LeBron James and Celebrity Pastors

In 2011 there was a lot of talk in the Christian blogosphere about “celebrity pastors” and “mega-star ministry leaders.” I’ve blogged a bit about servant leadership here, here, here, here, here, and here. 

I hadn’t thought about it much lately until I read a recent piece in Sports Illustrated by photographer Walter Iooss, Jr. He tells some great war stories about famous athletes.

Of particular note was his story of doing a photo shoot with LeBron James. 

“I first photographed LeBron James in 2003, when he was a rookie in Cleveland. He was pretty raw as a teenager; he didn’t have any of the smoothed edges he has now. When I shot him six years later, in 2009, the difference was amazing. He walked in like a king that day, and he took over that room.”

 “Times change, and sadly, LeBron became a villain to many after The Decision. I’ve seen a lot of entourages, but none like his. In July 2010, I got an assignment from Nike to shoot LeBron right after his TV special announcing his move to the Heat. We rented the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, where the Lakers and the Clippers used to play, and there were 53 people on my crew — including hair and makeup artists, production people, a stylist. I had $10,000 in Hollywood lighting. It was huge. When LeBron arrived, it was as if Nelson Mandela had come in. Six or seven blacked-out Escalades pulled up, a convoy. LeBron had bodyguards and his masseuse. His deejay was already there, blasting. This for a photo shoot that was going to last an hour, tops.”

“This is how crazy it was: I wasn’t even allowed to talk directly to LeBron. There was a liaison, someone from Amar’e Stoudemire’s family. I would say to him, ‘O.K., have LeBron drive right,’ and then he’d turn to LeBron and say, ‘LeBron, go right.’”

“LeBron had guards in the portals on the mezzanine level, talking into their hands. Really, what was going to happen? And then at the end of the shoot they all got in the Escalades. I’ve been around Michael Jordan, but with him nothing even came close to this. Unimaginable.”

My Wish for Christian Servant-Leadership in 2012

My wish for Christian leaders in 2012 is simple:

Let’s strive to be more like King Jesus than King James (LeBron James).

The human ego is such that if you feed it too much, it grows to monstrous proportions.

I vividly recall the time when I introduced my mentor to a somewhat well-known Sr. Pastor. The Sr. Pastor took over the introduction and described himself to my mentor as, “I’m somewhat of a ‘Swin-Carthur.’ People tell me that my preaching combines the best of Swindoll’s creativity and application to life with MacArthur’s exegetical and theological depth.”

That smacks more of LeBron than Jesus.

But there’s a lot of “King James Christian Celebrity” going around these days.

The entourages.

The slick packaging.

The personal assistants.

I don’t mean an administrative assistant. I don’t mean just one personal assistant. I mean multiple personal assistants.

Really? Seriously?

I know. If you try hard enough, you can conjure up reasons why it needs to be. Here’s the problem. You can’t conjure up a single verse that shows Jesus with any personal assistant. Instead, Jesus was the servant-leader who washed the feet of His twelve disciples.

Instead 

“Instead” is a good word. Rather than a snarky blog post that takes easy swipes at the “celebrity pastor” target, here are a few random “instead” thoughts for servant-leadership in 2012.

• Instead of King James-like arrogance, in Christian ministry in 2012 (blogging, writing, speaking, personal conversation), let’s talk more about Jesus and others than about ourselves.

• Instead of King James-like arrogance, in Christian ministry in 2012, let’s serve the people who work alongside of us rather than demanding that we be catered to.

• Instead of King James-like arrogance, in Christian ministry in 2012, lets invite constructive feedback rather than demanding positive strokes.

• Instead of King James-like arrogance, in Christian ministry in 2012, let’s respond humbly to criticism rather than reacting defensively.

• Instead of King James-like arrogance, in Christian ministry in 2012, let’s treat others as equals—valuing their time as much as ours, their gifts as important as ours, and their ministries as significant as ours.

