The Ego Driven Church

The bigger is better model has caused many a preacher to sell his soul.  Well, perhaps, it is too much of an exaggeration to declare that such happens, but then many a preacher has been captivated by the idea that a bigger congregation, a bigger budget, and a bigger building is surely the intentions of God for those entrusted with building His Kingdom.  To look back over the years of ministry is to realize what a tantalizing and powerful temptation it is to get caught up in the building bigger model.   

This is not to say that every large church should be smaller, or that every pastor should do everything possible to keep things as they are, but to say that sometimes we decide that our personal agenda and what seems like the practical thing to do is certainly God's will as well.  Ego can be a demanding god and those who give leadership to the church must always be aware that it can be a useful tool for the evil one who seeks to undermine what God is seeking to do in the world.  Ego driven churches are not the same as Spirit driven churches.  I

It is hard for many to see the difference.  Ego driven churches are built around leadership, indebtedness, and the end justifies the means mentality.  In the short term they may seem to be doing many things right, but in the long term they are destructive forces within the Kingdom's work.  Anything or anyone who stands in the way of the Spirit taking hold of the church stands in a perilous place and may be doing the church of Christ more harm than good.