3 days ago
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A growing issue within the modern church is the shift in priorities among ministry leaders. Many are more concerned with growing attendance, expanding influence, and increasing visibility than they are with truly shepherding souls. Churches are celebrated for being full, but not necessarily for being fruitful. In the eyes of many, success is measured by numbers rather than by spiritual transformation.
Jesus never measured ministry this way. He often turned crowds away by preaching the cost of discipleship. When the multitude followed Him after witnessing miracles, He confronted their motives and said, “Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves” (John 6:26). Jesus was not interested in a crowd that came for benefits without repentance. He wanted disciples, not spectators.
The pursuit of popularity within ministry is dangerous because popularity can become an idol. Leaders begin to soften the message to avoid offense. They avoid controversial biblical topics because they fear losing members, donors, or approval. Yet Jesus warned that true discipleship would not be popular. He said, “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake” (Luke 21:17). The gospel was never designed to be crowd pleasing. It was designed to be soul saving.
Paul also confronted this issue when he wrote, “For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ” (Galatians 1:10). Paul made it clear that a preacher who prioritizes pleasing people cannot fully serve Christ. The two agendas cannot coexist. One leads to compromise. The other leads to faithfulness.
A ministry built on popularity creates shallow believers. People are taught to attend church, but not to carry their cross. They are told God wants them blessed, but not sanctified. They hear sermons that uplift their self esteem, but rarely messages that confront their sin. In the end, the church grows in number but not in holiness. This is not spiritual success, it is spiritual failure disguised as growth.
The early church had no marketing teams, no digital platforms, and no celebrity pastors. Yet they produced disciples who endured persecution, walked in holiness, and turned the world upside down. Acts 2:42 describes their strength, saying, “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” Their focus was doctrine, prayer, and fellowship, not popularity.
Jesus gave us the true measure of a shepherd when He said, “The good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep” (John 10:11). A shepherd is willing to sacrifice for souls, not sacrifice souls for reputation. When leaders chase popularity they often avoid telling people what they need to hear in order to maintain the applause of the crowd. But true love speaks truth even when it costs.
The prophet Jeremiah dealt with false prophets in Israel who preached only what people wanted to hear. God said of them, “They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace” (Jeremiah 6:14). They offered comforting messages while ignoring sin and judgment. Modern false preachers do the same when they offer inspiration without repentance and affirmation without accountability.
Popularity is temporary. Souls are eternal. A church may boast of crowds on Sunday, but heaven measures differently. Heaven does not count attendance. Heaven counts disciples. Heaven does not celebrate emotional moments. Heaven celebrates repentance and transformation.
When leaders return to shepherding souls instead of chasing numbers, the church becomes strong again. True growth begins when the focus shifts from filling buildings to filling heaven, from pleasing people to pleasing Christ, and from being known on earth to being recognized in heaven.
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