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October 28, 2020
The following article is located at: https://www.christianitytoday.com/pastors/2012/february-online-only/dangerous-pursuit-of-pastoral-fame.html
CT Pastors, February 2012
The Dangerous Pursuit of Pastoral Fame
Conflating ministry and celebrity is bad for our churches and our souls.
Bob Hyatt|postedFebruary 13, 2012
The Dangerous Pursuit of Pastoral Fame
Image: Prixel Creative / Lightstock

As my chiropractor was working me over yesterday, she was asking about the reading I'm doing for a degree I'm working on. After I rattled off the titles and subjects of a number of leadership books, she said, "Wow, what are you going to do when you are finished with school—rule the world?"

"Actually, I'm moving in the opposite direction," I said.

And I am trying to mean that. Genuinely.

Over the last few years, I've thought long and hard about "my platform" as a pastor, a writer, an occasional speaker. And as I've done so, I've come to the conclusion that there is a danger to my soul in pursuing more exposure, more name recognition, more money to be made from thinking, writing, and speaking about ministry issues. Especially while I am still in full-time, paid ministry to a local community.

I want to be clear, though: I have no issue with writers/speakers who sell lots of books, go on speaking tours, and generally promote their works ...

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