Mimic…

Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. [Philippians 3:17-18, ESV]

Until you can stand up in front of a group of people and honestly say, “Imitate me,” you have no business being a pastor or a church planter. This is the advice that has filtered down to me through a couple prominent pastors in North Texas.

The character of a church’s leaders will determine the character of the church as a whole.  How many times have you seen a church torn apart because its leaders were out of step with Christ?  What we do as leaders in the church, whether it’s in the local church or the denomination as a whole, determines the direction of the people aligned within that body.

I remember telling my dad once that I had trouble following my pastor’s leadership.  In fact, until I moved to New Orleans I don’t think I had ever had a pastor I felt I could follow within biblical guidelines.  I’ve seen the destructive ability of a pastor whose character is broken.  I’ll repeat the statement from above: until I can stand before a group of people and humbly and honestly say, “Imitate me,” I have no business leading a church.  I’m not there yet, but I work toward it every day.  What I will not tolerate of myself is to become the very kind of leader I have so openly held in contempt.

One of the first papers I was assigned in seminary was on character.  Not surprisingly, it was assigned by my church planting professor who knew that above all, the church’s leadership must reflect the character of Christ if it is to exalt God.  I’m grateful that God ordained it so I could take that class in my first semester; it laid the foundation for everything I learned afterward.

It was in that same class that I first heard the phrase “You get what you reward.”  At NorthWood Church in Keller, Texas, they say “Celebrate your heroes.”  To me, those mean the same thing.  At a recent conference at NorthWood, the team brought out a panel of church members who have stepped out into society to be the change they wish to see in the world.  Our heroes aren’t necessarily the guys writing the largest checks.  They’re the ones choosing to sacrifice themselves in an effort to expand the Kingdom of God.  They’re disciples who make disciples of Christ.  NorthWood celebrates their heroes, and as a result, the people within the church are willing to become heroes themselves.  You get what you reward: if you want big check writers, then celebrate the check writers.  Expect to name a lot of buildings after people.  If you want your church to actively make disciples, then you celebrate the disciple-makers in your church.

My first and only real priority in ministry is to make disciples.  It’s not to be a pastor or to plant a church.  God hasn’t called me to plant a church; He’s called me to make disciples. If a church grows out of that work as a result, then great!  But it’s not a priority.  When the time comes that I can stand in front of those disciples and tell them, “Imitate me,” we’ll see where that takes us.  I encourage you to examine yourself in the meantime.

Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. [Hebrews 13:7, ESV]