Who's Supposed to Make Who Look Good?
One of our fine staff members made a very simple error in our database that left me with some incorrect information for a phone call I needed to make. I was a bit embarrassed on the phone for appearing like I “didn’t have a clue” but it wasn’t a big deal.I sent a quick note to Becky (oops…I mean the anonymous staff member) letting her know about the mistake, but I told her it wasn’t a big deal. She apologized and said that she felt bad because it’s her job to make me look good, and it bothers her when that doesn’t happen.Becky does make me look good. If you knew everything that she does that others don’t see and I end up getting credit for, I wouldn’t look good at all. But is that really her job…to make me look good? Truth is, I wouldn’t ever look good if I was not surrounded by a great team. But is that the job of my team? Are those who report to me supposed to make me look good?That’s something I wrestled with years ago when attending a conference session for non-pastoral church staff. The speaker made that statement (and you hear it often in the secular work world), “Your job is to make the pastor you work for, look good.”Something about it bothered me then, and still doesn’t set right.Is the job of a football or basketball team to make the coach look good? Or is it the other way around?Honestly, I’ve always seen my job as to bring out the most in our team and to help them excel…to release their gifting and encourage them to thrive. It’s more my job to help them to be good, rather than use them to make me look good. Isn’t that how it should be in any organization?But when it comes to the church, there’s a whole ‘nother dynamic. The church is about Jesus.
Jesus IS good. All we need to do is show him off.
I wouldn’t say it’s our job to make Jesus look good, because he IS good. But it is our job to reveal Jesus in full transparency for all that he is in everything in life. Because the church is not about a pastor or elders or staff, it’s about Jesus. This ministry never has been nor ever will be about me or even the fine team around me. We are here to exult Jesus, to proclaim HIM to the world, and make HIM visible in all that we do.So Becky and Vicki and John and Brian and all of our other staff team members, thanks for making me look good. You really do. But it’s probably better that people just see me as the forgiven sinner that I am. Instead, ultimately, thanks for showing Jesus to our church and community. And let’s all join in on that mission.Jesus IS good. All we need to do is show him off.