This is the unedited 'director's cut version' of an article I recently wrote for the Master's Seminary
How should we define "success" in pastoral ministry? In Christian parenting? In missionary work? In the Christian life?
Take a look at the most-celebrated names in broader evangelicalism, and it would be easy to conclude that numerical fruitfulness is what defines ministerial success. But both Scripture and church history remind us that steadfast faithfulness is actually the true measure of success.
Consider the prophet Jeremiah, for example, whose tireless preaching was met with little to no visible fruit. Or William Carey, at the outset of his heroic missionary career, who waited years before there was any response to his evangelistic efforts.
In today’s post, I would like to consider some of the dangers that come from measuring success by the wrong standard.
Unintended Consequences. When
“numerical fruitfulness” is equated with “ministry success” a number of
unintended consequences may surface. I
only have time to mention a few.
1.
When our ministry
labors (Col. 1:29) fail to yield noticeable ministry fruitfulness we will be
tempted to abandon a biblical philosophy of ministry in favor of church
growth theory. One of the strange phenomenons of this “New
Calvinism” is the proliferation of local churches that have tried to merge Reformed
theology with a market driven (Saddleback-esq) methodology. Far too many in the “young, restless,
reformed movement” promote Calvinistic soteriology while at the same time
maintaining an unbiblical ecclesiology. This
is problematic, in large measure, because biblical oil and pragmatic vinegar
simple do not mix! David Wells, John
MacArthur, and Gary Gilley have addressed this issue quite well here, here and here. As the old saying goes, "not everything that glitters is gold."
2.
When the
faithful proclamation of Scripture does not result in ministry fruitfulness pastors
will be tempted to abandon genuine expository preaching. When notable
ministry increases are not apparent meaty, Text-driven, Bible exposition is
often the first thing thrown overboard.
Or you might say, when holy sweat (per 2 Timothy 2:15; 4:1-5) does not seem to
be “working” church leaders are tempted to preach shorter and lighter messages. Many pastors regularly serve up ‘evangelical
fluff’ in hopes of establishing a broader audience. It is a sad reality but many today seem to
wear Hebrews 5:12-14 as a badge of honor. “Yeah but we have seven satellite campuses.” Is it any wonder then why doctrinal ignorance, biblical illiteracy, and
theological compromise so dominates the “Christian” landscape today? America is
literally overrun with "evangelical" churches that are a mile wide and an inch
deep. To make matters worse, gifted orators who mishandle the Scriptures are often elevated as exemplary leaders. The numerical success of their ministries is used to justify their lack of faithfulness to the Word of God. My brethren, these things ought not be this
way.
3.
When numbers,
nickels, and noses are equated with “ministry success” many church planters,
missionaries, and pastors, will be tempted to leave their current
“unsuccessful” ministries prematurely. Surely one of the reasons behind the
proliferation of two to three year ministry tenures comes back to this. When ministry "success," rather than ministry
"faithfulness," is paraded, it has to potential to dishearten
the William Careys, the Charles Simeons, and the ‘Joe the preachers’ of the
world.
A Better Way Forward:
What is the way forward for the evangelical church?
1. Those
who minister faithfully without witnessing abundant kingdom fruitfulness must
preach the truth of Scripture to their own heart day and night. Brothers, we
need to regularly remind ourselves of passages like Psalm 42-43, Luke 9:57-62, 14:7-11,
and1 Corinthians 3. What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you have believed, even as the Lord gave
opportunity to each one. I planted,
Apollos watered, but God causes the
growth. (1 Cor. 3:5-8).
The rare jewel of Christian contentment is something God wants all of us to learn (Phil. 4:11-13). Barren seasons are ripe occasions for spiritual maturation. Let all who bear the name of Christ walk by faith and not by sight (2 Cor. 5:6-10).
2. Those who experience abundant ministry blessings must
model humble, Christlike servant-leadership. The leading men in Evangelicalism should be
exemplary role models of Christian virtue.
Those whom God raises up as leaders among leaders must flesh out John
13:13-17, Philippians 2:1-8, and James 2:1-9 as a way of life. Christianity needs more “celebrities” like
George Whitefield who often said, “Let the name of Whitefield perish, but
Christ be glorified.” I must decrease but He must increase. He must become greater, I must become less (John
3:30).
During a recent 9 Marks Pastor’s Conference a pastor friend of mine asked a well known Christian author and conference speaker, “How are we supposed to know if we are doing it right when things seem to be going nowhere?” Mark Dever’s simple answer was “by the Scripture.” My brother-pastor then asked Dever about the word “success,” to which he quickly replied, “We really shouldn’t be using that word in ministry.” The American church needs more servant-leaders who uphold and model these virtues.
During a recent 9 Marks Pastor’s Conference a pastor friend of mine asked a well known Christian author and conference speaker, “How are we supposed to know if we are doing it right when things seem to be going nowhere?” Mark Dever’s simple answer was “by the Scripture.” My brother-pastor then asked Dever about the word “success,” to which he quickly replied, “We really shouldn’t be using that word in ministry.” The American church needs more servant-leaders who uphold and model these virtues.
3. Christian
publishers and Christian conference planners should prayerfully consider all of
the (unintended) implications with every decision they make. “Is Pastor so and so a model of the virtues
listed above?” “I know Pastor X preaches
to thousands of people each Sunday but is he truly a model of expository
preaching?” In short, substance and godliness
should trump personality and star power every time.
A while back Dr. Carl Trueman noted, “America is a personality/celebrity oriented culture in a way that Britain, while she may well be catching up, has historically not been. The American church reflects the culture: ministries built around individuals, around big shots, churches that focus on god-like guru figures, all of them pointing to one door.”
May I remind you brothers and sisters that the apostle Paul cared as much about the saints in the no name town of Colossae as he did for the believers in the imperial city of Rome. In the interest of time let me direct you here, here, and here for further reflection.
A while back Dr. Carl Trueman noted, “America is a personality/celebrity oriented culture in a way that Britain, while she may well be catching up, has historically not been. The American church reflects the culture: ministries built around individuals, around big shots, churches that focus on god-like guru figures, all of them pointing to one door.”
May I remind you brothers and sisters that the apostle Paul cared as much about the saints in the no name town of Colossae as he did for the believers in the imperial city of Rome. In the interest of time let me direct you here, here, and here for further reflection.
4.
For all those who have not
experienced abundant ministry fruitfulness let us thank the Lord for the ways
God has chosen to uniquely bless the faithful ministry labors of others. Every
time I visit southern California I praise God for the many ways He has chosen
to grow and expand the Word-centered ministry of Grace Community Church. Bible-saturated ministries of this size are
the exception, not the norm, but they are doxological none the less (as were
the unique ministries of Martyn Lloyd-Jones and Charles Haddon Spurgeon).
Almighty God does not need to validate the work of His bondservants with “this side of eternity” blessings, but when He does, let us return thanks in the spirit of Ephesians 3:20-21. Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
Almighty God does not need to validate the work of His bondservants with “this side of eternity” blessings, but when He does, let us return thanks in the spirit of Ephesians 3:20-21. Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
A
Final Word. Whether or
not our ministries are abundantly fruitful let us remember the words of our
Master who said, "So you too, when you do all the things which are commanded you, say, 'We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done'" (Luke 17:10).
Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. So then let no one boast in men. For all things belong to you, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come; all things belong to you, and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God (1 Cor. 3:9, 21-23).
Part one of this article can be read here.
Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. So then let no one boast in men. For all things belong to you, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come; all things belong to you, and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God (1 Cor. 3:9, 21-23).
Part one of this article can be read here.
