I want Barack Obama to be my pastor.

I want Barack Obama to be my pastor.

Who wouldn’t want him as your pastor? Think about it. He’s young, handsome, educated, intelligent, charismatic, inspirational. He’s a good family man. His history has made him sensitive to those who struggle, and to those from different backgrounds. He offers the promise of fresh hope, new directions. He’s building a team of talented, diverse players to lead with him.

He’s wildly popular in America and around the world. Everyone WANTS him to lead, to inspire, to give the rally cry.

Of course, you may totally disagree with his policies, his philosophy. Still, isn’t he the KIND of leader you want? And wouldn’t that kind of leader make a tremendous pastor? Don’t we all want that type of leader?

That’s the problem.

Humans crave competent, charismatic leaders in their lives. Sure, we all claim to be free-thinkers, independents, even “rebels”. But deep inside we want to be led, we NEED to be led. We really do want a president to lead us, a spouse to direct us, a pastor to save us.

Why? Actually, it’s wired into our DNA.

Humans were designed with vertical vision, with elevated eyesight. From birth our eyes naturally drift upward, looking for a Higher Being to lead us.

God is our Creator, and whether we acknowledge his existence or not, we look for him. We want a leader. And if we don’t believe in him, we look for a human leader to do a job they were never intended to do – to be “god”.

G.K. Chesterton observed this danger in 1933 - “Once abolish the God, and the government becomes the God.”

And in the church it is the same.

I’ve worked for 3 great pastors. All talented, strong leaders, anointed, lots of qualities. And yet, in every case, over time, I hear people in the church sigh, whine, or complain. “I wish he fed us more” “I wish he led us stronger” “I wish he was a better counselor” “I wish he’d manage the staff hands-on” “I wish he would back-off and give the staff room to lead!” “I wish he had more vision” “I wish he would stop casting so much vision!”

“I wish, I wish, I wish.”

What they are actually wishing for is the perfect pastor, the super saint, the ideal leader. Many church people use Isaiah 9 as the job description for their pastor. They want him to be…

• Wonderful counselor
• A mighty god
• An everlasting father
• A prince of peace

But those titles were reserved for only One.

It was the same with Israel wanting a king. Unsatisfied with a theocracy, priests, prophets and judges, they demanded of Samuel “Give us a king to lead us” [1 Samuel 8]. God decided to give them what they wanted, and then proceeded to tell them just what their rebellious demand would bring. A king would subject them to bureaucracy and bondage. But they didn’t care.

Because they wanted a leader.

So, to all church members, remember. Your pastor…

• Has 168 hours in each week - just like you
• Has limited skills, abilities and gifting - just like you
• Is not omnipotent, omniscience, nor omnipresent – and neither are you
• Will fail – just like you
• Can only do what God has asked him to do

Yes, God works through His servant leaders in government and the church – just don’t ask them to do the job reserved only for Him. Let the trajectory of your gaze aim a little higher above your pastor or president. Fix your eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of your faith.

Oh, and don’t bother calling Barak Obama for your church. He already has a job.