Why It’s Not Good to OVER-PRAISE Your Spiritual Mentor

There’s a place for honoring your spiritual mentors in light of this passage:

12Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.

1 Thessalonians 5:12-13

I have about a dozen mentors from past decades that strategically contributed to my spiritual growth and I constantly give thanks to the LORD for them in my prayer time. It’s okay to do so publicly to a reasonable degree, but those who do this excessively are in STAGE TWO of spiritual growth and, in some extreme cases, treading the borders of idolatry, similar to the way youths put music idols on a pedestal. (If you’re not familiar with the Four Stages of Spiritual Growth, go here).

Paul, the greatest vessel used by God in the New Testament era after Christ, gave a healthy, balanced view of the attitude we should have regarding fivefold ministers:

4For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings?

5What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. 6I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 7So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. 9For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.

1 Corinthians 3:4-9

Fivefold ministers are referred to as “only servants” here, which is backed up by other passages (Philippians 1:1 & Luke 17:7-10). In other words, ministers in the Church are indeed leaders, but they’re more specifically servant-leaders (Mark 9:35 & 10:43).

Observe what this key passage says about our servant-leaders:

1To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; 3not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

1 Peter 5:1-4

Christ is the chief shepherd of the worldwide Church, not to mention its Head (Colossians 1:18 & Ephesians 5:23), whereas fivefold ministers are under-shepherds. Since “God opposes the proud, but shows favor (grace) to the humble,” fivefold ministers in the Church should exemplify humility, not arrogance (James 4:6 & 1 Peter 5:5). (Notice how verse 3 says they’re to be “examples to the flock”). I should add that being meek does not mean being weak; it means having a modest view of oneself and not being a blustering, bloviating blowhard.

To close, an appreciative, respectful attitude toward your mentors in the body of Christ is beneficial all-around, as explained here:

Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.

Hebrews 13:17

However, over-praising someone can bloat the recipient’s ego by going to his/her head. Due to the axiom that “God opposes the proud,” arrogance is the kiss of death, spiritually speaking. So, by all means, honor your spiritual mentors, but be careful of excessiveness that fuels a spirit of arrogance. Make no mistake, if your mentor becomes arrogant, abuse is right around the corner. Abuse is the misuse of power.

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