1 (16) On Playing God and Being Human

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Produced by James W. Moss, Sr., and Church Consultants
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On Playing God and Being Human

by James W. Moss, Sr.

A pastor who stops being human and starts to play god hinders the development of an attitude of caring. Some may react, “Not me! I never think of myself as a god!” The pastor adds, “My family constantly reminds me of my humanity!” A word of caution: do not dismiss this thought too quickly. It is a temptation for ministers to assume the role of divinity. The Lord calls a person to ministry with a gentle touch on the shoulder. A substantial ego is a prerequisite of that call. Occasionally a pastor assumes the role of god. At other times, members would press the mantle of divinity upon a minister. Is pressing the role of god on a human new?

“When the listening crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted (in their local dialect, of course), “These men are gods in human bodies!” They decided that Barnabas was the Greek god Jupiter, and that Paul, because he was the chief speaker, was Mercury! The local priest of the Temple of Jupiter, located on the outskirts of the city, brought them cartloads of flowers and prepared to sacrifice oxen to them at the city gates before the crowds.” (Acts 14:11-13)

People develop trust as a pastor begins ministry. Youth and children have growing respect. Adults call on a regular basis. Kindnesses are appreciated. Families the pastor conducts weddings and funerals for are grateful for care and counsel. Persons caught in illness and turmoil are grateful for confidences. The pastor is permitted to look into the hearts of people. This is a privilege or burden of the position. A pastor begins to see what God sees in the lives of people. The temptation is to stop being a pastor and become a god!

Contemporary Christians are not as open as the crowd about Paul and Barnabas. Subtle pressure is exerted. Intellectually, church members know ministers are not gods. Intellectual recognition of the humanity of pastors and actual practice may be different. This is especially true of young ministers or new ministers to a parish.

I remember clearly. It was my last year in seminary. I was twenty-four years old. A class of retired people was meeting. I wanted to offer some small comment on the business at hand. A member hushed the group. She said, “Let’s hear what our pastor has to say!” Everyone stopped talking. People old enough to be my grandparents stopped to listen with anticipation to what I had to say. I can still recall the euphoria of that moment. Also remembered were the danger signals that flashed as I reflected on the moment.

This may be a part of the so-called “honeymoon period” for a new pastor. What is that? A time when nearly every proposal presented to a council is accepted. Is that a time when a pastor is treated as a god? The word of God is read in public services. The prophet becomes the spokesman for God through the sermon. It is just one more step before God does the speaking. This struggle come to every pastor in varying degrees.

Times of temptation

There are two specific times of great temptation. The greatest temptation to play god occurs as a person first enters the ministry. However, the temptation to play god may reoccur each time a person changes pastorates. A person playing the “god game” finds it easy to manipulate persons and organizations to please personal whims. After all, the pastor is god. Problems arise because human motivations are seldom as pure as God’s. God always functions without selfish motives. The pastor playing the “god game” is seldom able to provide meaningful ministry for people because the motives are not pure.

The Old Testament records God’s striving with human beings. When God came in human form, mankind could begin to comprehend. Jesus was uniquely divine and thoroughly human at the same time. Christians often emphasize Jesus’ divinity at the expense of His humanity. It is through Jesus’ humanity that people come to know the nature of God.

A barrier is immediately erected between the pastor and people when a pastor permits a divine mantle to be put in place. People say to themselves, “The pastor is perfect! He would not understand my sin.” Others who dare come and confess the sin in their lives pose the question, “Aren’t you shocked?”

Falling off the pedestal

The congregation’s first refusal of a pastor’s proposal abruptly ends the “honeymoon period.” One just does not disagree with a god. Should playing the role of a god persist, continuing conflict will occur which may end in a move or a series of short-term pastorates. At this point pastors need to redefine their relationship with God. Reaffirmation of the pastor’s humanity and servanthood role is necessary. The reaction of the people who thought the pastor was god may be surprising upon discovering their pastor’s humanity.

