Never Boast About Anything Except Jesus

Christian ministry always needs to be centered, not around the person whom people see leading it, but around the Lord Jesus Christ.

For example, if, in the course of normal circumstances, a pastor, teacher, or leader resigns from his/her position and takes on a new ministry in a different area or location, and if this is followed by a massive drop in the number of people participating in his/her previous ministry, then you know, in all likelihood, that the person has succeeded in attracting people to him/herself, but failed to attract people to a devoted, intimate relationship with their Heavenly Father.

Consider these questions:

• Have you ever heard an announcement at church or read a brochure that, to promote a retreat or special event, excitedly advertises the speaker as if he/she were the main attraction?
• Have you ever been corrected because you failed to call a pastor, teacher, or leader by his/her title?
• Have you ever heard a pastor, teacher, or leader imply he/she is particularly spiritual or anointed?
• Have you ever heard a pastor, teacher, or leader brag from the pulpit about the good works he/she has personally done for Jesus?
• Have you ever heard a pastor, teacher, or leader boast from the pulpit about a dream or vision God has given specially to him/her when, in reality, God's purpose was only for the message of the dream or vision to be shared publicly?

If the answer to some or all of these questions is yes, then you've probably witnessed an instance in ministry where a person other than Jesus is promoted.

"As for me, may I never boast about anything

except the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Because of that Cross,

my interest in this world has been crucified,

and the world's interest in me has also died."

Galatians 6:14 (NLT)

Christian pastors, teachers, and leaders need to always be on guard never to boast about anything except the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. And all of us, as God's children, need to always be on guard never to become a follower of a person when we should only be a follower of Jesus.