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By James Quansah, Pastor
THERE IS something unpleasant we have seen some ministers do during church programmes. Many guest ministers like to praise their hosts. Often they ask the host church to stand to their feet and give ‘mighty claps’ to honour head pastors, their wives, junior pastors and the deacons for the good work done. It is usually done after the guest minister has equally been given a rousing welcome amidst shout of praise. This is a beautiful thing.
The unfortunate thing, however, is that in most cases, the Lord Jesus, the Master, is completely forgotten and ignored in the whole drama. Neither the host pastor nor the visiting pastor acknowledges and thanks our King, the Lord Jesus, by whose grace they are called men of God. I think our loyalty should first be to the Lord. We must appreciate Him for His redemptive work, the manifold spiritual and material blessings He has bestowed upon us.
Someone may defend this conduct with an explanation that the church offered praise and worship to God. But we know that God deserves the best of everything we do. If the church is made to give standing ovation to ministers, then, ministers must stand attention and salute their Master in worship for the privilege to serve Him. Undoubtedly, it will do us a lot of good if we learn to greatly appreciate the Lord, making Him increase and honoured while we decrease and dishonoured.
One day, the Lord revealed to me in His Word why He rejected Eli’s household. God was unhappy that Eli honoured his sons above Him (1 Samuel 2: 29–30). This means that man should not be honoured above God.
When the Bible says that Christians should honour their pastors, it does not mean it must expressively be greater than what is given to the Saviour. A servant is not greater than his Master
Unfortunately, however, in most churches, today, some pastors have virtually taken over the position of God. They are now the object of worship. They love to be revered and honoured far above Christ by their members for their services without considering its implications.
God criticised Eli for honouring his sons above Him. When we project ourselves above Christ, talk more about ourselves above Christ and influence the people to believe in us above Christ, we stand the risk of being rejected.
All glory, honour, dignity, praise, adoration, thanksgiving, exaltation belong to God. Jesus must increase and be honoured while His servants decrease in His awesome presence. When we learn to first honour God, He also will honour us with blessings.
If we claim to have been called and sent by Christ Jesus, then, we must sincerely love Him. If we claim to know Him and are united with Him in one Spirit, then, we must bless Him, speak well of Him, adore Him, honour Him, give Him acceptable worship with awe. If we say we are servants of Jesus but fail to walk as He walked, talk as He talked and think as He thought, do we not betray ourselves as liars?
How can we tell the world that Christ Jesus has saved us if we fail to preach about Him, abide in Him and imitate Him? We must be willing to share in His suffering and be hopeful to share in His glory. Christ must increase in us while we decrease as John the Baptist declared while exalting Christ Jesus (John 3:25-30).
If we say we are servants of Christ, then, we must sincerely eulogise Him especially when we get the opportunity to preach and teach the Word of God.
It is easier for one to call himself a pastor or to be called a pastor by others than for him to genuinely live a life of a servant of Christ. I mean, it is not difficult to tell others that you are a pastor as letting your deeds and speech tell it.
James Quansah is the Executive Director of Christ-Conscious Leadership Centre (CLC) and lead Pastor of End-Time Christ’s Commissioners (ECC), Kumasi, Ghana. James is also a journalist by profession. He is married with four children.
