We have, in planting in 17 different locations around the UK, sometimes had to start services in locations that were not ideal, in situations that were not ideal, we haven’t had a worship leader, the room needed a lick of paint – and maybe a clean. It took a while to find, and we didn’t have the money for signs and banners.
I would always be thinking – who would want to come to this church? Who would want to come to this meeting? Sometimes I have made decisions about promoting people who other people did not think were ready or whatever.
Some Christians do choose a church where the admiration and glory of men matters so much to them. I have met those people before. But, you know when God wants to move He does not necessarily choose someone who is eloquent or educated. He might choose someone who was a drug addict rather than someone who was a Bible College graduate. He might choose someone who was a thief rather than someone who was raised in a nice family and with a nice background and nice accent. We have to learn to look past these things!
If we pick a church because of the honour of men, we will more than likely go to the wrong church. You will also marry the wrong person if you marry someone who everyone approves of. Some people want to marry a doctor or lawyer because they want the glory of men. What people want and what God want are not the same. Some people have made idols of the words and opinions of others and will go to the wrong church, have the wrong career and marry the wrong person just to be respected by others!
And as pastors, some pastors prepare their messages to be admired by people. You can either preach to impress people or preach to feed people but you cannot do both, it is impossible. I would have preached some very different messages in the last few weeks if my goal was to be popular and admired. I have spoken the truth about Israel, the nations, the end-times and morality. I could have preached some great messages that would have been far more dignified, I could have preached in such a way to impress the grace people, the faith people, the this and that people, but that is not how we choose what to preach. WE MUST FIND OUT WHAT GOD WANTS US TO SAY AND SAY IT BOLDLY! We don’t need the long words and the fancy accent, we need to be on fire for Jesus. We need to be like Jesus, more concerned to share the truth and have people understand it than preach fancy messages. I like what Paul said in 1 Cor. 2.1-2 in the Message translation:
You’ll remember, friends, that when I first came to you to let you in on God’s sheer genius, I didn’t try to impress you with polished speeches and the latest philosophy. I deliberately kept it plain and simple: first Jesus and who he is; then Jesus and what he did—Jesus crucified.
I was in our Cambridge church plant a few months ago, and I preached such a simple message on being born again and receiving the baptism in the Holy Spirit. One couple came and left the meeting, and they didn’t realize my wife was outside, and the wife started criticizing the message for being too simple. I am so glad I didn’t preach that message to impress them! I am not trying to please people, I am trying to please God.
What did Paul tell the Galatians when he told them that their legalism was actually a form of demonic witchcraft taking them away from the true gospel? A message we still need to tell people today! He said:
Do you think I speak this strongly in order to manipulate crowds? Or court favor with God? Or get popular applause? If my goal was popularity, I wouldn’t bother being Christ’s slave. Know this—I am most emphatic here, friends—this great Message I delivered to you is not mere human optimism. I didn’t receive it through the traditions, and I wasn’t taught it in some school. I got it straight from God, received the Message directly from Jesus Christ. (Galatians 1.10-12 MSG)
Pastor, you have a choice. Preach what God wants you to preach or preach for the admiration and glory of men. You can rarely do both. Pleasing the people is often the opposite of what God wants you to preach! I know churches that have taken messages in tongues out of their services! I know churches that have stopped ministering to the sick in their services! Why? They want to impress people! Some people mock evangelism, mock missionary work, mock healings, mock miracles, and some pastors are so concerned about what those people think. It shuts off a move of God!
Inspiring and Challenging Dreamers 