Have we become too focused on our leadership?

1 Corinthians 3 says:

1 HOWEVER, BRETHREN, I could not talk to you as to spiritual [men],but as to non-spiritual [men of the flesh, in whom the carnal nature predominates],as to mere infants [in the new life] in Christ [ [a] unable to talk yet!]

2 I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not yet strong enough [to be ready for it]; but even yet you are not strong enough [to be ready for it],

3 For you are still [unspiritual, having the nature] of the flesh [under the control of ordinary impulses]. For as long as [there are] envying and jealousy and wrangling and factions among you, are you not unspiritual and of the flesh, behaving yourselves after a human standard and like mere (unchanged) men?

4 For when one says, I belong to Paul, and another, I belong to Apollos, are you not [proving yourselves] ordinary (unchanged) men?

5 What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Ministering servants [not heads of parties] through whom you believed, even as the Lord appointed to each his task:

6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God [all the while] was making it grow and [He] gave the increase.

7 So neither he who plants is anything nor he who waters, but [only] God Who makes it grow and become greater.

          Have we become too focused on our leadership? Have we, as the body of Christ, become so focused on our pastors, our church, or a great evangelist that we have missed God? Yes. Yes we must be planted in a fellowship and have accountability, (Hebrews 10:25) but it never should become so important that we loose focus on the true point of our assembling together. The KJV states in verse 3 of 1 Corinthians that there is…” envying, strife, and division among you.”  If Christ becomes the focus of "christ"ians we will not nor should not have these problems. It’s not just about growing our churches,  (He will actually cause that to happen) but it’s about growing His kingdom as mature sons and daughters in Christ Jesus.

          I agree that we need accountability and leadership. 1 Corinthians 4:15 speaks of instructors and fathers. (see also Ephesians 4:11) We need people in our lives to keep us in check and bring accountability.

Romans 13:7 states: “Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.”  Still though, church leaders should never become our sole focus. Christ is still the only way, truth, and life giver. 1 Corinthians 3:6”…but God [all the while] was making it grow and [He] gave the increase.”

Acts 16:16-34 says:

“16 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:

17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.

18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.”

Some in the body of Christ have actually become as this woman. They follow a man or a church or even a “theology” and place them on a pedestal. Their intentions may have started out good, but became warped and mis-placed to the point that God receives no glory.

          In Joel 2 and Acts 2 He says "I" will pour out my spirit upon all flesh. He is the giver and that will NEVER change. We are vessels, carriers, ministers, and so much more, yet He is, and always shall be the only giver. 

          Do we want real revival in our churches, families or our personal lives? Do we really want to encounter the manifest presence of God in these areas? Do we want an “end times” outpouring? If we are to answer yes then we only have one option:  Let’s stop putting our churches, our pastors, or our ministers on a pedestal. That throne belongs to God alone and He will not share His glory with another. So, let us follow the instructions from Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness…”


Be Blessed,


Pastor Todd Lackey