Who do you look up to? Do you just admire them or do you put them up on a pedestal? Putting someone up on a pedestal and admiring them are two different things. To admire someone means you respect them. You respect their abilities, qualities, or achievements. When we put people on a pedestal, we think of them as perfect with no faults. We look up to them. We expect the impossible from them, we expect them to be more than human. Sooner or later they let us down, they show their human weakness and flaws, then we tend to blame them for letting us down. We only have ourselves to blame! Think of it like this, when you put them up on that pedestal, they have no choice but to look down on you. The Bible says God sits high and looks low. As humans we are all equal, no matter the status, fame or fortune. We all are sinners saved by grace. The only reason anyone is ever superior to you is if you believe they are. Don’t fall into that, “they can do this better, or they look better than I do” trap. There are things you will be better at than others, and there are things other people will be better at than you. It does not matter how smart a doctor, lawyer, or a professor is, when they have trouble with their plumbing, they have to call a plumber! God gave each of us gifts and talents. My mama always told me, no one is better than you and you are no better than anyone else. I live by that. Sometimes people put themselves up on a pedestal, looking down at and being critical of others. It makes them feel superior. How sad is that? I believe that pedestals are lonely places that separate us rather than connect us. God intended for us to love one another and connect to others, not stand out and away from them. God’s desire is for us to love people as they are, flaws and all. That is what Jesus does. I’m thinking it’s a lot of pressure up there on that pedestal. What if I make a mistake? What if my looks fade? What if I’m no longer famous or rich? I would not want to live like that, too stressful. Oh, and beware of the pastoral pedestal. We’ve seen the headlines, high-profile pastors falling off the pedestal he has been put on. Think of the fallout and consequences under those circumstances. He and his family are hurting, and the church now left wondering what happened. Was his doctrine sound that he preached from the pulpit? Was he being a hypocrite, preaching one thing and living another? How does that reflect on the church? On our faith? On God? Mature believers realize that just because a leader sinned, doesn’t necessarily mean his doctrine or preaching wasn’t sound, especially if they know the Word for themselves. Our culture puts leaders on pedestals they can’t sustain. We expect our spiritual leaders to be perfect. The Bible does lay out expectations for church leaders, but it also reveals the struggles early church leaders faced. In 1 Timothy 3:1 the scripture says, “This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work.” And the next twelve verses list the qualifications required for someone who desires that position of leadership in the church. Yes, as our leaders, they should set an example. But they too are human so I’m sure the struggle is real. When they sin, they need to repent just like we would in that situation. And, just as we would want, they need our prayers, compassion and forgiveness. That doesn’t mean there won’t be consequences. God will hold us accountable for our actions. We should not be worshiping the messenger. We should worship the One who sends the message. The Sender is perfect, the deliver is human. We look up to God and put our faith in Him, not man. We should respect our leaders and pray for those God puts in our life. Let’s not put them or ourselves on a pedestal. We must look up to the one who deserves it, our Lord and Savior. Love and Blessings…
Sometimes people put themselves up on a pedestal, looking down at and being critical of others. It makes them feel superior. How sad is that? I believe that pedestals are lonely places that separate us rather than connect us. God intended for us to love one another and connect to others, not stand out and away from them. God’s desire is for us to love people as they are, flaws and all. That is what Jesus does. I’m thinking it’s a lot of pressure up there on that pedestal. What if I make a mistake? What if my looks fade? What if I’m no longer famous or rich? I would not want to live like that, too stressful. Oh, and beware of the pastoral pedestal. We’ve seen the headlines, high-profile pastors falling off the pedestal he has been put on. Think of the fallout and consequences under those circumstances. He and his family are hurting, and the church now left wondering what happened. Was his doctrine sound that he preached from the pulpit? Was he being a hypocrite, preaching one thing and living another? How does that reflect on the church? On our faith? On God? Mature believers realize that just because a leader sinned, doesn’t necessarily mean his doctrine or preaching wasn’t sound, especially if they know the Word for themselves. Our culture puts leaders on pedestals they can’t sustain. We expect our spiritual leaders to be perfect. The Bible does lay out expectations for church leaders, but it also reveals the struggles early church leaders faced. In 1 Timothy 3:1 the scripture says, “This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work.” And the next twelve verses list the qualifications required for someone who desires that position of leadership in the church. Yes, as our leaders, they should set an example. But they too are human so I’m sure the struggle is real. When they sin, they need to repent just like we would in that situation. And, just as we would want, they need our prayers, compassion and forgiveness. That doesn’t mean there won’t be consequences. God will hold us accountable for our actions. We should not be worshiping the messenger. We should worship the One who sends the message. The Sender is perfect, the deliver is human. We look up to God and put our faith in Him, not man. We should respect our leaders and pray for those God puts in our life. Let’s not put them or ourselves on a pedestal. We must look up to the one who deserves it, our Lord and Savior. Love and Blessings…
“For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” (Galitians 1:10)
“Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually.” (1Chronicles 16:11)
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)
“And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” (Matthew 22:37)
“For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.” (Romans 7:18)
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” (Romans 3:23)
“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts:4:12)
“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)
EMMANUEL 