I found out today that about 6 months ago, a prominent pastor in town made fun of me and our church from the stage during their worship service.

First of all: props to my staff, who handled this without me ever knowing about it, because God knows I’ve got better things to do than find out which pastor can spit (I’m cleaning up my language) the farthest in this city. They didn’t even mean to tell me today, it slipped out.

Now on to the point: What in the name of all things holy is this cat thinking? He pastors a church with several thousand members, and he has nothing better to do with prime pulpit time than to pummel a young upstart pastor down the road?
I really don’t get it.

I think my generation of pastors has a lot to learn about honor.
At Elevation, we honor men of God. We honor the ministries of other pastors and churches. We certainly pick and poke at various traditions, but we pick at our own even more.

I try to speak well of other ministries at all times. It’s a part of our culture. It’s a part of our DNA. In fact, you could say it’s a part of my theology.
I don’t execute this core value flawlessly, but I pursue it relentlessly.

When other pastors come to meet with me, I try to pour myself out for them. Whether their church is 10 times bigger or 10 times smaller than ours, I lay my hands on them and pray for them… for God to anoint them with favor and to multiply blessings upon their ministries.

To all who call Elevation home:
The day I start singling out pastors of other churches by name from the pulpit and berating their ministries, leave. Run away as fast as you can, and find a real church.
A church that’s way too preoccupied with lifting up Jesus to call out others who don’t see things from the same vantage point.