When Ministry Becomes Idolatry by Shane Idleman
I tried numerous times to soften the tone and re-work the language of this article, but God made it clear not to diminish a word. First Corinthians 11:31 says that if we discern wrong thoughts, actions, and attitudes, and repent of them, that we would not come under God’s judgment. My hope is that this article sparks self-examination as it did in my own life.
It Completely Wrecked Me
When the sermon, When Ministry Becomes Idolatry, was released, the feedback was overwhelming. One young adult wrote: “Tonight was amazing. God moved in my heart like never before…it hit me deep. Ministry became an idol. I was designing my own calling.” A pastor wrote, “The sermon and the video that followed completely wrecked me. Our church will never be the same.” It’s amazing what God will do if we humble ourselves and receive His correction. You can watch the sermon here.
Idolatry hides behind phrases such as my calling, my ministry, and my gifting. What a travesty it would be at the end of our journey to find that vainglory deceived us and coveting misled us. Idolatry is putting anything before God and coveting is desiring what others have. Both have infiltrated the rank and file of the church. If idolatry has slain its 1000s, coveting has slain its 10,000s.
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Popstar Preachers and Woke Worship Leaders
What’s so disheartening is not the sinner caught in sin, but the coveting saint high on their success. First Corinthians 1:29 reminds us that no flesh should glory in His presence, and Philippians 2:3 is crystal clear that nothing should be done “through selfish ambition or conceit.” But instead of following John the Baptist’s words that Jesus must increase as we decrease (cf. John 3:30), many pursue Herod’s lavish lifestyle. Popstar preachers and woke worship leaders love the crowds but ignore the fact that Jesus often ministered one on one with no ulterior motives.
As prominence rises, so does pride: “I will only come for a certain dollar amount with guaranteed attendance. I want a certain percentage of the ticket sales, a green room at seventy-five degrees, and a lush layout of delicacies.” Oh, how the stench of pride must be repulsive to God when our calling, gifting, and ability is a gift from Him.
When we hear the voice of the Lord saying: “Whom shall I send?” do we truly say, “Here am I! Send me” (Isaiah 6:8)? Or do we first weigh the pros and the cons, the costs and the expenditures, and the notoriety and publicity before deciding?
God is a Heart Inspector
God is not impressed by numbers but by nearness to Him. Ministry isn’t a business venture where we put profit over people, image over individuals, and revenue over relationships. You can have popularity but no spiritual power. Many boast in their ability but have no humility. We say it’s “gifting” but it’s really vainglory. Many Christian public figures won’t go anywhere unless they are recognized and compensated. If the blind beggar is unworthy of our attention, we need to check our heart.
