Ministry Is Not a Stage—It’s a Sacred Trust

“… Am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” – Galatians 1:10 (ESV)

Ministry is a sacred calling—but in today’s results-oriented culture, it starts to feel like a performance. 

Pastors, priests, church leaders, and worship ministers often feel the pressure to deliver impactful sermons, create meaningful worship experiences, grow attendance, launch programs, and boost their social media presence. 

This creates a subtle but dangerous pressure: the need to prove your worth through success.

I’ve felt that pressure. Maybe you have too.

I had been invited to speak at a conference in Armenia. As I walked into the building, my mind was still racing—unanswered emails, a financial report due to the board, and staff challenges waiting back home. And suddenly it hit me: “I have nothing to offer!”

My next thought: “What will they think?” 

That’s when a gentle but piercing question surfaced in my spirit: “Are you doing this for Me, or for them?

Performing for People or Pleasing God?

Paul asked a similar question to the churches in Galatia:

“Am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ” (Galatians 1:10, ESV).

It’s a sobering verse. The pressure to perform can subtly shift our motivation from faithful service to seeking human applause. When that shift occurs, ministry becomes unsustainable—because it’s no longer about abiding in Christ but about maintaining an image.

Eugene Peterson, who served as a pastor for nearly thirty years, once wrote,

“The vocation of pastor has been replaced by the strategies of religious entrepreneurs with business plans.”¹

That pressure shapes more than programming—it shapes the soul of the leader.

What a powerful and accurate observation. The marketplace metrics of success—bigger, better, faster—can influence the Church, especially when we compare ourselves to others or seek validation through results. But ministry is not about striving; it’s about stewardship.

Jesus Refused to Perform

Look at Jesus. In Mark 1:35–38, after a long night of healing and ministry, Jesus slips away early in the morning to pray. When the disciples find Him, breathless with excitement, they tell Jesus: “Everyone is looking for you!” In other words, “Your popularity is exploding. Let’s capitalize on it!”

But Jesus says, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.”

He refused to be driven by demand. He remained committed to His Father’s mission.

Jesus models a ministry that flows from intimacy, not insecurity, from calling, not comparison. So how do we escape this trap and recover the joy of simply being with God?

Returning to Restful Faithfulness

Spiritual burnout begins when we trade intimacy for image. But it can also end when we remember this: God is more interested in who we are becoming than what we are producing.

Henri Nouwen speaks to this beautifully in his book In the Name of Jesus. He writes,

“The temptation to be spectacular is strong… but Jesus asks us to move from relevance to prayer, from popularity to ministry, from leading to being led.”²

What if the way forward isn’t to do more, but to be more present with God?

Practicing Renewal

Here are three practices that can help us resist the performance trap and return to a place of restful faithfulness:

1. Recenter Daily: Start your day with silence and Scripture instead of a task list. Let God remind you of who you are—not what you do.

2. Ask the Heart Question: Before making any major ministry decision or pursuing an opportunity, ask, “Am I doing this to be faithful or to be impressive?”

3. Limit Comparison: Social media isn’t the enemy, but unchecked scrolling often fuels discontent. Take regular breaks from it when needed.

Ministry is not a stage—it’s a sacred trust. You don’t have to be the most impressive, the most innovative, or the most influential. You’re simply called to be faithful. And that’s enough.

Reflection

• In what areas of ministry do I feel most tempted to perform? 
• How do I measure my worth—by fruitfulness or faithfulness?
• What helps me stay grounded in God’s approval instead of others’ applause?

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Footnotes

1. Eugene H. Peterson, The Pastor: A Memoir (New York: HarperOne, 2011), 5. 2. Henri J.M. Nouwen, In the Name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian Leadership (New York: Crossroad, 1989), 22.