• Instead of King James-like arrogance, in Christian ministry in 2012, let’s be more concerned about serving others than about how deferential people are to us.

• Instead of King James-like arrogance, in Christian ministry in 2012, let’s be more concerned about living for an audience of One, than about how slick we come across.

• Instead of King James-like arrogance, in Christian ministry in 2012, let’s be less concerned about how bright our mega-star brand is shining, and more concerned about being salt and light for the Light of the World.

• Instead of King James-like arrogance, in Christian ministry in 2012, let’s be less concerned about advancing our agenda and building our kingdom, and more concerned about finding and following God’s will and being a team-player in Christ’s Kingdom plans.

• Instead of King-James-like arrogance, in Christian ministry in 2012, let’s live Philippians 2:1-5 because we serve the servant-King Jesus of Philippians 2:5-11. 

Join the Conversation

What additional ways would you finish this sentence:

Instead of King James-like arrogance, in Christian ministry in 2012, let’s…

Tags: Celebrity Pastors, LeBron, LeBron James, Pastoral Ministry, Philippians 2:1-5, Servant Leadership

Why I Prefer “Local Ministry” Over the “Speaking Circuit” 

Recently Tim Challies posted his personal reflections on The Speaking Circuit. Tim is a good friend and co-worker in the ministry. His blog is one of the most read Christian blogs in the world. I read him every day.

In his post, he expressed that for him leaving pastoral ministry to go on the speaking circuit might involve selfish motivations. I want to summarize his perspective. Then I will share my perspective of the “speaking circuit” compared to “local ministry.”

Tim’s Perspective 

The gist of Tim’s post highlights a common theme: a pastor gains popularity and then leaves the local church behind and leaves pastoral ministry for the speaking circuit. “I can understand why and how people could give up leading the local church in favor of the speaking circuit.”

Tim goes on to say:

“Of course I cannot judge any other man’s motives. Unless a man chooses to reveal his reasons, I do not know why he decides to leave the pastorate to pursue writing or speaking or a combination of the two. However, though I cannot judge another person’s motives, I know that to some extent I can judge my own. And if I were to leave the pastorate to be a speaker and author, I think I know why I would do so.

It would come down to my heart. There is something about the speaking circuit that calls. There is something about it that offers something better (or something that tries to insist that it’s better). The speaking circuit offers a kind of affirmation, a kind of ease, that does not and cannot exist in the local church.

So I don’t know why another man would give up pastoring the local church to move on to other interests. But if I were to do so, at least right now, I think this would be it—the desire for all the benefits of the speaking circuit without the long, hard kind of love and commitment that comes with pastoring a local church. But if I did so, I know I’d be leaving behind the best thing of all.”

In those comments and the rest of Tim’s post, I might summarize Tim’s argument as follows:

1. Going on the speaking circuit could mean leaving the local church.

2. Going on the speaking circuit could be motivated by a desire for affirmation, admiration, admirers, applause, praise, etc.

3. Going on the speaking circuit could be motivated by ease.

4. Going on the speaking circuit could be motivated by money (honorarium).

5. Going on the speaking circuit could be motivated by the comfort of a nice hotel and nice restaurants.

My Perspective

Like Tim, I can’t evaluate anyone else’s motives for why they sense a call to one type of ministry over another. So all I can do is share my own story.

I did not shift my ministry focus from the pastoral ministry for the speaking circuit, but rather I shifted to the ministry of equipping and pastoring pastors as a seminary professor. So this is a bit of an apples to oranges comparison. At the same time, through RPM Ministries, I am involved in some speaking at conferences and seminars. So I can at least ponder what pastoral ministry and seminary ministry are like compared to “the speaking circuit.” For me, the comparison is really between “ongoing local ministry with people I know and who know me” and “the speaking circuit of broader ministry to ‘strangers.’”

