self inflation

Being a pastor there are certain things you need to do, and others that you don't. It is so tough at times to walk into somewhere and not throw on the pastor badge with pride and promote everything that I do and everything that our church stands for. I do presentations at the schools and I am finding myself wanting to promote the church and make myself sound as good as I possibly can so that people will come to Freedom. It's a temptation to make people realize that I am the pastor at their child's school, I am the one coaching girls' softball just to minister to their kids, I am the one at football practice each day with a cooler full of Gatorade and cookies. That is self promotion and it is a dangerous thing.
Our job as CHristians is to promote God. When a student has been in our ministry for 1-15 years it is your hope that they remember all the things you said, all the things that you taught them about God and not you. If a kid leaves and stays on fire for Christ, spreading the Gospel and sharing their testimony and never remembers who taught them to do it, or who they had listened to every Sunday as a child or teenager that is just fine. Again, self promotion is very dangerous.
It's actually a fine line, you want to use every opportunity you have as a chance to promote Jesus and the church, but you also want to play it cool. I prefer to do everyting I can out of servanthood and let the rest take care of itself. I don't have to stand up there and announce that I am pastor Jeff Gatlin of Freedom Baptist Church and we are here to invite you to church every time I speak. But, I do want to let them know who I am, and let God send the increase. I plant little seeds each day and let God plant them deep in their hearts in hopes that they do walk through our doors, and they do accept Christ.
"So David's fame spread throughout every land, and the LORD made all the nations fear him" (1 Chron 14:17).
There you have it, David's fame spread throughout every land, and God made the nations fear him. David didn't have to go to every country and every city for his fame to spread. He didn't have to go everywhere spreading this fear. He did what he was called to do as a king and a leader, and GOd took care of the rest. As Christians that is all we can do, do that servant thing that God is calling you to do, plant those seeds and stay involved in your community. Then spend time in prayer before and after these opportunities that God will spread His message through you whether through your words or your actions.
This is called total dependency, independence is when we make it about us and that is very dangerours. Dependency is when we do all we can as a servant and make it about God and His love, grace and mercy.
Thanks for reading and have a great day!