5 Ways Pride Can Sneak Into a Leader’s Life
Pride is ubiquitous. You don’t need to try to be prideful. It just happens.
It’s in you and it’s in me.
But the always-online-instant-platform-social-media age we live in can act like an accelerant to pride.
Like money, social media is a terrible master but a wonderful servant. It can be used for tremendous good, and it can play to the worst parts of us.
The reason I’m focusing on social media here is because pride often accompanies growth, and more church leaders than ever now have access to greater influence and personal platforms.
I realize there’s some irony here because I’m blogging about this and on the verge of launching a podcast. (No link … that would be too … manipulative.)
So how does pride sneak into a leader’s life today? In many many ways.
I am NOT saying any of these operated in Pastor Mark’s life or Piper’s or Mahaney’s. I have no idea. All I know is they can operate in mine and in the lives of other people I know.
Here are five:
1. When I’m more focused on growing my personal platform than advancing the mission of the local church
Social media gives everyone a bigger soap box. And many are pursuing it.
A constant temptation for many leaders today is to put themselves ahead of the mission of the local church.
Above all, I want to be a faithful local church pastor committed to advancing the mission of our church and helping people discover the love their Savior has for them … personally.
But sometimes it’s easier to soak in the accolades of people you’ve never met than it is to deal with a mess you’ve created and need to work through. (That’s what leadership is, right? Solving the problems you’ve helped create.)
And sometimes it’s frustrating that the people who work with you every day (and live with you) are sometimes less impressed with you than the people who get a curated and edited version that ends up online.
The people closest to you see your flaws. Which is why it’s so easy run to those who don’t.
Stay grounded. Stay local.
Stay honest.
Stay focused.
2. When I pursue being known more than I pursue knowing Jesus
It’s fairly well-known that many ministry leaders struggle with their personal walk with God. It can drift. It can even die for a season.
I have to be disciplined daily to keep my relationship with Jesus fresh, alive and vibrant.
Whether you want to be known and loved in your local church or a wider platform is irrelevant.
When I pursue being known more than I pursue knowing Jesus, I risk everything that the Gospel is about.
