This is a guest post by Shawn Lovejoy. Shawn is a friend and the Founding and Lead Pastor of Mountain Lake Church, the Directional Leader of churchplanters.com and the author of the newly released book, ‘The Measure of Our Success – An Impassioned Plea to Pastors”. God has used Mountain Lake Church and churchplanters.com to become one of the most influential church planting ministries in the world, and Shawn gives Jesus all the credit. Shawn loves his wife, his kids, the church, pastors, college football, and PlayStation3. In that order. He lives near Atlanta, Georgia.
The Lure (and Danger) of Fame
No pastor would ever admit to the desire to be famous. Our hearts are deceitful, though, aren’t they? Most of us care far too much about the number of Facebook friends, blog readers, and Twitter followers we have. We keep a secret eye on how many times our wisdom is retweeted, and we feel validated and important if we can write an article, speak at a conference, or gain a voice in a larger forum. If we’re honest, often times our desire for “growth” and “influence” is really just a desire to be noticed and affirmed, isn’t it?
Pastors, are we trying to get people to follow us or follow Jesus? The church has too many pastor-followers as it is. Every one of us looks more glamorous from a distance. We all look dirtier up close. I know many famous pastors, and they’re not nearly as perfect as they seem…. or talk. I’m not either. Before I decided to write this book, I had to ask myself, “Why do I want to write this? What do I really hope to achieve?” I must strive every day to keep my motivations in check, because “pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall” (Prov. 16:18). Fame simply cannot be the measure of our success.
All of us are tempted to measure success by the world’s standards. However, if we do, it ill cost us. It has cost us. It has cost me. I’ve allowed false measures of success to drive me to insecurity, isolation, loneliness, anxiety, and discouragement. Have you ever been there? I bet you have. When we succumb to the temptation, we must repent. We must tear down the idols in our hearts and lives. We must find a new standard of measurement. We must live for an audience of One. We must rediscover His measure of success.
Pastor, is this an area of struggle for you? How are you measuring your success?
I love Shawn’s heart for pastors. I’ve personally benefited from his encouragement and friendship. Shawn is a passionate Kingdom-builder.
Get this book now:
The Measure of Our Success: An Impassioned Plea To Pastors, available today on Amazon.
Twitter: Shawnlovejoy
says:
Thx Ron! Thx 4 ur feedback guys!
Shawn! Thanks for the message this morning. As I work for a Christian NGO, I face this struggle in my life.
In my daily life, as I perform my duties, I expect that hard work gets recognized. I also believe that every writer would love to expand his reach, increase his followers, etc. It is too difficult to deny ourselves and carry the cross for His glory.
The message was a much needed reminder for me. Thanks
Thanks Uma
I think for some pastors, they have reached a level of celebrity….You are famous Ron : ), but once your new community gets to know you and Cheryl, they will realize that you are truly a man of God….a simple man of God and that you don't have the big head! In fact, you struggle as we do, you cry as we do, and you rejoice just as we do.
Plus, your true celebrity will show up the day of the move….and how many show up to pack and load boxes!
I'm praying that Melissa, that they see the true me and not the one they want me to be or expect a pastor to be…just who God made me to be. Thanks!
There is so much talk and study these days about effective leadership within pastoral and church circles, much of it bottom lining on the truth that if you don't have followers you aren't leading. Leadership is all about influence. The best definition I have heard of spiritual leadership is… moving people onto God's agenda for their lives. 70% of tweets I read have to do with some aspect of leadership. I agree with the post, and I sense the bottom line is the heart and agenda of the leader. However, I think you can have a large, loyal following and have your heart and agenda in the right place. Where is the line between having a following and having fame? Is desiring to have a following automatically a desire to have fame? Is there something intrinsically wrong with people seeing a pastor as a kind of spiritual father and thus following them as they follow Jesus? These are questions that I think are at the bottom of the issues raised. Love you and your blog!
Great questions. Thanks for your encouragement.