Want To Make A Name For Yourself? (Part 2)

I recently heard a Christian who came to the United States from a foreign country mention how startled she was to see how many Christians in Western society do things under the banner of ministry to make a name for themselves. I too have recognized this, and it grieves me. Those who operate in this error do so in pursuit of a platform and fail to have a Biblical view of what they are seeking.

They fail to consider that those in the Bible whom God gave a platform to, were not seeking one. They were ordinary people doing ordinary things and God suddenly called them to fulfill a specific purpose. He gave them opportunities to speak to, lead, or influence at least one person, and in some instances many.

This is something that was made clear to me when I read a book titled Ordinary: Sustainable Faith in a Radical, Restless World, which was written by Michael Horton.

Moses was tending sheep when he received his calling, and David was doing the same and was last to be considered before being anointed king. Only the false prophets were trying to be prophets and none of God's true prophets were seeking that role before receiving their calling.

It was not Abraham's idea to become the father of many nations, it was God's call on his life. The Apostles were not seeking their positions before Jesus called them.

As many seek a platform while appearing to do things for God, they fail to consider Stephen the first martyr of the church. God gave him a platform and he gave one of the best sermons you will ever find in Acts chapter 7, and after his great oration, his audience stoned him to death.

If God were to give you a platform, it may come with a hostile audience. Also, consider the things Paul suffered; whipped five times, beaten with rods three times, stoned once, shipwrecked three times, and faced many more dangers and perils. His platform came with much suffering, (See 2 Corinthians 11:24-29).

No one who receives a platform from God operates within it without some form of suffering. Even the well-known evangelist Billy Graham who many seek to imitate due to the massive crowds he had an opportunity to speak to, suffered while fulfilling his calling.

While flying from Vancouver to Minneapolis the plane he was on ran low on fuel and the pilot had to make an emergency landing in a snowstorm at night. He and the passengers had to stay on the plane until morning when citizens from the local community came to help them.

I have heard him mention how he missed much time with his family as he traveled the world preaching. I look forward to coming home to my family daily and I cannot imagine not seeing them for months at a time. That must have been incredibly hard.

Former gang leader George Palmer and nine others attended a crusade at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia on March 15, 1959. They were armed and attended the event with a plan to kill Billy Graham. Instead of killing Reverend Graham, George and eight of his friends accepted an invitation to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

Billy Graham also traveled to some dangerous places during his ministry, and he faced many other hazards. Still, few consider this and only give attention to the images of him preaching to stadiums filled with people. This inspires them to carve out a living/career speaking to as many people as possible.

Consider this profound statement Francis Chan makes in his book, Until Unity, "The early church produced the book of Acts; the modern church produced a book of talks. Their leaders died living out the gospel; we make a living by talking about it."

The purpose of a platform is to glorify God, not ourselves. It is an opportunity to point our audience, whether few or many to God, and not for us to accumulate followers. It may never lead to financial gain, and you might face dangers and hardships. It may lead you in the opposite direction of your career aspirations. It may even lead to you becoming a martyr. Considering this, do you really want a platform?

Technically you already have a platform through the things God has already laid before you such as your family, your job, your local church, and the community in which you live.

Do not allow discontentment with this to lead you to push further in your own strength. If it is his will for you to have influence beyond these areas, he will call, equip, and send you further. Never seek to make a name for yourself, but rather seek to magnify the name of the Lord.