10:23AM EDT 10/17/2012
By J. LEE GRADY
To
train a new generation for ministry we must get rid of pride and pretension
My
friend Charles wanted a mentor. He was eager to learn the ropes of ministry, so
he asked an older pastor for training. The pastor agreed—but Charles soon
realized the man wanted a valet, not an apprentice. Charles became the man’s
“armor bearer.”
The
man never took Charles on hospital visits, involved him in ministry assignments
or prayed with him. Instead, Charles was expected to carry the pastor’s
briefcase, fetch coffee and take suits to the cleaners—with no salary offered.
In this case, “armor bearer” was a spiritualized term for “slave.”
This
bizarre trend became popular in churches 20 years ago, but it still thrives. It
appeals to insecure leaders who need an entourage to make them feel important.
Some pastors have even assigned trainees to serve as bodyguards—complete with
dark glasses and concealed weapons. These young men are instructed to keep
people away from the pastor so he doesn’t have to talk to anyone after a church
service (because, after all, the poor preacher might be “drained of his
anointing” if he fraternizes with common folks).
Excuse
me while I barf!
I’m
not sure what is more nauseating: That some pastors think they are discipling
young leaders by exploiting them, or that church members tolerate such pompous
behavior from a so-called man of God. And we wonder why many young people have
stopped going to church?
When
I turned 50, I decided to spend most of my energy investing in the next
generation. This became my passionate priority because I met so many gifted men
and women in their 20s and 30s who craved mentors. Many of them, like Charles,
were looking for authentic role models but could only find self-absorbed
narcissists who were building their own kingdoms.
If
you want to make a genuine impact on the next generation, please make sure you
are not infected with the armor bearer virus. Take these steps to adjust your
attitude:
1. Get over yourself. As soon as Jesus began
his earthly ministry the devil tried to strike a deal with Him. Satan offered
the celebrity spotlight by showing Jesus the world’s glory and saying, “All
these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me” (Matt. 4:9). But
Jesus didn’t buy it. He chose the path of servanthood even though He knew it
would lead to the cross.
Today’s insecure leaders don’t
realize it’s the devil tempting them to become rock-star preachers. Fame is too
alluring. Before they realize it, their heads have swelled and ministry becomes
a means to prove their imagined greatness. A leader with an inflated ego will
have zero interest in investing in others. You must tell yourself daily: “It’s
not about me!”
2. Stay accessible. Earlier this year I led
a retreat for young Ugandans who are training for ministry. We prayed together,
shared meals and swam at a local pool in the afternoons. When we finished three
days of teaching sessions I asked them what they enjoyed the most about the
retreat. One guy summarized everyone’s sentiment: “We loved that you were with us.”
Young people today don’t just
want our sermons. They want to sit down for coffee after the sermon. They want
to ask questions. They can listen to a hundred preachers on You Tube, but when
you invite them to dinner, offer to pray with them or take them on a mission
trip, you mark them forever.
3. Keep it real. Older Christian leaders have picked up some
bad habits that turn off young people. Some ministers preach with affected
voices, wear weird hairstyles and insist on dressing like funeral parlor
directors—even on their days off. Please talk in a normal voice when you preach
so young people won’t dismiss you as a fake. Be transparent, admit your faults
and let everyone know you’ve had struggles. Young people don’t want to follow
someone who pretends to be perfect.
4. Pour on the
encouragement. Many
young people today struggle to stay disciplined. Some have addictions. And many
of them have attitudes! But you will never reach them if all you do is point
out their faults. You have to win their hearts before you address problems. If
you saturate them with the love of a caring father or mother, their spiritual
growth will amaze you.
5. Don’t cling to power. Jesus was the Son of God, yet He willingly
handed His authority over to His disciples and told them to finish the job.
Likewise, Paul invested his life in Timothy, Titus, Silvanus, Phoebe and
others—and he expected them to go farther than He did. Every good leader is
already thinking of his succession plan. If you have a tendency to control,
dominate or manipulate people, you must wrestle with God until your pride is
crushed.
Young leaders today don’t want
to be your butler or your valet. And they won’t follow people who strut and
swagger. They are looking for mentors who walk with the limp of humility.
J. Lee
Grady is the
former editor of Charisma and
the director of The
Mordecai Project. You can follow him on Twitter at leegrady.
His recent books include 10
Lies Men Believe and Fearless
Daughters of the Bible.
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