Reflections on the Pastor Pedestal and the Christian Celebrity Cycle by Pam Perry
"Thou shalt have no other gods before me." Exodus 20:3
I will never forget the children's story "The Emperor's New Clothes" by Hans Christian Anderson. I really liked that story because it illustrated that just because you think you're right - doesn't mean you are - even if other people seem to go think so too.
The Emperor surrounded himself with people who feared him. They put him on a pedestal and felt he was their "god." They were afraid to disagree with anything he said or thought. They were the consummate "yes-men." Consequently, they let him fall for some really dumb stuff. Like walking around in "invisible" clothes.
That's the problem with having just "yes" people around you. They will let you look stupid instead of challenging you because they're too afraid. In the story, it wasn't until one truthful child stepped forward and told the Emperor that he had no clothes on, then the Emperor finally got a revelation!
There are two sides of this story and they're both based on things that are ungodly: fear and pride.
If the people had not been in fear - they could've told the Emperor the real deal. And if he hadn't wrapped himself up in pride, he could have recognized that he was really looking ridiculous.
Fear and pride are elements that can kill a soul and destroy a nation. When rampant in the church, it can stop the move of God.
God's Word says that we should submit to those in authority. We are to respect and revere them - not be afraid of them. First Peter 5:5 says, "All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.'"
We are to respect one another. When we worship a pastor to the point that we're afraid to tell them the truth - it's dangerous. The pastor will go around exposed to deceit and not even know it. We should never worship or esteem man over God - it's detestable in God's eyes. It's idolatry - and anything you idolize you will not dispute - even when you know it's right to do so.
"Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right," Proverbs 16:13. If we really love our pastors, we must speak the truth.
Ministry leaders must also learn to temper their stubbornness - which comes out of pride. The Bible says there is safety in a multitude of counselors. Wise counsel is godly. If a pastor thinks he knows it all, he is heading for destruction. The Word warns us that "pride comes before destruction."
If God gives grace and favor to the humble, we all must be willing to say, "I was wrong. I stand corrected." Stubbornness keeps us from doing what is best - thus in the end we hurt others and ourselves too.
Confrontation requires courage. Reverence does not mean we can't speak the truth to our pastors in love. Mutual respect is the key element. It flows both ways. When we flow in the wisdom of God and receive correction from the people he set around us, we will be safe and secure and properly clothed at all times.
Pam Perry is a publicist at Ministry Marketing Solutions, specializing in the Christian publishing industry. Pam serves as the president of American Christian Writers Detroit.
Pam, great analogy. I need to use that when I explain pride to my five-year-old daughter, who thinks she knows everything now. :)
What you say is so true. As a reviewer, I cannot tell you how many authors[Christian] have been upset with me when I didn't give them a four or five star review rating--as if I'm on some mission to destroy Christian fiction authors. I know once my book finally gets out there everyone is definitely going to like it. I know I will cringe, but I will remember the Emperor's New Clothes[The Disney Version] and check myself at the altar.
Posted by: Dee Stewart | May 03, 2005 at 08:44 PM