When the Glory Meant for God Is Handed to Men: A Warning the Church Cannot Ignore

By Sam Agogo

Across many churches today, a dangerous shift has quietly taken root, reshaping the way believers relate to spiritual authority. The modern church age has produced influential pastors, dynamic preachers, and charismatic leaders whose ministries touch countless lives. Yet amidst this spiritual activity, a silent but deadly danger has emerged. The line between honoring a pastor and elevating him to a position reserved solely for God has been blurred. What began as respect has mutated into unhealthy adoration; what started as gratitude has devolved into blind, idolatrous devotion.

This crisis is not new. Many years ago, during a major Christian conference, the respected teacher Brother Gbile Akanni was invited to minister. On arrival, he was confronted by a shocking sight: a banner emblazoned with his name in massive, bold letters—far larger and more prominent than the name of Jesus Christ. Disturbed, he challenged the organizers, asking how they could elevate a man above the Lord who called him. He reminded them that without Jesus, he was nothing, and without God’s grace, no minister carries authority. His rebuke was firm, unwavering, and rooted in humility—a powerful lesson in godly restraint. Yet today, what he condemned has become common practice. Pastors’ faces are printed larger than the cross, displayed inside and outside churches as if the man has become the center of worship.

For decades, the Church rightly emphasized spiritual fatherhood, mentorship, and pastoral covering. These principles are biblical and vital when applied correctly. But today, in many places, the teaching has been distorted until pastors become the source of miracles, the arbiters of blessing, the gatekeepers of faith. Entire congregations revolve around a man rather than Christ. This is the fertile ground in which pastor-worship has grown—a silent, insidious spiritual crisis.

Church members now quote their pastors more than Scripture. They display portraits of pastors in homes, offices, and shops, treating these images as talismans. Blessings are attributed to the “grace of my pastor” instead of God’s power. Testimonies now center on personalities rather than the living Christ. Some believers cannot function spiritually unless their pastor prays or speaks. In extreme cases, pastors are addressed with titles and accolades that verge on divinity. This is not respect; it is idolatry cloaked in devotion.

The problem has escalated beyond images and misplaced admiration. Some ministers now demand that members sow seeds before access, giving the impression that God’s grace operates through financial transactions. This is not ministry; it is spiritual commerce disguised in piety. Others tolerate or even encourage the use of pictures, stickers, and branded items as if these objects contain divine power. God does not answer because of a photograph, a sticker, or a wristband. He blesses for His glory, not for man-made symbols.

Disturbing reports also highlight pastors who use members to perform personal labor under the guise of ministry. One account described a pastor sending church members to work on his private farm, calling it “God’s work.” Such exploitation not only abuses trust but subtly shifts worship from God to man, creating dangerous spiritual dependence.

Today, countless members serve pastors with fear, blind loyalty, and emotional dependence that should be reserved for God alone. Some cannot pray unless their pastor’s name is invoked. Others cannot believe unless their pastor approves. This is no longer honor—it is a silent, dangerous idolatry.

The story of Brother Gbile Akanni remains a timeless warning. What he rebuked decades ago has now become celebrated practice. Today, pastors’ images are larger than the cross, their names emblazoned in grandeur, and their personas treated as vessels of divine authority. What once offended the conscience now earns applause. What once required correction now commands admiration.

Pastors deserve respect. Scripture honors those who labor in the Word and shepherd the flock. But respect must never become worship. The pastor is a servant, not a savior. A guide, not a god. A vessel, not the source. Silence in the face of misplaced adoration is spiritually lethal. Enjoying such praise is deadly. Allowing members to exalt them beyond biblical boundaries can destroy both pastor and congregation. No minister should ever permit themselves to receive glory that belongs to God.

Members, too, must examine their hearts. Is your faith rooted in Christ or in the personality you admire? True spiritual maturity is measured by devotion to God alone, not attachment to a man of God.

The Church must reclaim a fundamental truth: God does not share His glory. No matter the anointing, influence, or gifts, every pastor is under God’s authority, not above it.

This issue demands urgent action. Ministers must guard their hearts. Members must guard their devotion. Churches must guard their worship. No human being should ever occupy the place of God.

If the body of Christ desires revival, holiness, and divine power, Jesus Christ must be restored to the center. Every form of human exaltation must be removed from His altar before it leads ministers and members into ruin.

For comments, reflections, and further conversation: samuelagogo4one@yahoo.com | +2348055847364