The Politics of Ministry: A Rebuke from the Word: Why Faithfulness Matters More than Favor

There’s a painful reality in ministry life that few are willing to talk about—not because it’s scandalous, but because it’s silently accepted. It’s not immorality or mismanagement that has quietly wounded many faithful servants. It’s the politics of ministry: the subtle systems of power, preference, and position that determine who is welcomed and who is left outside the circle.

Ministry politics are rarely spoken aloud, yet they operate powerfully behind the scenes. Who gets the preaching opportunities? Who is invited to the conferences? Who receives recommendations and support? Far too often, it is not based on spiritual depth or biblical faithfulness, but on association, loyalty, and image. There is a sadness in watching such things unfold. Not anger—at least not most days—but grief.

Faithful Men Wounded

I’ve watched faithful men—men of integrity, humility, and love for Christ—be sidelined not because of sin or heresy but because they didn’t fit someone’s mold. Or because their past included a chapter that others couldn’t overlook.

One man I knew was a strong, effective, humble, and committed preacher. He was quietly excluded from many ministry circles because of a difficulty in his life that had happened decades prior. He never pursued a platform, and he never complained. But once, in a moment of reflection, he preached a sermon titled, “Why I Will Never Be a Big-Time/Big-Name Preacher.” In that message, he spoke with peace, power, and conviction. Through the over 50+ years of his ministry, he served God and people. In fact, God allowed him the privilege of starting a ministry that rallied people around the Gospel and getting that Gospel to the World! There was love and mutual respect in the fellowship of believers. Yet how sad it is that he had to reconcile with rejection from so many simply because of who he was and what had happened to him.

I know of another man who often curried favor with important, powerful, and influential men to advance his cause while essentially ignoring those who could not help him achieve it. I understand influence, and I understand that connections matter. But the political spirit that often motivates this kind of maneuvering is not of God. When ministry becomes about aligning oneself with power and leveraging people for position rather than serving out of a pure heart, we have departed from the spirit of Christ.

The Table of Influence

At the table of influence, powerbrokers often reserve the seats. But that table doesn’t resemble the one Christ sat at. He ate with sinners, broke bread with the forgotten, and knelt before the feet of the undeserving. In stark contrast, some today only break bread with those who can offer them a stepping stone. The question is not whether influence exists—it does—but whether it is wielded with the humility of Christ or the ambition of Diotrephes.

The truth is, this kind of exclusion should grieve us. The body of Christ should be marked by grace and truth, not gatekeeping and partiality. James writes plainly, “Have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.” (James 2:1). And yet, ministry politics thrive on just that: partiality.

In 3 John, we read of a man named Diotrephes, who “loveth to have the preeminence.” He refused to receive faithful brethren and even cast out those who did. That spirit still lives today—among some who determine who gets to belong, who gets to speak, who gets to lead. Not based on calling or character, but on politics.

God's Favor, or Political Maneuvering?

But let us not confuse favor with the political manipulation of favor. There is a difference between the favor of God and the favor sought through human systems of influence. In the Bible, we see that God does give favor—to those He calls and blesses. This favor is not based on manipulation or alliances but on His grace and mercy. There is a delicate truth here that needs to be observed. Some think they have God's favor, when in reality they are playing the game to get ahead.....and deep in their heart they know exactly what they are doing!

Consider Luke 2:52, which says, "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man." This favor was God’s approval, not the result of seeking status or power. Psalm 5:12 speaks of God’s favor as a shield to the righteous: “For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.” Acts 2:47further affirms that those who follow Christ, as they serve faithfully, can receive favor with both God and people.

But when we seek favor through manipulation, ambition, or the pursuit of power, we stray from the path of humility and servanthood that Christ taught. Favor from God is a blessing; favor from people can often be a trap, especially when it is tied to personal gain.

Jesus gave us another way. He said, “Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them... But it shall not be so among you.” (Matthew 20:25–26). The Lord of Glory chose servanthood over status. He stooped to wash feet. He fellowshipped with the outcasts. He was despised and rejected by men.

Wounded By Politics

The wounds caused by ministry politics are real. Some young men become discouraged and drift away—not necessarily from the faith, but from ministry as they envisioned it. Others wander toward different groups, not necessarily because of a change in doctrine, but because they could not bear the weight of rejection. When faithful shepherds are overlooked because of things man cannot forget—even when God already has—we have lost something precious.

Scripture gives us glimpses of this struggle. Elijah confronted Ahab while Obadiah served faithfully in the palace. Jeremiah wept while Pashur struck and imprisoned him. Paul stood before the Sanhedrin, only to be struck for daring to speak with a clear conscience. Faithful men, often scorned or silenced by political powers, yet unwavering in their obedience to God. The system of human power is not new—and neither is God's calling to stand faithfully against it.

As for me, I do not write from a place of superiority but from sorrow. Like Jeremiah, I have wept over what I’ve seen. I have no desire to be counted among the powerful, only to be found faithful. I do not wish for a seat at the table of influence but a place at the feet of Jesus.