1. When most people I know (actually, everyone I know) shifted from the pastoral ministry, they did not leave the local church. They remained very active in local church ministry, just not as a pastor. That has been true in my own case. Fifteen years ago I sensed God’s call to move from pastoral ministry to seminary ministry. My family and I have always remained active in our local church in numerous ministries. So it remains a both/and: outside ministry and local church ministry, rather than being an either/or.

2. I do not enjoy the speaking circuit. I “add” it to my ministry involvement because I sense a call from God to take what I’ve learned as a pastor and seminary professor and share it with those who otherwise might not have the benefit of the “content” that I share. In other words, for me, I go “kicking and screaming” into the speaking circuit.

3. I do not enjoy being away from home, being in a hotel (nice or otherwise—and I’ve experienced each!), eating in restaurants. For me, there is no glamor in that, no “siren call.” Give me my wife, my home, my neighborhood, my familiar settings, a home-cooked meal (whether cooked by me or by Shirley or both) any day.

4. I don’t find the speaking circuit to be a life of ease. I do not like airports. I don’t like traveling (other than on vacation with my family). I don’t like wondering if the PowerPoint is going to work or any of the other million details that have to be worked out in an unfamiliar setting. Local church ministry and seminary ministry are certainly not “easy.” They involve doing real life with real people who really know you and who you really know well—not easy, but wonderful.

5. I much prefer speaking to a congregation of friends (or a seminary classroom of students I know) than I do speaking to an “audience of strangers.” Frankly, I’m always a tad “on edge” and “nervous” before speaking on the speaking circuit. Not so in the church or seminary. There I am 100% at east and comfortable. I am among friends. More importantly, I know them, they know me, and the art of communicating truth and applying it to life is ten times easier because of our ongoing relationship. Speaking to “strangers,” on the other hand, makes ministry, for me, ten times more difficult. I find it much more difficult to apply truth to life when I don’t know the daily lives of the people to whom I am called to speak. I thrive on speaking to friends—congregation members and students I know well personally and who know me well personally. They know whether I’m making stuff up or really living it out by Christ’s grace. We connect. We laugh. We cry. We relate truth to life because we know each other’s lives.

6. I don’t like the “one shot” aspect of the speaking circuit. Given the nature of the time you have, you typically have a “packaged message” and you have a very limited amount of time to communicate your “content.” But in church and seminary ministry, you follow up week after week. And, each lesson, especially in a classroom, or Sunday school class, or small group, you get to interact back and forth. It is not a monologue, but a dialogue. I love that. I love the relaxed nature of ongoing teaching with friends. I do not enjoy the forced nature of one shot teaching with strangers.

7. Let’s be honest, we all appreciate being appreciated. However, I’d take the quiet ongoing “appreciation” of a congregation or of a classroom of students over the applause of an audience of strangers. I remember the first time I spoke at our church after we moved to Indiana. I had never made a big deal (or any deal) about having been a pastor or seminary professor. When I was done speaking, a member of our congregation said, “Bob, you’re good at this. Have you ever thought about speaking more often?” I got a kick out of that. Frankly, I like being “just one of the gang.” I don’t need or desire the applause of being “the special speaker.” It just doesn’t do much for me.

There’s much more I could say, but suffice it to say that the only reason I ever “go on the speaking circuit” is because I sense a call from God to do it. I much prefer local church ministry and seminary ministry. The speaking circuit, at least for me, is not enticing or glamorous. Ministering on an ongoing basis with and to friends in the church and seminary, while not “easy” and not “glamorous” is a wonderful, amazing calling.

Join the Conversation

If you were to go on the “speaking circuit,” what would motivate you? Which do you prefer, the speaking circuit or “local” ministry? Why?

Tags: Local Church, Pastoral Ministry, Seminary, Speaking Circuit, Tim Challies

Quotes of Note: God’s Grand Vision for His Church

The following “Quotes of Note” are from the Introduction and Chapter One of Equipping Counselors for Your Church. This section of the book focuses on God’s grand vision for His church.

