Recovering from the Seduction of Ministry Accolades

As a youth Pastor you have been a father figure, friend, pastor, caregiver, babysitter, homeboy, coach, cheerleader, event planner, hype man, concert promoter, preacher, teacher, parent, tech guy, staff member, audio tech, video tech, actor, worship leader, counselor, fire putter outer, fire starter (maybe even literally), administrator, web designer, set designer, stage coordinator, Sunday services production designer, Church picnic games man, any church event games man for that matter, general announcement clown, and general coordinator of all things fun in most churches. By no means is this an exhaustive list of hats you might wear in youth ministry and you might have a few extras to add to this list of responsibilities. I have definitely seen most job descriptions in youth ministry out there and seen those men and women try to faithfully fill those positions. Quite frankly Jesus couldn't accomplish most Youth Ministry Job descriptions. These hats that most youth ministers wear can lead to many many accolades. For whatever difficulties youth pastors do have in ministry, they can also be very loved and appreciated. They are typically wired for fun, the life of the party, and they are typically drawing a crowd. They are not typically the INTJ on the Myers Briggs Spectrum they are usually the TSAJ (Totally Self Absorbed Jerks). Just kidding you guys are all totally selfless, but you gotta laugh at yourself a little bit to be able move toward healing. This is not a bad thing it's just the typical youth pastor personality. That's usually how we are wired. Unfortunately there are a few pitfalls that come with that.

Fleeting spotlight of Self-Glory

1. Youth pastors love the spotlight and are usually front and center and typically on stage or very close to the stage.

2. Youth Pastors easily maneuver their way through high capacity job with high visibility.

3. Youth Pastors life "on the stage" of ministry can be appealing and seductive.

Maybe these or another of the seductive pitfalls of accolades have caught you in its deceitful snares. I know it has me. And even worse I hide behind the lie of false humility. Whether I deny the spotlight or cling to it with a kung-fu death grip, I usually present a facade of humility.

Kung-Fu Death Grip

Maybe you are a little bit like me. In the dark corners of the un-humble portions of my spirit I really want the accolades. Unfortunately I have in moments and periods of my ministry built things on the unsteady, shaky, crumbling foundation of the praise of people, have you? Then like me you need to recover from the incredible let down and pain that the lack of praise will bring. When those praises stop, or maybe on Monday that day I dub PMS day (Post Ministry Syndrome day) you feel empty, defeated, or not whole you may have given in to the lie that the enemy wants you to believe. "You are only as successful as the accolades and praise you receive." Our identity in Christ is only based on the merits and work of Christ on our behalf. In those moments where we are tempted to lean on our own merits in ministry, we must "look unto Christ the author and perfecter of our faith." This is the beginning of recovering from believing in our ministry accolades of numbers, students discipled, years in ministry, who hears our sermons, likes on Facebook, number of re-Tweets, or how many people praise you for your sermon on Sunday. Focusing the center of your ministry on Christ and not how much accolades we receive at any given time will never fail you because Christ is always faithful and His glory is never fleeting. Please give up the ministry of self-glory and rely once again on the ever-present all-sufficient Christ, and His worthy work to reach and disciple teenagers through you as a surrendered vessel. If you are one who has done this in the past and needs healing from this "stage" life learn once again to rely on the healing power of Christ who gives victory to the weak, and power to the broken. I came across this song recently and it has blessed my soul to know Christ is Healer. My prayer is that we as a youth ministry culture would once again lean on Christ to heal and run our ministries. He is enough! He is all we need, everything we could want is found in His love!