Guilt is not an experience of the “god game.” God does not sin. Guilt does not arrive until awareness of humanity dawns. Love and hate are thought of as two extremes. Place love on a circle of relationships. Hate would be next to love. It is a very short step from love to hate or hate to love. It is also a short step from divinity to demon. To accept a divine role is a hazard. One is so close to being a demon.

The priests of the Temple of Jupiter wanted to worship Paul and Barnabas. The same people who wanted to make them gods turned “into a murderous mob that stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, apparently dead.” (Acts 14:19, The Living Bible)

The challenge of being human

Why is it so hard for pastors to permit people to see their humanity? It seems preferable to be made demons before pastors will permit their humanity to show. The attitude of the people in Acts changes from worship to vilification. Most pastors with any length of service have experienced this transformation in attitudes to some degree.

Pastor Mark Smithson arrived at a new parish. His praises were sung to the heavens. He had taken the community by storm. Pastor Smithson had been instrumental in changing a staid congregation into one filled with life and activity. Not a negative word was heard unless it was whispered by a fellow clergyman envious of his success. Then something happened in his life that betrayed his humanity. In one day he went from divinity to demon. Pastor Smithson was not as good or as bad as he had been portrayed. He simply was human with all that implies. He remained in the community and pastored with a great deal of success for some years.

Remember, it is often the same persons who proclaim your divinity that will be the first to pronounce you a demon when your humanity shows. Guilt may become overwhelming as people press the role of demon upon ministers. Pastors are forced to recognize real or imagined shortcomings.

Occasionally a pastor doesn’t feel like functioning as priest and prophet. It is the assigned time and the show must go on. I have often wondered what would happen—when no apparent word came from God, there was no inspiration for the moment—if the pastor stood before the people, said as much, and walked away. I never had such courage. Nor would I advise anyone to do so. Frustrations rising from hypocritical games become intense as people press the role of demon upon us.

Three phases

Each time a pastor accepts a new assignment, the pastor must experience three phases of varying degrees of duration and intensity in the god game.

1. The new pastor is introduced as divine.

2. When humanity begins to appear as a slip hanging below a skirt, the pastor is cast in the role of demon.

3. A key to effective ministry is to survive the first two stages. Pastors and people must recognize and accept their humanity. Then real caring and ministry can occur.

Pastors need simply to accept the atonement offered to all. When pastors do that, it will be possible to help parishioners do the same.

Recognizing the limits of humanity

It is absolutely necessary for pastors to recognize the limits of humanity, place the role of ministry in proper relationship to God, and accept God’s forgiveness which removes guilt. Proclaim this from the pulpit.

Pastors assist people through this journey of faith by loving and caring. Hurt when parishioners have cause to hurt. Laugh with them when there is cause to laugh. Be available when there is need for time and touch. When people are certain that the pastor loves them, they will forgive the pastor’s shortcomings and failings. They will accept the limitations of the minister’s humanity.

A pastor can hide from responsibilities. One can pretend busyness while only working a few hours a week. There is not a stern taskmaster. There is no clock to punch. The pastor is only accountable to God and self. Be careful, if you play this game: the demons will get you.

Many are driven by the demands of the position until nothing is left inside. Frustration builds because there is always one more sermon or letter to write. There is always one more visit to make. Never a Sunday passes when all the work needed to be done is completed. No matter how hard the pastor works, there is always more. In fact, the harder one works the more work there is to do. Be careful: if you play this game, the gods will get you. Somewhere between the two extremes there is a right way—a way that accepts full responsibility for the call of God and accepts the limits of humanity.

Effective pastors are critical to meaningful ministry. Skill at ministry must be coupled with the capacity to develop strong relationships with people. Such relationships are critical for the pastor to be granted leadership roles. Whatever the system of government in a local church, the pastor must take the reins of leadership.

Good Books to Read:

Maxwell, John. It Only Hurts on Monday: Why Pastors Quit and What You Can Do About It. St. Charles, Illinois: ChurchSmart Resources, 1998.

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