Running head: THE SUCCESSFUL MINISTER

The Successful Minister

Victor Ortega

West Indies School of Theology

THE SUCCESSFUL MINISTER The worldview of success At one occasion James and John came and prostrated before Jesus to ask a petition

concerning success, Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory. (Mark 10:37- 45 NKJV). Jesus replied them that he was not a mean to get success in ministry, and that this request was motivated by the influence of the world rather than spiritual interests of the Kingdom, Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. (Mark 10:42). The petition of these disciples was inspired of the worldview of success that says you ought to be the greatest one. This view has affected some ministers of Jesus that with the desire to achieve success, have entered to compete with international companies in marketing, administration, production etc. Frank Damazio in his book, (Effective Keys to Successful Leadership) warns us of it by telling us; This (competition) alone puts a tremendous amount of pressure on the ministry to be more productive. Under pressure, ministers can find their attention shifting onto external goals and away from internal fruit in lives. Achieving more goals is seen as being more fruitful, yet true fruitfulness is achieved in submission to the will of God. (Damazio, 1993, p. 133). Not only ministers have been affected by the worldview of success but also believers have fallen in this temptation that qualifies success in ministries by quantity rather than quality. Damazio also alerts us about, The temptation to measure ministry success by numbers, buildings and budgets instead of the spiritual quality and maturity of the people. (Damazio, 1993, p. 155). It is a fact that the worldview of success has affected many ministers. They have changed Gods methodology by new methods of church-growth with the purpose of being success. John MacArthur in (The book on leadership) assures It is a serious mistake for Christians in positions of leadership to be more concerned with what is currently popular in the corporate

THE SUCCESSFUL MINISTER world than with what our Lord taught about leadership. Im convinced that the leadership principles He taught are essential to authentic success in both spiritual and secular realms.

(MacArthur, 2004, p. 5). I knew the Lord in a church that God blessed with a large membership, at the beginning everything was under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the Scriptures, as a result of that, more than thirty churches were born from it, but later on, my pastor started to introduce new methods of church-growth and also he began to use people for his personal interests that were manifested through his new cars and properties that he had. Yes, before other churches and community he was successful, but the quality of his message and congregation decreased. I am not saying that having a big church is wrong but we cannot use people for our own benefit or success, neither can we change the Lords ways, or introduce worldly methods for church-growth. As I cited MacArthur above the leadership principles He (Jesus) taught are essential to authentic success in both spiritual and secular realms. Escaping from the shortcuts of Satan Genuine progress in ministry is given just by God who gives the increase to the work assigned in His due time. Satan always offers us shortcuts that demand that we change Gods principles. One way to be successful is innovation or techniques that Apostolic Church even tested, and many nowadays adopt those leadership techniques that seem to work effectively in a corporate or political environment. If it works in the world, it ought not to be embraced uncritically by Christians. In other words, we dont become a spiritual leader by studying the techniques of sales and marketing. Damazio advises us to be careful with new approaches of success, All unproven success ideas should be taken with a grain of salt. It is better to build slowly with the proven principles of God's Word and proven church patterns than to risk it all THE SUCCESSFUL MINISTER 4

in the name of innovation. (Damazio, 1993, p.167). Those easy ways to get success that the enemy offers us as means of blessings should be rejected. We must learn to depend on him more than any new strategy, Damazio in his book The Making of a Leader affirms that God uses those temptations as tests to disclose those inner drives and to purify them into desires for the glory of God, the salvation of souls, and the edification of the Church. (Damazio, 1988, p. 175). Total dependence on Him is vital to reject temptations in our ministry. Many have failed because they have trusted in their talents, capacities, abilities and skills. It is one of the most dangerous temptations that we can find in our ministry. When we depend more on ourselves rather than on God, we became in professionals. Professionalism says to us; this way to run a service and this is the way to preach a sermon, this is the way to save souls and this is the way to cause the church to grow. Apostle Paul taught Timothy to be aware of both, Gods principles and himself, Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you. (1 Tim. 4:16). Pauls teaching is this; we cannot believe what our heart and people say about ourselves (talents and knowledge) to be successful ministers. We ought to be careful not only of the principles but also of what our heart and friends say about us. Damazio teaches not to trust in the comments of people about our experience and knowledge in ministry, Oh, you will make such a good minister. You will really be able to do a lot for God because you have so many talents and abilities! But when those called of God graduate from formal education and get away from their friends, everything changes, they find that the true spiritual success of their ministries depends on different criteria than their friends or textbooks told them! (Damazio, 1988, p. 184).

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Let us trust more in God rather than in new strategies, peoples comments and ourselves to be successful in our ministry. The Successful Minister What Jesus tried to say to his disciples who wanted to be the greatest ones was this, we as Christians cannot hold the view of the world concerning success Yet it shall not be so among you because the worldview of success is based on material possessions but Gods view is based in spiritual riches such as faithfulness, obedience, integrity etc. Ken Sande in his book (The Peace Maker) describes the biblical view of success, the world defines success in terms of what a person possesses, controls, or accomplishes. God defines success in terms of faithful obedience to His will. The world asks, What results have you achieved? God asks, were you faithful to my ways? (Sande, 2004, p.253). The world view of success just seeks self interest, but Jesus taught His disciples that the real meaning of true success is to be occupied in the interests of others rather than in ours, but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. (Mark 10:43-44). MacArthur agrees with this kind of minister A leader is not someone who is consumed with his own success and his own best interests. A true leader is someone who demonstrates to everyone around him that their interests are what most occupy his heart. (MacArthur, 2004, p. 11). In other words, if we want to be successful in him lets work not for our own interests and benefits but for the interests of the kingdom of God. It is the great meaning of success when we live to minister and serve others rather than our own interest. Jesus concluded his successful ministry on earth, by saying For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. (Mark 10:45).

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References Bible, (1982). New King James Version, by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Mark 10:35-47, 1 Timothy 4: 16. http://www.biblegateway.com Damazio, F.( 1993). Effective Keys to Successful Leadership. Portland, Oregon: BT Publishing, 133,155,167. Damazio, F.( 1988). The Making o f a Leader. Portland, Oregon: BT Publishing, 175,184. MacArthur, J. (2004).The Book on Leadership. Nelson Books, a division of Thomas Nelson Publishers, 5, 11. Sande, K. (2004). The peace maker, a biblical guide to resolving personal conflict, Baker books, Grand Rapids Michigan, 253.