I Am King

We are "King Kids" right?  

I remember when folks started using that phrase a lot and it was sort of cute at first but it's just turned into something that makes me cringe with the goofiness that it has bred.  

Naturally, being from Atlanta, the Eddie Long crowned as king thing has been the talk of town.  In all fairness to Eddie Long...  he likely didn't know this preacher was going to do all of that stuff. Even if he did he may have figured that Messner knew what he was speaking about so it was simply an object lesson and I doubt Eddie Long took any of that made up nonsense seriously as a proclamation that he was now a king.  But it's that goofy mindset that even allowed this minister to figure it an applicable object lesson that blows my mind.

Let me be the one to break this to ministers.  You are not kings.  

STOP ACTING LIKE YOU ARE A KING! 

Now for the preacher that says you don't act like a king...  let's see. I want to explore this so we can make sure that this is the case.  Let's just lay it all out here and put ourselves to the test because I'm here to remind you that this is important Scripturally and I'll share that as we go.

ARMOR BEARER:  Oh yes...  that job where you have folks to carry your armor!  We go into the Old Testament and where do we find this sort of thing?  That was something for the Kings, Princes, and Generals of nations.  Oh yeah...  they carry your Bibles up to the pulpit and lay it all out nice and neat for you.  They make sure the water glass is full and if you need something they are constantly on guard for that "look" that you give telling them that their attention is now required.  It sounds great really and folks will say that they are just honoring the man of God and all that.  You can show where this was a thing of Scripture but face facts...  it was a thing of kings.  

You aren't supposed to have someone carrying your armor.  YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE WEARING IT!  It's your Bible....  Carry it yourself. It's fine to have a glass of water when you preach...  I certainly appreciate finding it there when the throat starts to get scratchy.  But come on guys...  you don't need glorified water-boys and what the corporate world calls...  gophers.  GoFor this and GoFor that.  You're capable of driving your own car and seriously...  it's fine to get a ride with someone else but sitting in the back seat as if you're in need of a limo driver?  The car is what...  your chariot?  Your plane is you super-chariot! 

Don't act like you're all that but you do anyway.  You have taken Scripture and twisted it to make up some little thing that places the "men of God" into a place of importance and can't you even see the truth any more?  What makes you different than the Pharisee that loved that sort of mess?  Only difference I see is that you aren't trying to kill Jesus...  after all He's your Sugar Daddy now!  But it's the same mind-set.  You're now high and mighty...  lofty and deserving of men's praise!  Sound silly does it?  Tell me then... why do you expect the red carpet to be rolled out when you come to a place?  You know you do with your demands to have things certain ways for you and your groupies.  Certain things must be exact ways... and only that brand of bottle water. Fancy place to rest your head...  no more Super 8's for you!  You're far more worthy of that sort of chain Hotel.  You'd dare not stay at someone else's home because gone are those days when you actually accepted the hospitality of the elder who put you up in a bedroom in their 3 bedroom ranch house smack in the middle of Normalville!  That would bring you down to the commoner level and I suppose as a man of God you are much more worthy of greater honor.

Bless your heart...  I heard you had a special meeting where you washed the feet of your elders and deacons or your board members.  In that you assured them all and announced it to the world thus making it known your humble spirit and rightful place, willing to serve.  I'm impressed and if you could see the rolling of my eyes you would certainly understand that I say that with 100 percent sarcasm.  So what?  You washed the feet of those that serve you constantly?  Your little 30 minute ceremony means what you think?  Oh...  the congregation doesn't usually see you barking at the minions but bark you certainly do!  Most people would be shocked to see how the beloved pastor really acts when not standing in the pulpit.

Gone are the days when you were truly humble.  You started the church you're now in and back when it was just you and 40....  50...  even 100 people you were constantly serving them!  It was vital because you wanted to make that mark.  Let them know you cared and let them know you loved them.  You got bigger, and bigger, and bigger until it was a given now...  the church was always going to be full.  Full church means full offering plates and full offering plates means that your salary was times more secure! Now that you're comfortable...  they want to talk to the Pastor and they call the church.  They speak to the secretary and she passes that on to the assistant to the assistant's assistant and after a couple of weeks and many passes to various assistants you might actually be allowed into the presence of the pastor king.  If they deem you worthy you might actually get that audience with his highness.  None of this applies now if you are a large donor and or tithe payer to the church.  If you are one of the money people of the church then you're on the "always take call" list.  They may not actually like you that much because you are likely very demanding but they know better than to upset you...  that money coming in is more important than most anything else.  

Small church pastor's are much the same now.  Oh perhaps you aren't nearly as blatant as the mega-pastor but the signs are there.  You long to be served and treated as something special.  You have your special seat at the church...  many of those seats look like thrones.  You're not there yet but rest assured... it is your desire and you're working hard to reach that point.  

We've got to understand a very simple teaching of Jesus Christ.

Matthew 20:25  But Jesus called them to Himself and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them.
26  "It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant,
27  and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave;
28  just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

The rulers Jesus speaks of describe many preachers today...   the servant aspect of ministry is fading quickly as the bank accounts flourish.  Men of God (if you truly are) hear me now.  Search yourself and get rid of this mindset.  

Young folk that are looking to fulfill the calling that God has called you...  Stop looking at this stuff with that longing in your own heart.  Repent of it now while it is just a thought and perhaps a goal and or dream.  It's easier to change direction now than it is to give up a kingdom once that kingdom is yours.

Men and women that refuse to stop this sort of stuff...  hear me now.  You're kingdom will fall.  Perhaps you are large enough to continue living in luxury the rest of your days on earth but rest yourself sure of this one fact...  it will be a lonely and very hot eternity because this is not what God has called you to be. 

Serve... that is your calling.