PRESSURE FOR PROMINENCE AND RESPECT
2Cor4:2 but have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the Word of God deceitfully; but by manifesting the truth we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.kjv
I was in a church meeting years back. The anchor of the program was calling names to the high table. He called everyone by their titles but there was this Professor who happens to be a Reverend, the M. C. called him 'Bro xx'. The M. C. did not know his titles, he did that ignorantly. This man refused to stand up, he sat down and it was obvious that he wasn't happy with the title 'Bro xx'. Someone quickly told the M. C. to add the titles. As he did, this man walked to the high table in his robe. That's how far man has gone in seeking for prominence and respect. I know a man who ensured he was ordained as an Apostle, Prophet, Pastor&Evangelist. He began to run after titles. At the end of it all, he lost his ministry and even his family.
Many are in ministry today because they want to be prominent and respected among their peers, friends and families. They want to wear the priestly collar and cassock so that people can give them special seats. They want their wives to be called 'mummy in the Lord' while they would be called 'daddy in the Lord'. I was surprised seeing Pastors whose associates must either bend, kneel or stand when he's talking even during preaching. I heard of a preacher whose associates or probably members must crawl on their knees to reach him. May be that's respect to him, I don't know but I know we didn't learn of Christ that way. A close look at the gospels showed that the relationship of Jesus with his disciples was like friends and brothers relating even to a point where one of them would place his head on his chest.
How people seek titles and forget mantles is worrisome. People pay to become Bishops and Rev. Dr yet no impact no meaningful contribution to lives. There's no entitlement in titles, there's only an entitlement for making impact. Ministry offices are not titles, they are simply roles to be fulfilled. So you can be called 'Bro xx'and still be fulfilling the role of a Pastor, Evangelist, Apostle, Prophet and Teacher. We need not call you by the appellation of your roles. Your name is your name. You're a brother in the Lord just like the least member in the body of Christ. Only that your roles in the kingdom differ. Stop trying to make people respect you. Respect is earned not what you demand. If you're not secured in who you are, you're not fit to be a leader. If you get angry because a title was not affixed to your name, you're a baby. As great as Billy Graham was in his life time, evangelicals call him 'Bro Billy Graham'. I doubt if many self-acclaimed Apostles&Prophets of our day would do 5% of what he did. Kenneth E. Hagin of blessed memory was a man of definite encounter, yet he answered 'Bro Hagin' when called. In fact, in the church his son serve as a Pastor, he listened to his own biological son preaching to him. He didn't fight for the pulpit. May you be cured from all demonic pressures.
father, I receive grace to be impactful yet simple In Jesus name