” I don’t know what the secret to success is, but I know what the secret to failure is and that’s trying to keep everybody happy.” – Bill Cosby

Don’t live your life impressing everyone or anyone, including you. We cannot please anyone. You talk about God’s love – some would agree, some won’t. You talk about and challenge people to make disciples – some people would say your a visionary leader and some would say you are too pushy. So what do you do?

If you succumb to the temptation to please everyone – you won’t do anything significant in life. I remember a time when somebody was questioning the vision of Victory to go to the nations. He said, ” Why go to the nations when there are millions of people who haven’t heard the gospel in the Philippines?” I thank God that Pastor Steve and the leadership of the church stood their ground. They heard from the Lord and went all out in planting churches around the world. Today Victory is the largest missionary sending church in the Philippines. Because they did not lead to please people we are able to raise world class missionaries who then trained local leaders in the mission field to become the senior pastors in their nation.

Galatians 1:10English Standard Version (ESV)

10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant[a] of Christ.

For the local church pastor, that means we have to create a culture where there is no fear to make mistakes. Leadership should be empowering not frightening. Leaders lead, tyrants rule with fear. Also we should all work towards a culture where everyone is focused on a clear goal, vision and purpose. Our core values must be intact and it must be seen in our vision as a church or organization.

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