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Pedestals are tricky
things. We are commanded to honor and
respect people in different places of leadership and authority (1 Tim. 5:17,
Heb. 13:17). It is also good and
appropriate to look to them for an example worth emulating in our lives (1 Cor.
4:16, 1 Thess. 1:6). These are the
appropriate pedestals that God has built into the church.
This song is not about those
pedestals. This song is about the
pedestals that have crept into our churches through the influence of popular
culture. We live in a society that
elevates celebrities to the utmost echelon of respect and honor. We see them as existing in a different
reality, with different rules.
This mentality slips subtly into
churches and soon the worship leader is the rock star and the pastor is Super
Christian complete with a cape and S on his chest (which incidentally stands
for: “sucker” or “stupid”, take your pick).
The problem is not that these
ministers are elevated in respect and honor, God’s Word insists upon that. “Let the elders who rule well be considered
worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and
teaching.” (1 Tim. 5:17) The problem comes when the non-professional
Christians saints begin to believe these honored saints are somehow different
than themselves. They start to buy into
the lie that they could never be as close to God or as powerful in ministry as
their pastor.
It must not be so! The Bible says that each of us will be judged
according to what each one
of us does. This is not referring to
salvation, but rewards (1 Cor. 3:11-14).
Don’t miss out on all God has
intended for you to be and do. According
to Ephesians 4:11-13 your church is the place where your pastor, ie. Superman
is to equip YOU to be
the ministers . . . YOU! Don’t blame the pastor if “your” church isn’t ministering to you. “you’re” the minister! No apologies and no excuses.
If we want to see the Bride of
Christ rise up in power and beauty then we must take the talents God has given
each of us and lavish them back on His church.
It’s time to trade in our pedestals for power for the glory of our God
and the sake of His bride.
1 Peter
2:9 “But you are a chosen race, a royal
priesthood, a holy nation, a people for {God's} own possession, that you may
proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His
marvelous light;”
A
Pastor’s Thoughts on Pedestals
Want me to climb back up, to that place above
All the common ones – Broken lives
What a monument to pride,
where what’s real and your truth collide
It’s the battlefield – Where you’re safe
It’s the wrecking yard – For the brave
The pedestals you’ve made
You think you know how I feel
You think you know what’s real
It must be so different being me
If it wasn’t, what would that mean
For you and your pedestals
So I will climb back up, and I’ll drink deep from this
cup
I see no other way – To tear it down
Till you abandon the lies, lay to waste the aggrandized
disguise
That you’ve placed on me – To minimize your part
Till you come to see – The reality
Of your pedestals
I think I know who you are
You’re the saints who’ve found that it’s hard
You’re the saints with the pain and the scars
Who were given brand new hearts
By the Lord of All
You think Christ died to elevate me?
You think from that pew you can see?
None of us has a thing to give
But Christ in us must live
On that pedestal
The Lord has placed over some,
Pastors and Elders and the Ones
Who are to equip the saints of God
I’ll take the responsibility the Lord has given me
But I will not do – Your ministry
I won’t climb back on – So you don’t have to be strong
I won’t be your priest to His face – When you’ve been
called by His grace
I will not do – what He’s meant for you
Rob you of the faith – You will gain in the race
On this pedestal
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