• If pastors fail to focus on equipping, then we selfishly treat God’s people like children who have never grown up spiritually.

• When pastors focus on equipping, we leave an other-centered legacy of loving leaders.

• My goal is the promotion of a congregation-saturated mindset of every-member ministry with an entire congregation passionate about and equipped to make disciples.

• Pastoral care is not just what the pastor does, but what every member is equipped to offer to one another.

• Biblical counseling is not simply a ministry of a few in one corner of the church, but a mindset of an entire congregation that the Bible is sufficient for every life issue.

• Biblical counseling is focused one-another ministry designed to fulfill the Great Commandment and the Great Commission.

• Gospel-centered biblical counseling involves communicating Gospel truth about grace-focused sanctification in word, thought, and action through one-another relationships that have integrity, genuineness, authenticity, transparency, and reliability, done in love to promote the unity and maturity of the Body of Christ for the ultimate purpose of displaying the glory of Christ’s grace.

• God’s end goal is for every member to be a disciple-maker who speaks and lives Gospel truth in love to help one another to grow in Christ.

• We don’t want to create the ministry mindset where the only way people can relate to one another is by discussing their problems. The goal is to move people forward in Christlikeness whether or not they are facing specific crisis problems.

• If pastoral search committees desired in a pastor what Christ desires, they would throw out every résumé that failed to emphasize experience in and passion for equipping the saints.

• Christ’s grand plan for His Church is for pastors/teachers to focus on equipping every member to do the work of the ministry.

• These eight words must be every church leader’s reason for existence: “To prepare God’s people for works of service.”

• The leader’s calling is to help God’s people to fulfill their calling.

• Christ’s grand plan for His Church is for every member to be a disciple-maker by speaking and living Gospel truth to one another in love.

• Sadly, in far too many churches, the people of God are second-class citizens when it comes to the work of the ministry.

• Pastors and teachers serve the people so God’s people can serve the congregation and community.

• The normal agenda and priority of every Christian is to make disciple-makers.

• Christ’s training strategy for disciple-making involves pastors and teachers equipping every member to embody the truth in love through the personal ministry of the Word—biblical counseling.

Join the Conversation 

Which quote about God’s vision for His church resonates with you the most? Why?

Tags: Biblical Counseling, Discipleship, Equipping, Pastoral Ministry, Quotes

Responding Wisely to Conflict in Ministry

Nehemiah was doing God’s work, yet many people still resisted his ministry. Like him, when we seek to build up God’s people, we may expect pockets of envy, dishonesty, apathy, fury, mockery, and hostility.

Prayerfully, you will face few or none of these. Picture the following as the worst case scenario, the perfect storm. Nehemiah models how to weather the worst ministry storm imaginable.

Anticipate Pockets of Envy: Respond with Unity

When Sanballat and Tobiah heard that the King approved Nehemiah’s plan, “they were very much disturbed that someone had come to promote the welfare of the Israelites” (Neh. 2:10b). They questioned Nehemiah’s character not because they were concerned, but because they were afraid and envious. The intrusion of this outsider would strip away their power base and influence.

Rather than going toe-to-toe with these men, Nehemiah encouraged God’s people to minister shoulder-to-shoulder (Neh. 2:11-20). He invited a trusted circle of colleagues to assess the need, and then he called people to unite to conquer the problem. It wasn’t avoidance of the enemy, but rather a purposeful focus on God’s family.

Anticipate Pockets of Dishonesty: Respond with Humility and Integrity

When Geshem joined Sanballat and Tobiah, between the three of them their nations nearly surrounded Jerusalem. When they saw God’s people united in service, they falsely accused them. “Are you rebelling against the king?” (Neh. 2:19) They painted Nehemiah’s good as if it were evil because Satan curses whom God blesses.

