The hardest problem to overlook is how central “God’s vision to Pastor Steven” is in Elevation Church’s DNA. In a coloring book made for Elevation’s Sunday School ministry, there’s a page that says, “Elevation Church is built on the vision God gave pastor Steven. We will protect our unity in supporting his vision.”
Elevation once released an infographic that said:
- We serve a Lead Pastor who seeks and hears from God.
- We serve a Lead Pastor we can trust.
- We serve a Lead Pastor who goes first.
For those with a deep-seated conviction about pastoral authority and not undercutting “the Lord’s anointed” perhaps even this isn’t problematic; but considering the cautionary tale, after cautionary tale, after cautionary tale we’ve heard from megachurch pastors whose fame led to their downfall, Furtick’s centering himself as the unassailable visionary for the church is concerning.
This is what makes Furtick and Elevation Church the perfect Rorschach test. Furtick is a phenomenal communicator who has reached millions with a message of hope. His church has partially bridged the obstacle of racial hegemony and is engaging an unchurched culture successfully. And yet many can’t shake the warning signs that something isn’t quite right with the church, with the leadership and with the culture.
But like all Rorschach tests, it’s subjective. Everyone sees something a little different. And, with churches, it usually takes years to tell who was right.
