Relying on Human Leaders or Examples in Christian Life

This truth addresses the tendency to elevate human leaders or examples to a position of undue influence in the life of a believer. When believers rely too heavily on human leaders or examples, they may begin to model their faith after the strengths and weaknesses of these individuals, rather than after the perfect example of Christ. Paul writes in Romans 8:28 that "we know that for those who love God all things work together for good," indicating that our trust should be in God's sovereignty, not in human leaders.

A common sign of relying too heavily on human leaders is when their teachings or opinions are given equal or greater weight than Scripture. This can lead to a form of hero worship, where the leader's personality, charisma, or gifts are esteemed more highly than the gospel itself. Another sign is when believers begin to pattern their lives after the leader's example, rather than after the biblical model of Christ.

This phenomenon is a subtle form of idolatry, where human leaders are given a place in the heart that rightfully belongs to God alone. The gospel connection is clear: our salvation and sanctification are the work of Christ, not of human leaders or examples. As believers, we must be careful to keep our eyes fixed on Christ, and to test all teachings and examples against the standard of Scripture, lest we fall into the trap of relying too heavily on human leaders.