In response to their dishonesty, Nehemiah spoke the truth in love with humility and integrity. Instead of standing up for himself, he exalted God. “The God of heaven will give us success” (Neh. 2:20). Rather than exalting himself, he saw himself through God’s eyes. “We his servants will start rebuilding” (Neh. 2:20).

It is not that Nehemiah stubbornly refused to search his heart. Rather, he had already been doing that. “I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s house, have committed against you” (Neh. 1:6). Biblical self-awareness and spiritual confession are God’s antidote for false accusation.

Anticipate Pockets of Apathy: Respond with Tenacity

Problems from without are hard enough, but problems from within are even more difficult to endure. Nehemiah launched the work with great enthusiasm only to face a potential interruption. “But their nobles would not put their shoulders to the work under their supervision” (Neh. 3:5).

Interestingly, the text offers not a single word in response. The work continues unabated. While welcoming the support of all who offered it, Nehemiah had sufficient inner resources to stand alone if need be. In the tenacious discharge of his responsibilities, he was prepared to have no one but God. His energy was not dictated by other’s apathy.

Anticipate Pockets of Fury: Respond with Vulnerability

In Nehemiah 3, thirty-eight diverse work crews labor harmoniously to advance God’s kingdom. Then we read, “When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed” (Neh. 4:3).

When someone pushes us, our inclination is to push back. When someone gets in our face, we’re tempted to get in their face. Nehemiah chose to get face-to-face with God. Vulnerably he prays, “Hear us, O our God, for we are despised” (Neh. 4:4). “Despised” means to view someone as insignificant, useless, worthless. In the Old Testament, this frequently results in discouragement. Think of that word: dis-courage, to have your courage melt away as you curl up in a fetal position feeling overwhelmed and undermanned. Rather than give in to that, Nehemiah gave up to God.

Anticipate Pockets of Mockery: Respond with God-Reality

Critics generally run in packs. Sanballat and Tobiah did. In the presence of their associates, Sanballat ridiculed the Jews. “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day?” (Neh. 4:2). Tobiah, who was at his side, said, “What they are building—if even a fox climbed up on it, he would break down their wall of stones!” (Neh. 4:3). They pile one on top of another cruel character assaults, relentless mocking, and malicious slicing and dicing.

Drop after drop, drip after drip, it takes its toll. Verse ten records what the people felt. Commentators believe it was actually sung as a funeral dirge. We might translate it as:

The strength of our burden bearing is drooping.

The rubbish heap so vast.

And we ourselves are stooping.

Unable to fulfill this impossible task.

If ever a people needed perspective—God-reality—it was them and it was now. Nehemiah looks things over, gathers his people, and says, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome” (Neh. 4:14). When life stinks, our perspective shrinks. When our perspective shrinks, we need a full dose of eternal perspective, of God perspective. We need to remember Who God is, who we are in Christ, Who it is that is calling us, and what He is calling us to do.

Anticipate Pockets of Hostility: Respond with Creativity

When they reached the half-way point, opposition went from bad to worse. “So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart” (Neh. 4:6). When Sanballat and his crew heard about their progress, “they were very angry. They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it” (Neh. 4:7b-8). To make matters worse, their own people told them “ten times over, ‘Wherever you turn, they will attack us’” (Neh. 4:12).

The half-way point is often the point of greatest opposition and greatest temptation to abandon our post. It’s the point at which others begin to take notice of our progress, but when we begin to focus on the huge task still ahead. Great leaders respond to the potential death and destruction of a dream with life and creativity. You can define the greatness of leaders by what it takes to discourage them and by how they encourage everyone around them.

Creative thinking in a crisis often requires both/and thinking, such as prayer and practicality. “But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this need” (Neh. 4:9). Nehemiah creatively suggests both working and protecting: “From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows and armor” (Neh. 4:16). He creatively emphasizes both individuality and community: “Fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes…. We all returned to the wall, each to his own work…. Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there….” (Neh. 4:14, 15, 20).

