into Idolatry =-.
The first one, security. That is a big one for me. Knowing that I am safe and comfortable over being uncomfortable and vulnerable. It really comes down to control, am I in control of the situation.
I read a good quote today in regards to some of this: “Don’t assume the way you are going is God’s way just because it is working”
—Do I spend more time thinking about God, or thinking about how to make my church/ministry do better?
Even though not a pastor, that one kinda hit a little close to home.
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So, if these “good” things can become idols, what are we supposed to do with them? In the Old Testament, the Israelites ripped down, burned up, and melted away the evil idols. It wasn’t enough to coexist with them or to hide them away under the blankets in tents or in saddlebags.
But, what do you do with an idol that you can’t destroy? A family? A marriage? A career? A church? A self?
Hmmmm… that is some serious food for thought.
Great question. Many if not all of these things in the proper perspective can be healthy and important to a ministry. It’s all about what placement we allow them to have in our life.
.-= pete wilson´s last blog ..Seduced Into Idolatry =-.
“How much do I sacrifice to know God better versus…” Regardless of the area of weakness, inside or outside of ministry, the answer is in how strong I am. And my strength comes from Him and is directly purportional to the time I spend with Him.
There in an old D.L. Moody story that tells us he tried to guard himself from being seduced by the idolatry of attention and praise. He wrote that after he had preached, a man was shaking his hand praising him for a great sermon. Moody replied these were the same words the devil spoke to him before he reached the last step coming down from the pulpit.
I need to know myself and my weaknesses and keep company with God every day. Psalm 37:4 I need to delight myself in Him.
This is one of those ‘hidden little secrets’ that we all deal with. We worship a show that is finding the ‘next american idol’ and it’s just proof that it has subtly worked it’s way into our lives.
We have to constantly keep these things in check, which is easier said than done. We’ll be hitting on this next week and it’s simply coming down to our priorities… who’s on top? God or …
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—Does my sense of identity flow more out of my relationship with God or out of my performance at church?
Ouch. Basically slap me and say: What are you defined by?
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After a worship service, do I find myself grateful that God is God and feeling joyful that I get to live in his care? Or, if I’m honest, are my emotions dictated more by how many bodies were in the room?
To be honest, it’s not the number of people in the room, but whether or not they responded well to worship that day. The church I currently serve in is a traditional church (not my main background) and worship in a musical sense is still new to them. It’s really easy to take that as a personal indictment or get frustrated with people who may or may not “get” worship. Some days I have to leave the stage and just go in my office for a few minutes, pray and kind of recenter myself and my focus. Every time I feel that sneaking up on me I try and remind myself that I do what I do to see people connect to God in a deeper way wherever they are. Thanks for the reminder to not let idols run my heart but to continue to find worth and purpose in Him alone.
After a worship service, do I find myself grateful that God is God and feeling joyful that I get to live in his care? Or, if I’m honest, are my emotions dictated more by how many bodies were in the room?
While I am not really affected much by the attendance, and I terribly affected if there is no response to the invitation. I get depressed. I consider it a complete failure on my part. I allow it to ruin a perfectly good Sunday service. It wrecks the first part of my week as I try to figure out where I went wrong with the preaching or the invitation. I’ve considered giving up on altar calls altogether. This is just something that I have stolen complete ownership of…and I know it’s wrong, but can’t help it.
Great post, Pete.
—Do I spend more time thinking about God, or thinking about how to make my church/ministry do better?
Ouch! Yes I do.
John we don’t have a weekly invitation at Cross Point but I’ve had them in previous churches. I know exactly the pressure you’re talking about. Thanks so much for your honestly and I’ll be praying for you.
.-= pete wilson´s last blog ..Seduced Into Idolatry =-.
“Does my sense of identity flow more out of my relationship with God or out of my performance at church?”
This is the one that I struggle with the most …
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Great post Pete! When I was involved in church leadership Henry Nouwen’s book In the Name of Jesus was a life changing book for me. He talks about the temptation for Christian leaders to be “popular, powerful, and spectacular”. I think this is perhaps the greatest seduction of all. Thanks for always putting your heart out there. That’s a rare quality.
I LOVE that book Jeff. Come to think of it I love most books by Henri Nouwen.
.-= pete wilson´s last blog ..Seduced Into Idolatry =-.
Great stuff here, Pete. We need folks like Ortberg and yourself putting these types of articles out there, not to make us feel guilty, but to call us back to grace where our identity should be formed and shaped.
Thanks!
.-= Ken Eastburn´s last blog ..Churches vs. The Economy =-.
Thanks for the post, Pete. I’m not a pastor, but the threat of idolatry is very present in my life. Sometimes when I strive so hard to be “successful” in my life, I have to take a step back and reassess. To take some great wording from a friend and fellow Cross Point attender, Grant Jenkins, I “build up an idol to success” in my heart. It’s so easy to lose focus on true “success” in the eyes of God.
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Hope not too late getting to this post pete. Had neck surgery yesterday and was out of the loop. As a pastor, I really began to struggle with the “line up at the end of the service for the holy handshake moment.” It fed my ego (which was already too big). I reckon that next to last comment would have been my idol. I still do that holy handshake but for a different reason now. I still shake hands and thank people but I also use it to listen to people, possible struggles or prayer requests they may have. Sure, I miss a lot of people who don’t want to wait but that’s ok. I do sometimes still struggle with wanting to hear how good things were but I am a far cry from where I was. Thanks for posting this. It was a good reminder to me.
.-= Bill (cycleguy)´s last blog ..Religious Moralism =-.
You’re welcome. Praying you have a speedy recovery from surgery.
This post, and especially the questions, definitely give us some food for thought, and something to think about in our lives/ministries.
“Does my sense of identity flow out of my relationship with God, or out of my performance at church?”
After 30 years in the ministry I find it to be very true that I am to be willing and even grateful to see my brokenness. The Lord spoke to me in 1984, “seeing is the beginning of healing,” and to not waste one sorrow, but DO the only thing I could do … agree with God… Confess missing the mark, whether out of rebellion, woundedness, entanglements, wrong beliefs concerning God’s heart, etc. I am to walk in the light (James 5:16). I am to purposefully receive His love and forgiveness by glorying in the cross of Jesus Christ, (and like Paul) declare that in my weakness His power is manifested, and transformation is a promise. Every time idolatry happens in me … that is where I will experience the grace of God, and I will be changed. It is a place of rest, not working at trying to change myself and finding out I can not. So, I DO the only thing I can do… agree with God! Is it possible to find out how broken I am at any given moment and experience “joy unspeakable and full of glory?” Yes.
You make such a good point Pete. I, as a leader in my own sense, have always struggled with seeing the big picture of God’s Glory. I remember one night I gave an invitation and felt like a total failure because nobody came down the alter. But a band remember reminded of the importance of planting seeds, and how much it meant to God that we had poured ourselves into this event. It’s a daily battle man.
You gotta read my latest blog man- It will resonate in a special place for you.
http://theriverjordan.net/an-unlikely-customer
You rock!
J