As a young man, barely in my 20s, I thought I had some things figured out. I knew enough to think I knew something, but no wisdom to know that I didn’t really know anything. So, as any arrogant, frustrated, young Christian man might do, I scheduled an appointment with my pastor. I had my list of grievances. With the confidence of Job’s friends, I marched into his office and proceeded to inform him that he was doing things all wrong and that I had some wisdom for him that he not only needed to hear, but heed. The intention was not to ask how I could serve or help or come alongside him. Nor was I there to ask questions to seek understanding. No, none of that. Simply to vent frustration. To his credit, he was gracious with me. Looking back now, I understand a little better why he extended this grace to me, but, at the time, it only made me more of a curmudgeon.
God had some humbling experiences planned for my future. Eventually, I would need to learn to humble myself too. These are difficult lessons to learn, but so needful for the man or woman of God. There is no clear pathway around this. If you want to grow as a minister, you must take this pathway of humility. Often, the pathway of humility will lead you into seasons of obscurity. Feeling forgotten. Pushed aside. Overlooked. In those times, don’t fret and don’t get restless. Learn that, while the word of God and his mission are serious business and worthy of your time and attention, you need not take yourself too seriously. God’s mission does not begin and end with you. If you’ll let him, God will use you, but it will be in spite of you.
I Peter 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
Over the years of my life as a Christian, I have had the privilege to be a member (or regular attender) of seven different local churches. By God’s grace, I believe he has taught me something valuable from each one. The church where I came to faith in Jesus Christ was a small, rural, “country” church. The ministry model there was simple, but they preached the word of God, and it was there that I heard and responded to the gospel at the age of nine. In my teen years, I attended a much larger church that had a fairly large youth group and a student pastor who loved the word of God. It was there that I grew in my passion and love for God’s word (and also where I grew in some arrogance, as discussed earlier). During my college days, I took a year off from my business degree to move to Chicago with a friend. We attended a Bible college there, but my main draw was the opportunity to work with youth at an urban church on the north side of the city. The church was Southern Baptist, light on preaching and doctrinal strength, but they had a compassion for people that I didn’t have yet.
Psalm 86:15 But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.
After graduating college, I moved to Kansas City, Missouri, to pursue my career in the business world. A large part of the move, however, was centered around attending a church that was known for biblical, one-on-one, discipleship. The humbling continued as I began to learn how much I hadn’t learned yet. As the word took deeper root in me, God began to grow me in ways I had never imagined. Many connections and pieces began to come together. I met my wife, was trained in the church’s Bible institute, ordained to the gospel ministry, and sent out to help a church in need in Ocala, Florida. For the first time, I had real ministry responsibilities. It was no longer the other guy’s problem – it was mine! More humbling. We spent nine wonderful years ministering at that church.
Psalm 35:18 I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people.
After a difficult, but sweet and amicable departure from that church (more humbling), God brought our family back to Kansas City for a season. We became members at Midtown Baptist Temple and settled into the ministry of this still fairly young church plant. It was a season of strengthening, rebuilding, and retooling to prepare us for the mission that God had ahead—and, of course, more humbling. But it was during this time that God forged in me a heart for church planting. I had never considered church planting or had any aspirations to be a church planter. God had other ideas. So, in 2013, we packed a truck and moved our family to Tampa, Florida. Fast forward eight-plus years and God has seen fit to bring up a new church. He is teaching me the heart of shepherding people, training leaders, and preparing our church to reproduce itself. More humbling.
There is a reason that I am sharing all of this. I believe there is a great lesson to learn from the beauty of local churches. Though each true New Testament local church is different and has its own share of problems and shortcomings, each one is also part of the bride of Christ. Additionally, God has entrusted each local church with pastors and leaders. This is not a light thing. Each of those pastors and leaders will give their own account to God for their stewardship of leading, but you will give account for your stewardship of submission to them (Heb. 13:17).
Great principle—If you are humble enough and attentive enough, you can learn something from anyone. And dare I say, God has something to teach you from your current local church, your current pastor, and your current spiritual leaders that he has put in your life.
I Thessalonians 5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
Don’t get me wrong, that does not mean you should always stay at a local church that is not leading you by the word of God. There are times and causes to leave churches (I’ve left six!). But not with arrogance or a critical spirit. Learn to chew on things that come from the meat of the word, meditating on them, and digesting them for your edification. Also, learn to spit out the bones that only serve to break your teeth, leave you bitter, and discourage and complicate your faith.
Ephesians 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
Some of you may not have had the same experiences I have had. Maybe you only know one church and maybe God will keep you there for a long season—if not for the rest of your life. Praise God for that! The lessons still apply. Humble yourself. Submit yourself to your pastors and leaders. If God grows you to be a leader, stay humble. And never give up on God’s bride!
Learn to go to your leaders with open hands, ready to serve. Ask questions for understanding, not for ammunition. When you don’t agree, endeavor to keep unity with all humility and grace – you may not have all the intel that you think you have. When you are feeling overlooked, unappreciated, unnoticed, or not cared for, remember that is a necessary part of your growth through humility. No credible, proven or established leader is void of this. Don’t humble yourself for the purpose of being exalted in due time, either—just be humble and submit, period.
{References for further study: Jn. 13:12-17; I Cor. 9:19-23; Gal. 5:13; Mk. 10:42-45; 9:35; Lk. 14:11; Mt. 20:26-27; 23:8-12}
Mark Schaffer is the lead pastor of Living Faith Tampa in Tampa, FL.