Join the Conversation

Of the six areas of conflict, which have you faced in ministry? Of the six biblical responses, which would you like to add to your ministry?

Note: The preceding material is summarized from Chapter Five of Equipping Counselors for Your Church. 

Tags: Conflict, Conflict Resolution, Ministry

The Biblical Servant Pastor

Not the Mega-Star 

During the early days of television, two shows dominated the airwaves. One was on Tuesday night and the other aired on Sunday evening. Initially the most popular of the two shows was The Texaco Star Theatre hosted by Milton Berle. Originally it was designed along the lines of the old-fashion vaudeville variety hour with a host highlighting half-a-dozen guests each week.

However, little by little, Uncle Miltie became the star each week. As the format changed, the accent gradually focused increasingly on Berle himself. There were fewer guest acts, and Berle began to dominate each show. In just eight years, the steam ran out of Mr. Television. No one person is talented enough to carry any show, or any ministry, for more than a short time.

The Mega-Servant

The other show, The Ed Sullivan Show, experienced a very different fate. If any show in the history of television could be called an institution, it would be The Ed Sullivan Show. Every Sunday night for more than two decades this show brought an incredible variety of entertainers into homes. Sullivan’s show continued as a major hit for fifteen years longer than Berle.

Unlike Milton Berle, Ed Sullivan never wavered from his original format. He was the host who called other people to center stage. Numerous performers made their television debut on his show: Walt Disney, The Beatles, Elvis Presley, Bob Hope, Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, and hundreds more. Though Ed Sullivan died soon after the last run of his show, he will not soon be forgotten. His legacy outlives him.

Are We Like Milton Berle or Ed Sullivan?

God calls leaders in the church to be like Ed Sullivan, not like Milton Berle. If we’re like Milton Berle, and the spotlight increasingly focuses on us and our individual ministry, then biblically we are missing God’s mark as equippers. If Christian leaders fail to focus on equipping, then we selfishly treat God’s people like children who have never grown up spiritually.

God wants us to be like Ed Sullivan—a host who calls others to center stage by equipping them to fulfill their calling. If Christian leaders focus on equipping, then we leave an other-centered legacy of loving leaders (2 Timothy 2:2).

The Rest of the Story 

Today’s post is from Equipping Counselors for Your Church which will be released September 23 by P & R Publishing.

• To Pre-Order Visit our Store 

• To Read the Foreword and a dozen endorsements visit our Equipping Counselors Home Page 

• Watch the Video Book Trailer 

• Read a Sample Chapter

Join the Conversation

How can the church be filled with Ed Sullivan equippers?

Tags: Discipleship, Ed Sullivan, Equipping, Equipping Counselors for Your Church, Milton Berle

Five to Live By

Linking you to the top 5 Christian blog posts of the week—posts that provide robust, rich, and relevant insights for living.

Are You an Astronaut or an Archeologist? 

Paul Tripp discusses how when we are young we are astronauts looking ahead to each new launch phase of life. As we age, we become archeologist looking back on our past. He also explores how we can look back, failures and all, and experience Christ’s Grace. Read his perspective in Archeologists and Unafraid. 

The Parenting Pendulum

Ed Welch at CCEF has an intriguing post with an even more interesting title: Parents Ignore Your Kids’ Feelings. Read it to find out what Ed thinks about the pendulum swings in how society says we should parent.

When Should I Confront?

Paul Tautges has a great post on Ten Questions I Need to Ask Before Confronting a Brother in Christ.

How to Recognize a Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing

This “classic” (old) post from John Piper has insight relevant for today about How to Recognize a Wolf in the Making. 

What Makes Biblical Counseling Biblical?

9Marks has an excellent interview with David Powlison on What Distinguishes Biblical Counseling from Other Methods? 

Join the Conversation

Which post impacted you the most? Why? What blog posts have you enjoyed this week that you want to share with others?

Tags: Parenting, Pastoral Ministry