There seems to be something deep within us that yearns to connect and belong. And with that desire, we want our connection to be tangible. For when you can see, feel, touch and taste your connection feels more real. 

It’s the dilemma of virtually belonging. We want to connect through the Internet and the connections we can have through Internet are instant and visible, but they lack a tangible component. It’s why our society is more “connected” than ever, yet more lonely than before. 

And so it is with the church. The body of Christ. We can have a visible and tangible connection with one another in Christ. And in our connections we are looking for people to look up to. We are looking for people to cry with. We are looking for people to celebrate with. 

The natural bend of our heart often makes a simple substitution error though. Our connectedness with one another must flow from our certain connection to Christ. For when we rely on a connection that we can see and feel without relying on the true connection of Christ, we place an unbearable burden on others. 

When our faith doesn’t see that Jesus is always with us, or that the comfort of the Holy  Spirit pacifies, then we put people in the place of God. Don’t misunderstand, God gave us people to connect to, but never to replace the true connection we have with God. 

This is true of our connections to spiritual leaders as  well. A spiritual leader like a pastor, elder, teacher or mentor can easily be wrongly placed where they do not belong. Leaders are testimonies of a true and living God.

These men and women are no better than you. They are not more righteous than you. They are not more saved than you. They are human beings redeemed just like you. All they do can be done by anyone willing to be used, filled, and living by God’s grace. Many times we place them into a special category, and we allow them to slip into our hearts as someone to idolize. But they are not idols, they are examples and testimonies to show you that godly, Christlike living is possible. To show you that God can do anything with anyone who lives by faith. 

I am constantly reminded that God doesn’t need me, but graciously allows me to serve Him. To make His name known. To point to Christ. Any leader worth imitating will always point you to the source of their transformation, Jesus. So respect your leaders, yes. But think you can’t be like them in Christ, think they possess some special spirituality you can’t have? NO!

For if you could not be like them in Christ, how could the bible be true? “I can do ALL things through CHRIST who strengthens me.” That means every child of God is to follow Christ and not man, for with man nothing is possible, but with GOD all things are. Worship God, not man. Follow Christ. 

I appeal to you, brothers, by the name 
of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. 12 What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 1 Corinthians 1:10-13