High and Mighty

In today's religious culture, preachers are almost deified.  Men and women rush to tote water, wipe perspiration, fasten cufflinks and even wipe shoes of their respective preachers.  I once witnessed a female preacher have her shoes dusted off before she entered the pulpit.  With that kind of fanfare, I was expecting a sermon that was out of this world.  Needless to say, I was left wanting after she was done.  I've heard of preachers that have been carried into their churches on litters (seats that are carried between two poles).  Sometimes I wonder if men have ever heard the scripture in Isaiah 45:6 where God says that there is none beside me!  It's no wonder that many preachers are able to take advantage of hapless women that come to their studies for "private counsel" or are able to siphon off enormous sums of cash from their parishioners.  Men and women look to the preacher as the perfect person and we have seen time and time again that they are not.

Biblically, it does not make any sense either.  Yes, those that lead well are worthy of double honor- but they are not to be worshipped.  Although the attention and the fame does go to many-a-preachers' head, they should remember that there is one thing separating them from divinity...that would be the flesh.  I like the way the Hebrew writer puts it in Hebrews 5:1-4.  Let's take a look:

"For every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of men in things pertaining to God, in order to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins; he can deal gently with the ignorant and misguided, since he himself also is beset with weakness; and because of it he is obligated to offer sacrifices for sins, as for the people, so also for himself. And no one takes the honor to himself, but receives it when he is called by God, even as Aaron was."

So the first thing we see here is that, in the Old Testament, the high priest (our modern day preacher) is appointed on behalf of men.  Appointed is a very important term because many of those that are behind the sacred desk have called themselves to preach.  Appointed here is understood to mean appointed by God!  It was not because Grandma and Grandpa told you when you were a little boy that you were going to preach, it is the calling of Almighty God that qualifies a person to carry the gospel message. 

Secondly, we see that the high priest offered gifts and sacrifices for sins- this was his duty and why he was called.  We are no longer under the law so this is no longer a part of the office, but it is still important that the leader shepherd the sheep and not take advantage of them (see Ezekiel 34).  Check this out here:  he can deal gently with the ignorant and misguided, SINCE (emphasis added) he himself also is beset with weakness; and because of it he is obligated to offer sacrifices for sins, as for the people, so also for himself...

Lest one thinks he is high and mighty, the bible says clearly that the high priest should deal gently with the ignorant (i.e. those that sin unknowingly, unintentionally) and misguided (those who have wandered away).  Why does it say this?  Because the high priest IS ALSO BESET (encompassed, surrounded) WITH WEAKNESS!  Too many of our leaders have a holier than thou attitude.  The sermons are filled with "you this" and "some of y'all" and not "we" or "some of us"!  There is so much finger pointing going on from the pulpit that many just refuse to come in and be berated.  I am in no way advocating watering down the gospel- what I am advocating is making it inclusive and applicable to the one preaching and the ones listening!  Too many leaders have a high and mighty attitude and they feel that they are above the people that they are preaching to.  They would be wise to read this scripture. 

Not only was the high priest to offer sacrifices for the people but also for himself because he too had sinned.  He actually offered the sacrifice for himself first, so that he would be clean to offer sacrifices for the people.  I guess what I am trying to say is that many of our leaders need to come down off their high horses and humble themselves before God.  The reason we see so much turmoil in the church is because, in a lot of cases, the leaders have exalted themselves so high that they begin to seek glory in lieu of God's grace. 

This high and mighty attitude especially  permeates the Black church.  Historically, it is understandable that the church was really the only place where Black people could actually be important.  It is understandable that society made it so that the only place we had any influence was in the church.  While it is understandable, it is inexcusable when we think of what the church actually is.  The church is the body of Christ and within the body of Christ, there are no favorites.  The apostles of the New Covenant didn't have sweat wipers, armor bearers, security details or guys with secret service earpieces talking into their sleeves.  The mega mentality of many churches has caused many of our leaders to get so puffed up that they forget that they too are just human.  Peter told this to Cornelius when Cornelius bowed down to him (Acts 10:26).

One of my favorite scriptures is found in 1 Peter 5:6 and it is a scripture that I have tried to live my life by, "Humble yourself under God's mighty hand and He will exalt you in due time."  Even after you are exalted, you will never be exalted to the place of Christ and you will still have to wash some feet.  A familiar song comes to mind, about the One, the Author and Finisher of faith that we should all imitate, "there is not a friend like the lowly Jesus, no not one, no not one..."  Emphasis on lowly.  Verse 5 of Hebrews 5 is a fitting way to end this post.  "So also, Christ did not glorify himself so as to become a high priest, but He who said to Him, "You are my Son, Today I have begotten You."  Perhaps the cure for highandmightyitis (yes I just made this word up, lol) is to remember Who called you in the first place.