How you identify, most strongly, influences how you behave.

People who identify strongly as “vegans” eat a certain way. People who identify strongly as “cross-fitters” exercise a certain way. People who identify strongly as “Dubnation” watch basketball a certain way. People who identify strongly as “Democrats” or “Republicans” vote a certain way.

The point is, how you see yourself most strongly most influences what you do or don’t do.

This is true in church-planting and pastoring as well. And after 8 years planting/pastoring a church, I’ve discovered 5 identities that, if I would’ve known I should’ve prioritized them, they could’ve influenced my behavior for the better.

1. SON FIRST. SERVANT SECOND.

Before you are a servant of your Almighty God, you are a son (or daughter) of your Heavenly Father. Before you are a church-planter for God, you are a child of God.

Before you are anointed to do gospel ministry, you are adopted into a Kingdom family!

Now, you, very likely, know these theological truths already. But, the question is, “Is your behavior being impacted more by your identity as child of God or as a servant of God?”

Here are 3 ways this identity can and should be influencing your behavior as a pastor/ministry leader:

Sonship should satisfy you more than ministry success. Therefore, sons don’t need to frantically pursue success in ministry to feel satisfied.
Sonship should secure you more than others’ approval. Therefore, sons don’t need to insecurely fish for the approved of man to feel affirmed.
Sonship should stimulate you to worship more than anything else. Therefore, sons don’t need to idly await the blessings of God to feel ready to worship God.

Speaking of worship…

2. WORSHIPPER FIRST. WORKER SECOND.

Child of God should be your first identity. Worshipper of God should be your next.

When it really sinks in that you are infinitely loved by the Infinite God of the universe, made possible by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and sealed by the Holy Spirit—the only proper response is a life consumed by worship of this Triune God.

The proper response is worship…not work. Now, can your work be an act of worship? Absolutely. But for most ministers, if they’re honest, their work isn’t a conscious act of worship.

Many ministers just worship as a part of their lifestyle of work rather than their work being a part of their lifestyle of worship.

Like I stated above, you, very likely, know the theological truth that you were created for worship already. But, the question is, “Is your behavior being impacted more by your identity as worshipper of God or as a worker for God?”

Here are 3 ways this identity can and should be influencing your behavior as a pastor/ministry leader:

Worshippers are more enthralled by the glory of God than engrossed in the sinfulness of man. More often than not, worshippers use their words to extol and adore God’s holiness rather than whine and complain about man’s sinfulness.
Worshippers are more expectant of God’s perfect will than entitled to their man-made plans. More often than not, worshippers rest and trust in God’s will being done rather than worry and pray about their timelines being met.
Worshippers are more floored by what God has done through through their work than frustrated for what God hasn’t done. More often than not, worshippers live with a sense of awe and wonder for the privilege of being used by God rather than with a disappointment in their unfulfilled dreams and visions.

3. PASTOR FIRST. PREACHER SECOND.

When I first planted our church, I identified myself primarily as a preacher not a pastor. Then one day, the Lord made something very clear to me. He said, (not using these actual words, but it was the impression I got) “Edward, you are a pastor before you are a preacher. Your preaching is merely a tool for shepherding the people of God. Though it may be your primary tool, it is not your primary role.”

Outlined in the scriptures are biblical qualifications for a pastor/elder not a preacher/teacher. The ability to preach/teach is a qualification for being a pastor, the ability to pastor is not a qualification for being a preacher/teacher.

Are there some who are called by God to preach/teach and not pastor? I’m sure there are, but to pursue church-planting and assume you are the exception, I think, would be a big mistake.

Church plants don’t need preachers who pastor, church plants need pastors who preach.

You may or may not agree with the above sentiment, but here are the 3 ways identifying as a pastor primarily and a preacher secondarily impacted how I actually preached:

I started to love the people I preached to more than I loved preaching.
I became more encouraged by people’s application of my preaching than their affirmation of my preaching.
I viewed my preaching as one way disciples are made rather than the main way disciples are made.

4. SUFFERER FIRST. SYMPATHIZER SECOND.

This identity was definitely the most difficult to embrace in comparison to the others. But, it is also this identity that impacted how I pastored people more than any other.

Over the years, I learned that if I was truly going to be able to enter deeply into the pain and suffering of others, I was first going to experience and enter deeply into my own pain and suffering. I learned that trying to avoid pain at all costs was the quickest way to disqualify myself from ministering to people who were experiencing unavoidable pain.

I also learned that if I can’t see my brokenness, struggle, and suffering with sin with sober judgement, instead of being sympathetic towards others’ sin struggles, I would be arrogant, judgmental, and project a sense of moral superiority.

Here are 5 specific ways identifying a sufferer impacted my behavior as both a Christian and a pastor:

Instead of seeing personal pain and suffering as an evil attack from the enemy to be prayed away, I began to see it as a precious gift from my Heavenly Father to be stewarded.
Instead of seeing personal pain and suffering as something I was ashamed of and dealt with privately, I began to see it as something that I should be thankful for and wrestle with publicly for the glory of God and for the good of those witnessing the wrestling.
Instead of seeing personal pain and suffering as the pathway to know Christ and the power of His resurrection, I began to see it also as the primary means by which I am able to know Christ and the reality of His crucifixion.
Instead of seeing personal pain and suffering as an obstacle to ministry, I began to see it as the opportunity to grow the type of faith and trust in Jesus Christ that being an effective minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ requires.
Instead of seeing personal pain and suffering as something that took away from my power for ministry, I began to see it as the only means by which the perfect power of God could be added to my ministry.

Do you want the tone and tenor of your ministry to resemble the tone and tenor of the ministry of Jesus Christ? Well, this is what you need to know. Your ministry can’t feel like the ministry of Jesus Christ, unless, you feel some of what Christ felt. Your ministry for Christ won’t feel like the ministry of Christ, until you faithfully walk the primary road that Jesus Christ walked — pain and suffering.

5. INVESTOR FIRST. INFLUENCER SECOND.

I don’t know a single pastor, ministry leader, or church-planter who would say that they don’t want to be influential for Jesus. Here’s the problem. I think most ministers under-estimate the investment that must be made for deep, long-lasting Kingdom influence to take place.

Ministers aren’t immune to falling prey to a “get-rich quick” mentality.

Unfortunately, many of us want our churches, disciples, ministries, and “platforms” all to grow faster than the actual investment of prayer, planting, and persevering that we are actually investing.

Here are 5 specific ways identifying as an investor impacted my approach to ministry and church-planting:

When you see yourself and an investor, you don’t feel bad about asking yourself, “Is this person a good investment of my time, effort, and energy?” You choose your investments.
When you see yourself as an investor, you don’t complain about long nights, tough conversations, and feelings of being emotional drained. Why? Because investments cost you something. You pay a price to invest.
When you see yourself as an investor, you are crystal clear that the greatest return on your investment will not take place in months, but in years. You wait for your return.
When you see yourself as an investor, you don’t bail on the person or the ministry you’re investing in at the first sign of difficulty or disappointment. You persevere through days when your “stock” drops.
When you see yourself as an investor, when one of the people you are investing in is multiplying your investment, you give that person more time, effort, and energy. You re-invest in well-performing investments!

After 8 years of church-planting, one of the greatest joys of my church-planting journey was seeing several men and women who I invested in deeply over the course of several years be deeply influenced to love, worship, and obey Jesus Christ with more of their heart, soul, mind, and strength. I can say without hesitation, the investment was worth it!

How you most strongly identify, strongly influences how you behave. What are the identities driving your behavior as a church-planter and ministry leader?