5 THINGS YOUR PASTOR MAY BE DOING TO YOU THAT IS KILLING YOUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH WITHOUT YOU KNOWING
This is not to insult Pastors. I am a Pastor myself.
But I love you enough to tell you the truth that will set you free.
Some things look like help, but they are actually harming your walk with God.
1. HE DOES EVERYTHING FOR YOU — SO YOU NEVER GROW TO DO IT YOURSELF.
He prays for you, but never teaches you HOW to pray.
He hears God for you, but never teaches you HOW to hear God.
He does deliverance for you every month, but never teaches you how to live in holiness and close the door to the enemy.
Ephesians 4:12 says Pastors are to equip the saints for the work of ministry — not to make you permanently dependent.
If after 2-3 years in that church you cannot pray for 30 minutes alone, you cannot study Bible alone, you cannot lead your family in devotion — you have been crippled, not equipped.
A good Pastor makes himself less needed, so that Christ becomes more needed in you.
2. HE FEEDS YOU WITH STORIES AND JOKES, BUT NOT THE WORD THAT CONVICTS.
Every Sunday you laugh. You roll on the floor. You shout.
But you leave the same. No repentance. No correction.
2 Timothy 4:3 says there will be a time when people will not endure sound doctrine.
If your Pastor never confronts your sin — your lying, your fornication, your cheating, your anger — because he is afraid you will leave and offering will reduce, he is killing you softly.
True growth comes from the Word that corrects you. Hebrews 4:12.
3. HE MAKES YOU LOYAL TO HIM, NOT TO CHRIST.
Everything is "my son, my daughter, submit to me."
You must defend him even when he is clearly wrong. You must fight anyone who questions him. You must wear his picture on your uniform.
But he rarely points you to Jesus. He rarely says "Follow Christ like I follow Christ" — 1 Corinthians 11:1.
If your Christianity will collapse the day your Pastor fails or falls, then your foundation was on a man, not on Christ. That is dangerous.
A true Pastor will always say, "Don't look at me, look at Jesus." John 3:30 — "He must increase, but I must decrease."
4. HE KEEPS YOU BUSY IN CHURCH ACTIVITIES, BUT EMPTY IN PERSONAL SPIRITUALITY.
You are in every department. Monday to Sunday you are in church. You sweep, you usher, you sing, you organize.
But you have no personal prayer life. No personal Bible study. No evangelism. No quiet time.
You are active FOR God but not growing IN God. Martha was busy serving, Mary was growing at Jesus' feet. Luke 10:38-42.
Many Pastors use your zeal to build their own empire, while your own spiritual house is empty. You are burnt out, not built up.
Activity is not growth. Serving is not growing.
5. HE CONTROLS YOU WITH FEAR, CURSES, AND "TOUCH NOT MY ANOINTED."
If you ask question, he says "You will be cursed."
If you want to leave peacefully, he says "Your life will spoil."
If you don't obey his personal instruction that is not even in the Bible, he says "You are under a curse."
That is not Pastoral care. That is manipulation. That is witchcraft in the pulpit.
1 John 4:18 — "Perfect love casts out fear."
A true shepherd leads with love and truth, not with threats and fear.
Jesus said, "My sheep hear My voice" — John 10:27, not "My sheep are afraid of my voice."
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?
Don't rebel. Don't gossip. Don't become bitter.
Pray honestly: "Lord, is this Pastor building me or breaking me? Is this place growing me to look like Christ?"
If after sincere prayer and counsel, you see these signs, God may be telling you it's time for a new planting where you can truly flourish. Psalm 92:13.
And if you are a Pastor reading this — Repent. Stop caging people. Start equipping them. Let Jesus be the center again.
Pst Edward Freedom
Lifeboat Rescuing Church, Bariga, Lagos.
#SpiritualGrowth #TruthThatFrees #Discipleship
