THE TRAP
“What I defined as my vocation was actually my temptation!”
- Marco Bessa
Last summer we added a new member to our family. His name is Milo, a Russian Blue cat that is sweet-tempered, loyal, and quite excitable when playing with his favourite toys. He is especially fun when we play with any of his toys that are attached to a string. I personally love using that toy to trick him onto my lap for some cuddles. It’s a trap for some affection to be shared between the two of us. For someone who has always preferred dogs, this cat sure pulls on the strings of my heart, and I always look forward to seeing him wait at the door when I come home from work.
Now, just like I used something that Milo loves to trap him, throughout my years in ministry I have found myself being deceived in similar fashion, but instead of comfortable cuddles, I was left with deep self-inflicted wounds. The very things that I had defined as my pastoral vocation were actually temptations that lead me astray from God’s true purpose and into a counterfeit blessing. The shortcuts that temptations offer are never worth pursuing, because the Bible says in James 1:13-16, the result will always be the same: spiritual death. Yet, the responsibility rests upon us to not be deceived.
Amazingly, Jesus was tempted just like us (Hebrews 4:15) but demonstrated how to take God’s way versus the shortcuts that Satan offered Him (Matthew 4:1-11). The fact He was tempted is in itself a demonstration of sympathy toward us as well as an empowering example we can follow. In the three temptations of Jesus in the desert I have found profound truths that call for contemplation and transformation in the heart of every believer, especially those in positions of Christian leadership.
A number of years ago I read a masterpiece by Henri J.M. Nouwen titled, “In the Name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian Leadership” and it helped me dive a little deeper into Matthew 4:1-11. From his own life, and that of other ministers, Nouwen addresses how the Christian leader is “affected by the desire to be relevant (finding identity in accomplishments instead of Christ), the desire for popularity (to do something spectacular that could win great applause), and the desire for power (having control versus having love).” He goes on to illustrate through the temptations of Jesus how a believer and leader can avoid the traps that are set for us.
Over the years I have appropriated his reflections into something of my own as I prayerfully seek to keep my own heart in check. To remember it better, I titled Jesus’ three temptations in Matthew 4:1-11 as: (1) The Trap of Passion; (2) The Trap of Power; and (3) The Trap of Possessions.
Here are my thoughts:
THE TRAP OF PASSION
When Jesus was tempted to turn stones into bread, the temptation was to meet an actual need that He was facing by the end of His forty-day fast. If you’ve ever done any fasting before, you know how challenging it is, especially when someone offers you some food. Even raw onions look great after three days of fasting. Yet, what are the deepest desires, or passions, that come to the surface when we find ourselves in need? And, do we seek to satisfy those passions through counterfeit affections, or through what God has provided?
Throughout my journey the temptation has been to find my identity in my accomplishments instead of in God’s love, in what Christ has already accomplished for me. Whatever I thought success could offer, it never satisfied the desires of my soul. As long as deep desires for love and acceptance were being met through my accomplishments, then I was turning to self-love instead of God’s love. I was loving self and not loving Jesus.
So, unless we turn our heart toward what Henri Nouwen calls contemplative prayer, where we learn to live deeply rooted in God’s love, we will continue finding ourselves entrapped in the lies of success. For it is only in this place of intimacy with God that we discover we are truly and fully accepted, loved, freed, and at home. And once I tasted this reality, I’ve simply longed for more of it instead of living defined by what the world calls success.
THE TRAP OF POWER
Jesus was offered an opportunity to demonstrate His power by jumping off the highest point of the temple and have the angels catch Him. Obviously, Jesus didn’t fall for this shortcut to His mission, where He actually does demonstrate His power, but the point is that the opportunity to choose power instead of love, oftentimes seems like the best route. Throughout His ministry, Jesus chose to be driven by love, not power, in all He said and did. Yet, can the same be said of us?
In Christian leadership, the temptation to “show-off” and have demonstration of “power” seems to entrap many of us. We don’t need to look too far back in our Christian history to see how this trap has caused much damage in pastors and churches. It destroys any sense of community where we can demonstrate openness of heart toward one another. We become individualistic instead of a community that receives and gives God’s love.
So, for me, it has been a call to simply see myself as a brother among many brothers and sisters in God’s family. Learning to do life and ministry with others. Although God has entrusted me with a position of influence, it must not be for bringing attention to myself or only about what I offer. Rather, it is an invitation to live with an openness of heart toward my church, and my church to have the opportunity to do the same. As leaders, we replicate who we are.
THE TRAP OF POSSESSION
The last temptation of Jesus is where the devil offers Him all the kingdoms of the world, but only if Jesus bows down to him. With a strong stance, Jesus clearly refused to do so, stating that we are to only bow down to God. The truth of the matter is that Jesus is now called King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and He is seated above all things, but it came through the path of emptying Himself and not bowing to the lure for immediate self-gain. Jesus says to His followers, “for whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it” (Mark 8:35).
As a pastor, this is a dangerous temptation to give into, but what does it actually look like? Well, the truth is that we often find ourselves tempted to think of the people we have. At first this doesn’t look like a problem, but if we pursue getting people, we lose sight of truly loving people. The worst part about it is that we then see this as an opportunity to control people as well. It’s simply easier to attempt controlling others than it is to live in the vulnerability of loving them. Don’t we all do this? We try to control our relationships because of fear of losing something we have? Well, it’s no different for those in positions of church leadership.
What is the answer to this? Choose to be emptied of self for the sake of taking hold of Christ. Take the path of knowing the people around you, and learn to love them despite what they are able to bring into your life. It’s this downward trajectory of discipleship that truly keeps us on the same path that Jesus walked. The path to the cross is one where He gave it all up so that He can obtain what was most precious: our hearts presented as acceptable to the Father. Do we give of ourselves for others with that same goal?
Regularly I find myself not only reflecting on this, but quite often needing to confess to God and others my shortcomings, and seeking forgiveness. That’s why openness of heart within our church community is so essential for our health. This confession and forgiveness, in an environment of grace, is healing for the soul as well as for the whole church. In one way or another we have all fallen into these traps, but Christ’s redeeming power is able to restore us and lead us into a place of true impact in the world.