A Dangerous Drift
In a world that rewards charisma over character and visibility over virtue, it is imperative that we examine our hearts and recover the biblical vision of faithful ministry. We are living in a day when it has never been easier to build a platform. One can reach thousands with a single video, post, or soundbite. But herein lies the danger: many are building platforms who were never called to ministry.
We live in a time of unprecedented access to preaching, teaching, and spiritual content. But even as our generation is saturated with platforms and personalities, we are also witnessing a crisis in the pulpit. The names of once-trusted leaders have fallen like dominoes under the weight of scandal—sexual immorality, financial misconduct, abuse of power, and pride.
These failures are not distant headlines. They strike at the heart of the church, disillusioning the faithful, scattering the sheep, and bringing reproach upon the name of Christ. The lines are blurred. The temptation is subtle. And many who start with sincerity in serving Christ quietly begin shifting toward seeking the praise of men.
God never called us to build platforms. He didn’t call us to be performers or influencers. He called us to be ministers of the Word, servants of the Church, and stewards of the Gospel. It is time we return to God’s standard—not the world’s charisma nor the culture’s metrics of success—but the holy, time-tested qualifications of biblical leadership. We do not preach for applause. We preach because we fear God. We do not serve to be seen. We serve because Christ is worthy.
Faithfulness, not Visibility
The qualifications of leadership in the church—laid out clearly in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1—are not about reach, but character. Not about charisma, but conviction. Notice that Paul does not mention follower counts, public recognition, conference invitations, or viral sermons. Instead, he says, “A bishop then must be blameless… sober-minded, self-controlled… not greedy for gain…”
Galatians 1:10 asks us plainly: “For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God?” The man who seeks the praise of men will never endure in the ministry of the gospel. The platform builder tailors his content for clicks. But the faithful minister, like Paul, seeks only to please God. He ministers to an audience of One.
Do you post because you have something God-burdened you to say, or because the algorithm demands more content? Do you labor in the unseen places—hospitals, prayer closets, fellowship meals—or only where you will be noticed? Are you content with faithfulness when no one claps, shares, or likes? This is the dividing line between ministry and platform building.
“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them…” – Matthew 6:1
Real ministry is hidden, holy, and often thankless. Real ministry happens in counseling rooms. It happens in late-night hospital visits. It happens in quiet intercession. It happens in faithful exposition, week after week, with no applause, but God sees it all.
“And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” – Matthew 6:6
Who Gets the Glory?
In Matthew 23, Jesus rebuked the Pharisees: ‘They do all their deeds to be noticed by men.’ This is the platform-driven ministry—pious words for a crowd, but hearts far from God. But in 1 Corinthians 4:1–2, Paul calls us to be faithful stewards. David had the perfect opportunity to seize the crown. David knew that the crown was received by God, not taken by himself. Saul had walked right into the cave where David and his men were hiding, and was within reach. His men even urged him to take the opportunity as a sign from God. It would have been so easy for David to take Saul’s life and the throne for himself. After all, he already knew that God had anointed him to be king. He could justify this as God’s will and plan. But what did David say? “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the Lord’s anointed…” – 1 Samuel 24:6
David feared God more than he craved the throne. He was not trying to “make it happen” by his own hand. That is ministry—waiting on the Lord, even when you could promote yourself. A man chasing a platform justifies sin as “God’s timing.” A minister waits until God exalts—not man.
Depth Over Hype – The Fruit Will Tell
The platform builder looks for fast fruit—likes, shares, speaking engagements. But Matthew 13 reminds us that the seed sown on rocky soil sprouts quickly, but withers under trial. Many have built ministries on visibility, only to collapse when testing comes. The faithful minister labors for fruit that remains (John 15:16). He proclaims Christ to present every man mature in Him (Colossians 1:28).
The Danger of Celebrating God the Wrong Way
In 1 Samuel 6:1-8, David brought the Ark of God to Jerusalem. The people were singing. The celebration was loud. The cart was new. The moment was full of excitement. But God was not pleased. The cart stumbled, and Uzzah touched the Ark, trying to stabilize it, and died, not because the celebration was too worldly, but because God’s instructions were ignored. They were trying to do a godly thing in a worldly way.
This is the modern social media church: big celebrations, clever strategies, flashy presentations — and sometimes a total disregard for God’s design for holiness, reverence, and order. Let this be a warning: just because something appears “for God” does not mean God is in it.
