On Being a Servant, Not a Celebrity (Part 1)

When I began my ministry with The Friends of Israel in 2019, I started with one verse emblazoned on my mind: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). I saw FOI as a wonderful outlet through which to serve the Lord and His people. And God gave me a burden to minister in this way.

Now, of course, I certainly wanted to succeed in this endeavor. I have aspired to learn and grow in my role—even to excel in this opportunity. In terms of worldly standards, I doubt I will ever be rich. I have no real thirst for fame. But I am determined to remain faithful (see 1 Cor. 4:2). And, ultimately, I long to attain the greatest level of usefulness that I can for the sake of the Lord and the ministry, in light of the forthcoming “judgment seat of Christ” (2 Cor. 5:10).

All of these ingredients, however, can stir tension within my own heart. How does one travel and speak and write—striving to continually improve and have the greatest impact possible—while also maintaining a proper perspective on life and ministry? How can we remain accountable in a manner that is both effective and healthy?

In the wake of the fall of a number of high-profile celebrity pastors this summer, I had a discussion on these issues with Dr. Cory Marsh. He is professor of New Testament at Southern California Seminary in El Cajon, Calif., where he also directs the master of theology program as well as SCS Press. Further, Marsh is scholar in residence at Revolve Bible Church in San Juan Capistrano. In fact, he sees the local church’s role as critical to answering the questions I posed to him.

“Being used by God with your gifting to bless the body of Christ is a good thing—if we are still submitting to the local church,” Marsh said. “The local church is everything. Through the church the ‘wisdom of God’ (Eph. 3:10) is made manifest. We need to elevate a Biblical ecclesiology.”

Marsh understands this to be the only way to completely avoid falling into the ditch in ministry. He stated: “The X factor is true fellowship in the local church under faithful expository preaching and in fellowship and discipleship with one another. All the Christian celebrities who fail with scandal are not submissive to their local church or engaged in true accountability with other Christians.”

What does this mean for those of us who serve in some type of ministry other than a single local congregation?

“I do think every seminary and every parachurch ministry ought to be submissive to a local church,” Marsh said. “The local church is how God is ruling this dispensation. That is what makes this dispensation unique. He is governing this dispensation through the local church.”

Marsh recognizes some very practical ramifications of these principles—especially as he arranges the boundaries of his own ministry.

“I am all the more diligent to make sure that, along with my wife, all the men I submit to as elders know where I am, know where I am traveling,” he said. “The worst thing is to be isolated—whether you are a pastor or a scholar, or an itinerant teacher or evangelist. Practical wisdom is needed here, and practicing accountability is wise. At the end of the day, your character matters more than your content or your gifting.”

Marsh sees isolation as being related to the pursuit of celebrity status—and believes that both involve real peril.

“A dangerous irony that exists for Christian celebrities is ‘public isolation.’ You become a public persona. But nobody really knows you. You aren’t accountable and humble enough to bring other people into your process. Moral failures and scandals happen through a string of isolations when you don’t have accountability with other men who love you enough to speak into your life. Pastors and Christian leaders who are vulnerable and humble to bring others into the process—that is the opposite of pride,” said Marsh, pointing to 1 Peter 5:2.

“Everywhere I present, every article or book I publish, I list the two institutions I represent: Southern California Seminary, where I am employed, and Revolve Bible Church, where I serve. That shows I am committed both to an academic institution as well as to my local church. I hope that shows that I am not on my own. I want to represent Christ the best I can through them both, wherever I have opportunity.”

We must admit, however, that the same outward actions might be compelled by servanthood or by the quest for cultural prominence. How does one discern his true motives in ministry? We’ll pick up with that question in the next installment.