The Religious Spirit Part 3: Image

​​I recently read a meme that said that Christians on Facebook look entirely different in person. It’s amazing the persona we put on to try and impress people. Our image is what we try to get others to think we are. Unfortunately, this is often seen in leadership.

In recent months there have been some notable suicides of church leaders. On the outside they appeared strong and vibrant, but clearly something was out of place. This blog will not address the issue of mental health, which I’m sure plays a part, but rather the unnecessary pressure suffered by some ministers in their role as spiritual leaders.

The third religious spirit we will address is that of image, specifically the false images ‘church’ leaders portray in public. You would be amazed at the struggle many leaders endure trying to maintain an strong image in front of their congregants. Inside they are hurting, angry, lonely, discouraged and insecure, yet they put on a mask of confidence when they are out in public.

A false image will have a person trying to live an unrealistic life.

The church system has built a structure that often demands that a ‘pastor’ be all things to all people. This is not written a job description, but we assume a ‘loving and caring pastor’ will visit the sick, administrate the resources of their church, resolve conflicts, teach and preach weekly, perform weddings, oversee funerals, all while trying to take care of their own family, pay their own bills, miss events their children are involved in, try and meet the needs of their spouse, and find time to pray, study and relax.

In his book, Unfinished Business: Returning the Ministry to the People of God, Dr. Greg Ogden lists four things we expect from pastors:

1. They must be the teacher of doctrinal tradition
2. They are expected to be the primary caregiver
3. They must publicly be a living symbol of the sacred
4. They must preside over rites of passage

Now juxtapose this with the survey by Pastoral Care, Inc. that listed 49 negative factors facing pastors today. Even with some of the slight improvements, it is clear to see there is a problem.

Is ekklesia the answer?

It would be foolish to claim that understanding ekklesia will solve all these problems. But I do believe understanding ekklesia will address three major issues.

• Hierarchy must be eliminated. The ekklesia Jesus is building is constructed from the bottom up. Leaders serve the Body of Christ as they do the work of ministry (Matthew 20:25-27). In the kingdom, Jesus is King. Each of us are spiritually equal but functionally distinct. That leads to the next issue.

 

• Function will replace title. Ministry gifts are functions that some are gifted to perform. Proof of an apostle is the ability to do an apostolic work. The concept of serving in the ‘office’ of something is hierarchal in nature. In the kingdom, who you are in character and relationship to Jesus Christ, is more important that what you do.

 

• Shared responsibilities. There are more gifts than just the five-fold ministry (1Corinthians 12:1-12). For the Body of Christ to be effective, we must recognize and honor all gifts and their role in expanding the Kingdom (1Corinthians 12:23).  When all parts of the Body fulfill their function, we become a body that is fitly joined together, that will grow into the fulness of the stature of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-16).

I can hear some saying that all this can be done in the ‘church as we know it’. My response is that Jesus declared He would build an ekklesia, not a kyrikos aka church. We are workers together with Him as He builds His ekklesia – not church (1Corinthians 3:9). It is the ‘church system’ that has taken us off course. We owe it to the Lord to make a concerted attempt to try and live out what He intended for us.

Of course, I cannot close this without reminding you that we are created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26). Any other image we embrace leads to emotional and spiritual destruction. Don’t let religious pride draw you into a false image.

As a believer in the Lord’s ekklesia, you don’t have to be anything other than you He created you to be. Learning to serve in your assignment is the most liberating thing that can happen in your life.
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Blessings