Endurance and the Examples Before Us
Many start fast, but few finish well. Paul tells Timothy, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith” (2 Tim 4:7). This is the legacy of a faithful servant. Diotrephes, Simon the Sorcerer, and the Pharisees all sought fame. But John the Baptist, Stephen, and Paul served at great cost. They were not trying to trend. They were trying to be true. Let us not forget 1 Corinthians 3:13–15—the fire will test each man’s work. Some will suffer loss, though they themselves be saved. Others will receive reward. What we build matters.
The Damage of Disqualified Leadership
High-profile stumbles do a lot of damage to the cause of Christ. But the low-profile stumbles are just as tragic. They do not make national news, but these stumbles are just as tragic. It is a tale as old as time. James chapter one:
“Each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is fully matured, brings forth death.”
Lust, sin, death. That is the order. To start on the path of lust, and not rein it in, to let it mature and grow, is going to result in death. And the pitfalls that threaten us are many. Pride, lust, greed, laziness, immorality, anger, selfishness, false doctrine, apathy, indifference, and the list goes on.
When a leader falls, the consequences ripple: The name of Christ is blasphemed among unbelievers. The sheep are scattered, wounded, and distrustful. The credibility of the gospel witness is weakened. Do not be deceived: God is not mocked. He will expose what is done in darkness. Churches that ignore character, excuse sin, or restore men prematurely are complicit in the corruption of the pulpit.
Call to Repentance and Challenge
If you show me somebody who does not cultivate moral excellence, pursue knowledge of the truth, and does not exercise self-control, then I will show you a theological and moral train wreck waiting to happen. We know what the devil’s schemes are – it begins with us becoming lackadaisical, lazy, and indifferent. We take grace for granted, stop taking sin seriously, and start making excuses. We stop disciplining ourselves for the purpose of godliness.
And all the while, we keep up the public appearances because we think that no one is the wiser to what’s being done in secret.
We think that we can take fire into our laps and not be burned. That other men will fall, but not us. It may ruin other men’s marriages, families, ministries, and reputations, but surely we can play with sin and get away with it because we are not like other men. The hubris, narcissism, pride, stupidity, and folly of this kind of thinking destroy families.
If you get to the point of thinking, “I can peddle in this sin without it controlling me,” you have already bought the lie. And if you continue down that path, you are the worst of fools. Because the fall happens very slowly at first, and then all of a sudden. This is why Peter says in 1 Peter 5:8:
“Be of sober spirit, watchful. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour.”
A Call to Reform – A Revival of Faithful Shepherds
We need a revival—but not of crowds, trends, or digital followings. We need a revival of humble, holy, Christ-exalting shepherds. Essentially, we need faithfulness starting at the pulpit. We need men who tremble at God’s Word, weep for souls, and stand for truth when it costs them everything.
Not all are called to preach, but every man is called to be above reproach in his sphere of responsibility—whether as a husband, father, deacon, elder, or layman.
Let me offer three exhortations:
1. Pursue Private Holiness Over Public Ministry
Your secret life is your real life. Guard your eyes. Guard your affections. Guard your phone. Your character is your qualification.
2. Build Accountability Before Crisis Comes
No man is above temptation. Biblical leaders must walk in the light with other faithful men. Real accountability is not surface-level; it is confessional, prayerful, and mutual.
3. Teach the Next Generation to Value Character
We must disciple young men to care more about godliness than platform, more about truth than popularity. Many do not do this because they do not practice it themselves.
A Revival of Faithful Leadership
Faithful leaders are not chasing relevance—they are rooted in reverence. The world’s applause does not intoxicate them. They are anchored in the approval of Christ. They do not aim to be known. They aim to be faithful.
Let us not forget that Jesus, the Chief Shepherd, washed the feet of His disciples before He taught them doctrine. He wept before He preached. He laid down His life for the sheep. He is our model—not celebrity pastors or trending personalities. A revival of faithful leadership begins with a return to Christlikeness. We must rediscover what it means to be shepherds after God’s own heart, not salesmen for religious products.
May God raise up a new generation of leaders who will preach the Word without compromise, live above reproach, lead by example, and prioritize the local church over public platforms. And may the church honor such men, pray for them, support them, and call more to walk the narrow path of true biblical leadership.
