Status-Seekers In The Church
Our age has been described as the atomic age because of modern atomic discoveries, the space age, because of the current space explorations, the anxious age, because of the large percentage of mentally ill from the pressures peculiar to this age. It has also been characterized by an un-blushing "status-seeking" as perhaps no other age has seen. The anxiety, fears, neuroses etc which afflict us are traceable in a large measure to this status seeking. If we had developed stature rather than seeking "status," we would have had the mental, moral and spiritual strength to carry the load.
If politicians, business men and labor leaders had unselfishly sought to put into effect measures that would have strengthened the entire government and economy rather than selfishly exploiting for personal advantage the weaknesses of those whom they had the responsibility to lead, our economy and government would have had stature. The exploiting of the weakness of men by irresponsible men in "high places" who use fear propaganda for personal or party advantage is one of the most contemptible practices of our day. The concern for "status" has resulted in efforts to build a superstructure without foundation.
When men in the church, who are regarded as leaders, are "status-seekers" rather than faithful men, able to teach others, destructive compromise will be made and those who look to them for leadership can not become "strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might." Those who have studied the life of Christ, related in the New Testament, to any profit, have been impressed with the fact that he never appealed to nor in any way encouraged human weakness. He who said, "Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest," also said, "Take my yoke upon you and learn of me." Nowhere does he promise ease, luxury or worldly standing. Rather than status there is "rest unto your soul" — "the peace of God that passeth understanding" — to "guard your heart and thoughts in Christ Jesus," etc., and in the world to come eternal life.
"Status-seeking" has produced a bumper crop of neurotics in the church. Their desire for position and recognition has been so intense as to cause them to come to think of themselves as having attained unto superior righteousness and discernment. They wish to speak with all authority without traveling the rugged road by which this height is reached. This type neurotic is not the hypochondriac person who is healthy, but imagines he is sick. Rather his neurosis is an image of himself as righteous and spiritually strong when in reality he is spiritually poor, wretched, naked and blind. He can detect and diagnose the slightest symptoms of spiritual illness in others but seems unable to make application of warnings in the Scriptures to himself personally. The Scriptures recognize the possibility of a person's deluding self and warn against such dangerous delusions. Note this: "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deluding your own selves..." "If any man thinketh himself to be religious, while he bridleth not his tongue but deceiveth his heart, this man's religion is vain." (Jas. 1:22-28) The many warnings against self deception which are found in the Bible point up a common danger to which all need be alerted.
In many cases neurotics run the local church. The frequency with which some congregations change preachers is evidence of powerful influence wielded by the spiritual neurotics in the congregation. Equally true it is that neurotic preachers are unable to stay at any one place long enough to do an effective work. Members of the church, whether elder, preacher or others, who think more highly of themselves than they ought to think, will always be a source of confusion and strife.
The Pharisees of our Lord's time on earth were front rank status-seekers. While he condemned the sins of adultery, lying, murder in severe terms and set forth an awful eternal anguish for those who died with the guilt of such sins on their souls, yet it seems that he reserved his most scathing denunciation for these hypocrites. He said, "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which outwardly appear beautiful, but inwardly are full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but inwardly are full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but inwardly ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity." (Matt. 23:27, 28) The concerned reader is urged to "hear and understand" all the 23rd chapter of Matthew.
Status-seekers in the church fail to identify pettiness, hate, envy, jealousy, malice, anxiety, conceit, pride, etc., as iniquity. A congregation may be full of such and fail to recognize its real condition. The church at Laodicea demonstrates the truth of this. They had "status" but the Lord's diagnosis of their true condition was as being poor, wretched, naked and blind. Any preacher who has the faith to diagnose this neurosis and proclaim the cure is not liable to be very popular with those who are confirmed neurotics.
There is no more effective way to "shut the kingdom of heaven against men" than for the members to lose their "savor." Members of the church lose their influence for good when the world detects the fact that those members have a reputation without character, statue without stature. People will soon detect the lack of faith, honesty, fairness, courage, etc., if those things are lacking in the church member. Men of the world will continue to fail to "glorify your Father who is in Heaven" so long as you fail to "let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works."
In order for one to "let your light shine" — not shine your light! — he must forget about status and strive for stature.
"Grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever." (2 Peter 3:18)
— 417 E. Groesbeck, Lufkin, Texas