Review: Self-Promotion vs. Promotion From God

"Self-promotion is like rattling on endless doorknobs, hoping that we will get lucky and one will pop open.

It’s functioning from the place of striving and pride, trusting our own ability above God’s direction.

Humility is the opposite. Humility is like sitting in a posture of rest and trust. This posture of choosing humility invites the Father to rise and go before us, opening doors on our behalf.

Orphans self-promote; sons and daughters rest in trusting the timing of the Father."

-Pioneer: The Sacred Pilgrimage From Process to Promise

I have watched people in ministry since before I knew what ministry was. My days when I was 11 years-old consisted of running around on seminary campus where my father was getting his Master's in Divinity. Others were learning to become missionaries. Others pastors.

I'd run around the beautiful, northern California hills, not fully understanding what a blessing it was to live in such a scenic location. We lived in family housing and were very poor. Food stamps poor. Everyone in family housing was. We lived in poverty in the midst of great beauty.

During those days I overheard many conversations from the adults around me while playing under the tables with ministry kids.

Snippets of conversations about who the seminary was hiring and who they'd passed over. Accusations. Bitterness. Resentment.

We kids talked about it amongst ourselves. Whose dad was had gotten which job. If they were being moved into better housing. I remember my best little girl friend telling me that her dad had landed a teaching job for the seminary. They were moving out of our mouse-ridden units into a real house.

I was stunned.

I remember conversations about favortism. It all sounded so sad and full of strife. It was an easy decision to not join the religion of these people. While Jesus eventually brought me to Him, the little girl whose father got promoted walked away from Christianity in her twenties. She's still a good friend of mine. I do believe, like me, she'll come back.

Now, as I watch my oldest navigate Bible school, I'm reminded of those times.

It's not the same. I'm in a full-gospel denomination now.

But the striving is still there. I can see it. I know what it smells like.

There's a difference between a young person who has a heart for the lost hitting the ground running and one who is mimicking those steps hoping to be noticed.

It has a scent.

In one, there is the unmistakable sound of the heartbeat of Jesus. A yearning. A love. A zeal.

In the other, it begins and ends with Instagram. There is a shallow sound. A hollow note. A lonely heart, hoping for a place among men.

When I was reading Pioneer by Dr. Luc Niebergall today, it made me think of so many who want to be used by God, but their zeal is entangled with something else. A need to feel respected, seen, worthy, valuable. A fear of not being enough. A fear of looking unsuccessful.

Their identity isn't rooted in Him yet. They're performing ministry hoping to look like someone they respect.

I wish they knew that God loved them. Jesus wants to work with them. But He wants them to know they are His child first so that they don't twist ministry into something strange.

This book is very healing to read. I understand those angry and frusrtrated adults of my youth better. It has me examine my own heart as it pertains to ministry. It makes me remember that if I forget my first love, Jesus, nothing else matters.

This is a must-read for anyone interested in ministry or going into ministry.

Off to keep reading!

If you'd like to read with me, get your copy of this book here.

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About the Author:

Dr. Luc Niebergall has served as a recognized prophetic voice throughout Canada and the nations. He has focused on teaching the church to hear the voice of God and many principles of the kingdom of God. He has planted and hosted multiple ministry schools, resulting in tens of thousands being activated in the prophetic ministry. He is also sought out to prophetically speak into the lives of influential leaders in government, business, the church, and the arts. Luc is the author of over thirty books in multiple genres.

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