Why Your Pastor Cannot Make You Holy
There are pastors who think they are the Holy Spirit. They claim that the people afforded them, to hear the Gospel, and learn the Scriptures are theirs, by appointment to the office of elder. Further, they claim that other Christians are their responsibility, for progress in holiness.
Narcissism is problematic to pastoral ministry. It leads to pride and untenable claims by self-promoting pastors (who deny they self-promote). Thinking more highly of oneself than one should is an ever-present threat to pastors. It is even more dangerous when said pastor gains public notoriety.
“My church,” “My flock,” and “My work,” are trigger phrases to watch for when a pastor has derailed into the realm of self-importance. Pastors do not possess nor control these things. Being a vessel filled with the Holy Spirit is a joyous experience, but the work of sanctification belongs to the Spirit of Christ, not the pastor (Rom 15:16; 1 Thess 4:3, 7; 5:23; 2 Thess 2:13; 1 Pet 1:2).
Holiness, in the Christian life, is natural to the Spirit but supernatural to the Christian. Pastors, even the ones who appear on our video screens, are not supernatural miracle workers. They live their lives in the same tension as every other believer in Jesus. They struggle with sin in the flesh and rejoice in the progress of personal holiness, granted by the indwelling Spirit of God (Jn 14:17; Rom 8:9, 11; Gal 4:6; 2 Tim 1:14).
For a pastor to make the claim that he is responsible for the progress of another’s holiness is to usurp the position, power, and prowess of the Holy Spirit in the born-again child of God. The care of souls is a work of the Helper, the Comforter, the Teacher and Guide, who is the Spirit (Jn 14:26; 16:13). God wills and does His good pleasure in each saint (Phil 2:13).
The pastor is given a stewardship of the mysteries of the gospel (1 Cor 4:1). His task is to know the Word of God, in order to minister the Word of God, in season and out of season (2 Tim 4:2). He has a double-edged sword he cannot lift without the strength of the Spirit (Heb 4:12). The pastor is likewise ignorant of how to wield the sword of the Word of God, apart from the wisdom of God (1 Cor 1:24), granted exclusively by the indwelling Spirit.
When a pastor positions himself as too important to the life and well-being of other Christians, he has become self-absorbed. The cult of pastor worship forms around the charismatic man. It gains momentum as more people worship the pastor and “his ministry.”
God does not share His glory, nor His glorious work, with sinful men of flesh. The popularity of the self-important pastor may thrive in the public view of man; however, popularity among masses of man-followers is almost a sure sign of God’s displeasure. Pastors can be turned over to reprobate minds to say some of the most God-denying things.
If your pastor is taking credit for your spiritual growth, then he does not understand sanctification, which is the exclusive work of the Holy Spirit, to craft saints into conformity to the image of the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom 8:29).
In conclusion, pastors have image problems on both ends of the spectrum. They need encouragement to press on with the work they often feel inadequate to accomplish. At other times, they lose track of their proper place, when good things seem to be happening.
“Pastor, the Spirit was at work, today, in your preaching and teaching. I thank God He has chosen to use you…be encouraged,” is a great way to express the right sentiment of the Holy Spirit’s work, in a pastoral clay vessel, for the glory of God, and growth of His people.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
March 30, 2022
