“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;” (Romans 12:10, NASB95)
Politicians speak of the looming “Entitlement Crisis” regarding how to pay for Social Security and Medicare. Never mind that their own legislation and spending has helped to create said crisis! However, that is another subject. As a church leader for over thirty leaders now, I am becoming more convinced that the American church has an entitlement crisis of its own. That entitlement crisis is already here.
What am I talking about? I am talking about my belief that so many established churches in America have a culture of entitlement and, in some cases, they make decisions that perpetuate that culture of entitlement. Pastors are pressured to cater to those who feel so entitled. Here are few examples….
“Pastor, the majority of the church is people our age, so you should do what keeps the majority of the church happy.” TRANSLATION: We are ENTITLED to run the church and all decisions should cater to us.
“Pastor, several people in the church are not happy with a certain line item in the budget, so they have stopped giving.” TRANSLATION: We are ENTITLED to agree with every line item in the budget.
“Pastor, it’s great that we have all these new members, but you need to consider the legitimate, established members of the church.” TRANSLATION: We are ENTITLED to always occupy the positions of influence in the church.
“Pastor, you talk about reaching new people, but our church should focus on the people we have.” TRANSLATION: We are ENTITLED to never have to change anything in order to reach anyone new.
Do you see how easily an entitlement mentality can infect a church? The conversations in far too many churches today tend to be very much like I described above. Precious little (if any) conversation about making disciples, fulfilling the Great Commission, and actually doing what Jesus said the church is supposed to do. The pastor and staff are not viewed as those who are to lead the church to fulfill its mission. Instead, the pastor and staff are viewed as chaplains and hirelings who are there to be on call for crises, bury the dead, and otherwise do the bidding of certain groups. Missions? Churches with entitlement mentality pride themselves on being “mission-minded” because they give a bunch of money to missions each year and send teams on mission trips far from home – both Biblical and admirable things to do. However, such an emphasis on being “mission-minded” often camouflages the desire for everything to remain the same and the same people control their church at home. We are all for “over there” but woe be to anyone who suggests we change anything “right here.” This “entitlement mentality” is absolutely killing churches every day.
To be fair, some pastors and staff members can fall into a similar entitlement mentality too. No pastor or staff member is entitled to their salary. It is the Lord’s provision for him and is to be intertwined with godly character, hard work, and faithful leadership. No pastor is entitled to be free of questions or criticism. No staff member is entitled to do their ministry the same way in perpetuity. When it comes to entitlement, pastors and staff members need to look in the mirror too. The entitlement mentality can seep into the church offices just as quickly as it comes into the pews.
So, aren’t we entitled to anything as a church member? As I read scripture, I believe that every church is entitled to one thing….
As a church member, I AM ENTITLED to Godly, faithful leadership in keeping with the scriptural standards for pastors/elders and deacons. This includes personal integrity, doctrinal integrity, and financial integrity. Every church member is entitled to leadership like that.
However, Godly, faithful leadership in keeping with scriptural standards will not mean that everyone will be happy. It will not mean no one leaves the church. It will not mean your Sunday School class will never be asked to move or that you will never be asked to sacrifice in some other way. In fact, Godly, faithful leadership will often mean the church is led to change and sacrifice.
An entitlement mentality will eventually KILL a church. Why? The spirit of sacrifice for the mission is replaced by a spirit of entitlement. The entitlement mentality means the focus turns inward more each year. Fewer and fewer people are reached. Fewer and fewer disciples are made. Nothing changes. Soon, NO ONE is reached and that reality is rationalized away because those in charge have the main goal of maintaining the status quo. Everyone is happy about things the way they are. Until no one is left to be happy about it any longer.
Each of us must fight the entitlement virus in our own hearts. In fact, scripture says fighting entitlement is part of faithful Christian growth and not being conformed to the world. Really? The verse quoted at the top of this post actually comes as part of an extended section about faithful Christian living. Read this verse in its context and ask the Lord to speak to you.
“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.” (Romans 12:1–13, NASB95)
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