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Mine is Bigger Than Yours
Before I was a pastor, I was attending a conference full of pastors when it first happened. I was asked the dreaded question that pastors can’t help but ask each other. It’s a question designed to determine who’s who in church world. In some case, it’s a question that tells a pastor if you’re worth talking to. It’s a stupid question.
“What are you running?”
The pastor who asked me the question quickly discovered I wasn’t a pastor yet and moved on. But not before he shared his eloquent speech trumpeting his success of taking a dying church and within a year he was breathing new life into it with several hundred people ready to charge hell with a water pistol. All the while, his eyes were pealed to the rest of the crowd looking for someone more important to tell his story to.
Since that time, I’ve had the same question asked by many pastors but it’s gotten more sophisticated. A new generation of pastors are emerging who know better than to ask that question anymore. We now have a new measurement of success, a new way of determining status: online social networks.
Blogs, Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, and other social networking websites have changed the “mine is bigger than yours” scorecard. Today, it’s not just church attendance that’s the scorecard of success for many pastors, it’s Facebook friends, Twitter followers, and Technorati rankings for your blog. And I’m right there in the mix.
It’s easy to get sucked into that vortex. It’s magnetic. It feels good to have people take notice of you. Like you’re making a little dent in the universe. Before you know it, you’re online all the time generating more and more interest in you and what you’re doing. I should know. I’ve eaten the fruit from that tree myself.
We pastors are human (duh!). Like most people, many of us have a need to be acknowledged and accepted, especially from our peers. We may use all sorts of ways to measure success and status, but may we remember that success isn’t about how many people attend our churches, blog readers we have, or Twitter followers we accumulate, it’s about our obedience to the calling Christ gave us.
That’s the only scorecard that matters.
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I am not a pastor yet, I start school in Jan, but I have to say that this is very true. It is so easy to get sucked into the trap of the “honor of men”. I pray every day for the the power to follow his will for that day. Keep up the good work but don’t let your hat size get bigger. LOL
Jason, yet again I am blown away at your ability to be so totally transparent! The ’social-networking’ sites have really elevated the desire for acceptance, even making some value their blog more than the vision that God has given them. Thank you for being so honest. and willing to air it all out. Man, if I lived anywhere NEAR Project Church, I’d be in! I’m praying for you, man.
Doh! Stop hitting where it hurts!
Love the title… Space Balls reference, I’m guessing?!
@Mike – You’re on track dude. Keep following Jesus and living for an audience of one and hopefully you will keep yourself away from that silly trap many of us have fallen into.
@ Aaron – You’re too kind. Trust me, I’m not that impressive. If you ever make the trek to SoDak, you’re welcome to connect with us.
@Shawn – I see your schwartz is as big as mine. LOL. Love that movie.
Love the transparency, Jason! I agree! I’m not a pastor, but I get sucked into that with other stuff – and it’s so ironic! I want to build,build,build my network, and when I’m sitting at the computer – alone – with no facebook messages, and no comments on the blog, I realize it’s such an empty pursuit!
Seriously, I think that whole Church size issue is disgusting!
Jason…love the new look and this post. Good stuff bro.
I find this very similar to Jesus’ teaching on fasting! What is the first thing you want to do when you start or have just finished a fast? Tell someone! It’s like Jim Gaffigan said “You ever read a book then try to subtly slip into a conversation like this ‘HEY! I read a book’” We as pastors (Yes, Youth Pastor are guilty to! Maybe more than any other?!) can’t wait to share with someone how many we had visit our website (after email, when i get to the office, i check google analytics!) It mostly stems from a desire to build the wrong kingdom! MINE! We are laborers in God’s vineyard only harvesting that which He gives us! Not that which the blog. the website, twitter, or Facebook (those are all tools to be leveraged no doubt! But God ALONE gives the increase!) brought to us!
P.S.
I am not leaving you as a Facebook friend Twitter follower Blog reader or Website visitor!
@Jesse – You’re right. It’s not just a pastor thing.
@Adam – I appreciate it Adam.
@Clay – You’re not alone Clay. I know me and others do the same thing. It’s not like checking stats is wrong but I’m learning to check my heart before my stats to make sure I’m keeping the main thing the main thing.