To those who feel like outsiders, you are not alone. Elijah once thought he was the only one left. But God reminded him that He still had seven thousand who had not bowed the knee to Baal. You may never be asked to speak on a platform. Your name may never appear in a ministry magazine. But if you are shepherding God's people with love and truth, you are seen. And your labor is not in vain.

So let us continue, not with bitterness, but with brokenness. Let us serve, not for recognition, but for the glory of the One who called us. Let others chase platforms if they must. We will walk the narrow road.

And in the end, when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, He will not reward those with the biggest audience, but those who were faithful—whether they were known or forgotten by men.

Let us build, not on the favor of man, but on the Rock that cannot be moved.

Addendum 1 : A Word About Quiet Giants

Not every faithful servant is swept up in ministry politics. Some have quietly stood apart from it—not in bitterness, but in obedience. Percy Ray of Mississippi was such a man. Though affiliated with Southern Baptists, he never operated as a powerbroker. His life was marked not by political maneuvering, but by prayer, revival, and a deep fear of God. He labored largely outside the spotlight, sometimes honored, but never absorbed into the system. Camp Zion, where he preached, became a place for those disillusioned with platform-driven religion and hungry for heaven-sent power.

From the Independent Baptist annals comes Oliver B. Greene (1915–1976). He stands as a testament to ministry unshackled by the politics of favor. A fiery evangelist with a rough-hewn past, Greene turned from a life of rebellion to preaching Christ with unrelenting zeal, reaching millions through The Gospel Hour radio broadcast. He sidestepped the ladder of Independent Baptist influence—no prestigious degrees or cozy ties to fundamentalist kingmakers—choosing instead to fund his work through listener support and churn out over 100 self-published tracts. Greene’s faithfulness to the Word, not the whims of denominational elites, defined him. His voice resonated over airwaves with a rebuke to compromise, proving that true ministry thrives not on human approval but on steadfast obedience to God’s call.

Lester Roloff (1914–1982) embodied a similar defiance against the seduction of favor, trading comfort for conviction. A Texas preacher with a heart for the broken, he built a ministry around The Family Altar radio program and homes like the Rebekah Home for Girls, refusing state oversight even when it meant jail time. Roloff didn’t court the power brokers of Independent Baptist circles—his battles were with bureaucrats and his reliance was on prayer, not politics. His unwavering stand, rooted in Scripture’s mandate to care for the least, rebuked those who bend truth for influence. Roloff’s life whispers a hard truth: faithfulness to God’s Word often pits a man against the world—and sometimes even against his own brethren—but it’s the only path that endures.

They remind us that ministry is not about being known by men, but being known of God. In a world obsessed with platforms, may we treasure the quiet witness of those who never played the game but won the prize nonetheless.

Addendum 2: A Better Way Forward

Can ministry politics be extinguished? Not entirely. As long as fallen human hearts yearn for power, recognition, and control, there will be some who politicize the ministry. But that does not mean we must accept it passively. Scripture offers examples and exhortations that help us push back against this spirit.

In Acts 6, when a group of widows was neglected in the daily ministry, the apostles didn’t play favorites or protect their own—they delegated to Spirit-filled men who could serve with integrity. That is one way forward: transparency, accountability, and a commitment to Spirit-led decisions.

Jesus gave us another way. He dismantled power plays by teaching servanthood. He told His disciples that the greatest would be the least, the leader would be the servant. When leaders model this—when we wash feet rather than seek pedestals—it changes the culture.

So we must recognize the political spirit, resist its lure, and redeem the culture around us through humility, truth, and faithful service. We may never fully escape the shadows of politics, but we can light candles of integrity that expose and outshine them.

May God raise up men who care less about seats at earthly tables and more about crowns laid at Jesus’ feet.

A Call to Action: Advancing the Work of Church Revitalization

As we reflect on the dangers of ministry politics and the need for faithfulness over favor, I urge each of us to consider our part in advancing the work of church revitalization. Revitalization work is often shunned because it is not glamorous, not big, and it lacks the platform that so many "big-headed" preachers chase after. Yet, this is where the real work of the Kingdom often happens—quietly, faithfully, without the applause.

Church revitalization requires a fresh commitment to serving the church community with humility and integrity—without seeking political advantage or worldly recognition. It is about faithfully stewarding the Word, fostering relationships of grace, and pushing forward toward the health of Christ's body, no matter the challenges.

For those who recognize the urgent need for this work, I encourage you to not just pray or talk about it, but to engage with Hometown Hope—whether through financial support, volunteering, or offering your skills and expertise. The work of revitalizing churches requires resources, and the support of dedicated individuals and churches is critical to making it happen. Your contribution can make a lasting difference in the lives of churches struggling to find renewal.

Together, we can foster a culture that seeks God’s favor, not through manipulation, but through faithful, Spirit-led service. By supporting efforts like Hometown Hope, we can restore vitality to churches and communities in desperate need of revitalization.

Let us build His Kingdom, not for personal gain, but for His glory.