Challenge of Our Culture- Part 2

The second cultural myth I wish to address is the inevitability of success. This myth leads many to believe that if certain conditions are met and procedures are followed, success is certain to come. One huge problem with the mindset is how "success" is defined. Unfortunately, it is often seen as something Big. Do you want to have a big church? Follow these steps. Do you want to have a big building? These are the procedures. Big offerings? Here is how it is done. Huge missions budget? This is the way to get it. Big revival? Follow this plan. So the story goes, sprinkled liberally with stories (often embellished) of how Brother Steadfast got to where his ministry is running 2,000 in attendance with 45 buses (or more), 400 saved each week, 30 baptized :-), 500 missionaries supported, etc.

So there is a significant problem with how success is defined. However, the myth states that this is possible to anyone and everyone who will just do x, y, and z. Tremendous pressure is placed on some to live up to expectations that are entirely unreasonable, and possibly undesirable! I remember one famous preacher who spoke at my home church when I was in high school. The occaission was an annual conference hosted by our church. At that time he was being invited every few years. One of those years on the final night of the conference the man spoke about building up a church. Toward the end of the message he looked out at the hearers, many of whom were pastors, and said that he would not come back if my home church was not running a certain number in two years. Now my church was and is one of the largest independent Baptist churches in Canada. Even so, it fell far short of the attendance the visiting speaker desired. I know that nearly every visiting pastor had congregations of far less. What an incredible burden to place upon a servant of God. As though only a church which ran a certain number was worth speaking at! I remember the event vividly. It left a very bad impression upon my mind. Interestingly enough, when the time had elapsed and the man was invited back he came even though we did not meet the numerical standard he had imposed! How many times has a pastor faced serious problems with discouragement that arises from comparing himself and his ministry to another man and that man's ministry? This belief in the inevitability of success encourages these unwise comparisons.

Another monumental problem with this mindset is its view of man and God. You see, this mindset suggests that God's work is really man's work! Those who espouse this mindset almost always have a small view of God and a big view of man.

We must realize that we are called to strive mightily for souls. We are to labour and toil in the work of God. But there is no man-contrived formula which can guarantee this type of "success" suggested by many! Let us return to a Biblical view of success. Let us return to a Biblical view of God and man. Let us cease from foolish comparison. And let us remember the words of Paul, "I planted, Appollos watered, But God gave the increase!"