arrogance | Craig T. Owens

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No Self-Made Men

December 27, 2013 — Craig T. Owens

I get so tired of people calling themselves “a self-made man.” There is no such thing! It is equally as distasteful when pastors pat themselves on the back talking about “the ministry I have built.”

Dick Brogden

Here are important words to remember—

“Wherever we go in ministry and mission, we either benefit from the labor of others or we contribute to the future benefit of those that will follow. If we see fruit, we can be assured that it is not solely due to our dedication or vision but because others went ahead of us and did the hard work. Often prayer accomplishes this hard work. Regularly those on the ground preceding us did this hard work.” (Dick Brogden)

And this—

What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building. (1 Corinthians 3:5-9)

What do you think?

Posted in Pastoring. Tags: Apollos, apostle Paul, arrogance, Dick Brogden, hard work, humility, pastoring, prayer. 1 Comment »

Show Us The Way

August 26, 2013 — Craig T. Owens

I have often said that one of the most arrogant, short-sighted prayers we can ever pray is this: “Lord, please bless what I’m about to do.”

Why is this arrogance? Because I’m presuming to know what’s best. I am saying, “God, this is what I have decided is the best thing to do, and I want You to bless it.” In reality, God has already decided what He is going to do, and He will bless me if I do that.

Listen to what God says—

“This is what the Lord says, He who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it—the Lord is His name: ‘Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’” (Jeremiah 33:2-3)

I love that promise: Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know!

This is as true for me personally as it is corporately for the church I get to pastor. So this Sunday I am taking time to talk to the congregation of Calvary Assembly of God about what I believe God is calling us to do. If you are in the area, I’d love to have you join us.

Whether you can attend on Sunday or not, this is a great reminder for all of us. Let’s not tell God our puny plans and ask Him to bless them, but let’s ask Him to show us great and unsearchable things that He is blessing so that we can get to work doing those things. You will be blessed by doing what God is doing.

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: arrogance, blessing, Calvary Assembly of God, God's direction, Jeremiah, prayer. Leave a Comment »

The Domineering Pastor

April 12, 2013 — Craig T. Owens

I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes who loves to be first, will have nothing to do with us. (3 John 9)

The King James Versions says that Diotrephes loveth to have the preeminence. He loved his title, his position of authority, and having everything in the church flow through him.

He wanted not only to approve who spoke in the church, but even with whom church people could socialize outside of church. He wielded his positional authority like a sword and cut off people from the fellowship of the church if they didn’t join lockstep with him.

He used fear and intimidation to demand people follow him, and wouldn’t receive a loving letter from the Apostle John. To counteract any who would question him, Diotrephes engaged in gossip and character assassination of any he perceived to be a threat to his position as pastor.

For shame!

This type of attitude has no place in the Body of Christ, especially among the pastorate! Jesus came to serve, and taught us to do likewise. Jesus didn’t snuff out the smoldering wick or stomp on the bruised reed, but ministered lovingly to all. Peter told shepherds to never use their position to lord it over others.

My fellow pastor, having the title of pastor doesn’t mean I’m the smartest person in the room, or that I have all the answers. I am one member of the Body of Christ. Each member of the Body needs all the other members of the Body. I should humbly serve, never demanding allegiance to me or blind obedience to my wishes. I should never try to hide behind my title, but be the most transparent, the most willing to admit my mistakes, and the first to forgive and to ask forgiveness.

Lord, guard my heart against the spirit of Diotrephes!!

UPDATE: This is one of the seed thoughts that went into my book Shepherd Leadership.

Posted in Pastoring. Tags: 1 Peter, 3 John, apostle John, apostle Peter, arrogance, authority, church, Diotrephes, fear, Gospel of John, Gospel of Mark, Gospel of Matthew, gossip, Jesus Christ, pastors, pride. 1 Comment »

The Height Of Arrogance

October 26, 2012 — Craig T. Owens

Warning: this post may step on your toes.

Oswald Chambers wrote, “We have to find out God’s methods, not try to get God to approve our methods.”

Pastor, are you telling God what your church is going to do, and then asking God to bless your efforts?

Sadly, many churches innocently slide into this mode. But watch out: this is the height of arrogance!

Don’t fall into the trap of thinking you know how to reach your community, or organize your church, or even accurately select your next sermon. You can’t do it!

But God can!

He knows your community and your church better than you do. So try a better approach by starting with humility.

Don’t tell God what you’re going to do and then ask Him to bless your plans. Instead, ask God what He is already blessing, and then go do that.

Posted in Pastoring. Tags: arrogance, humility, Oswald Chambers, pastoring, pastors, prayer, quote. Leave a Comment »

Scarecrows In The Melon Patch

September 2, 2009 — Craig T. Owens

Think about the imagery: some old clothes stuffed with straw, perhaps a burlap bag with a funny face drawn on it, and maybe a raggedy hat on top. Then hang this creation on a wooden pole, arms all akimbo, in an attempt to scare away birds from a melon patch.

Are you scared? I certainly hope not!

Yet this is exactly the thing God used to describe the fear His people were experiencing—

Like a scarecrow in a melon patch, their idols cannot speak; they must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them; they can do no harm nor can they do any good.

The scarecrow doesn’t hurt anyone, but he doesn’t help either. God said His people were afraid of a scarecrow. But here’s the amazing part: they made their scarecrows!

These people had forgotten God—forgotten His goodness, forgotten His blessings, forgotten His mercy, forgotten His strength, forgotten His wisdom, forgotten His power. Since they had forgotten that He was the One in charge, that He was the One who could protect them, they tried to create their own protection. They built their own scarecrows, and then became afraid of what they created!

I think we have done the same thing today.

We have forgotten God’s goodness, forgotten His blessings, forgotten His mercy, forgotten His strength, forgotten got His wisdom, forgotten His power. To protect ourselves we have made scarecrows of economic systems, and governments, and elected officials, and medicines, and insurance companies. And just like scarecrows, they can do no harm nor can they do any good.

That’s why fear is so rampant in our hearts: We are looking to the scarecrows we have created instead of looking to the Creator who gave us life.

Are you fearful? Do you feel panicky? Does your future seem ominous? If so, perhaps there are a few scarecrows you need to dismantle. Rip them apart and scatter the straw to the wind. And then begin to read God’s Word. Jeremiah also records these words from God to us—

This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the LORD.

Understanding and knowing God’s kindness, justice, and righteousness will destroy your scarecrows and set you free from fear. Get rid of those scarecrows today!