The Nebuchadnezzar Syndrome

[CGMedley]

There's an insidious danger that many pastors and spiritual leaders, including Adventists, face. It's called the Nebuchadnezzar Syndrome. You can read all about it in this week's Adventist Review.

http://www.adventistreview.org/article.php?id=1910

[LynnDel]

I've never heard of the Nebuchadnezzar syndrome, but it's a good name for the problem. My first inclination on reading this article was to immediately start diagnosing this syndrome in others, particularly church leaders, but then I realized, and recognized in myself, that lack of humility is a temptation for all of us, not just pastors.

[olger]

:)

That's the truth.

[Neil D]

I read the article.....I have some misgivings about it.....

I see some people who become 'puffed up' and think more highly of themselves than they ought from time to time...but it don't last....

Sure, they may think that they deserve better, but all it takes is a word in season, and boy, that hot air just deflates them real quick. A meal of humble pie is frequently served on these hot air flights.

I guess where I am coming from is that, for you, I just don't see it...or rather, I recognize that you keep it in check, so that I still don't see it.

I don't see it with pastors either...maybe it's because of the board meetings or someone who is critical of thier sermons...but I just don't see the Nebuchadnezzar Syndrome.

Perhaps I am blind, and perhaps I am infected with this syndrome such that I will not see it, but I just don't see too many people saying,

"See [this]. Is this not what **I** have done?"

** with {this} as meaning anything you want to accomplish**

I do see some people take pride in what they have done, because it is an achievement. But once they have said that they are proud of accomplishing whatever they did, they usually wait a week before they are saying it/things that something needs to be fixed [read that as "improved"]. To me, that's a different type of pride than that Nebuchadnezzar Syndrome.

And in my mind, that's an ok thing....

[Contented]

Lots of professionals, and all kinds of people, have the temptations of vanity, ego, and self-importance that sometimes travels under the name self-respect, self-esteem, self-concept, and self identity, but Pastors, of all professionals, are in the business of reminding people how much they fall short of God's ideal, and that none of us really has much to love or respect - except in the eyes of Jesus who loves us anyway.

Right now there seems to be a particular allurement, even inducement, for Pastors to 'babtize the most people', 'grow the largest churches', preach in the best locations and the biggest camp meetings, etc.. Those things sometimes take the place of caring for the spiritually needy, teaching the searching, even burying the dead and comforting the families, and visiting the sick. The focus seems to be building the finest list for a re'sume', and having the best compilation of 'missions accomplished', - do these become important so that they are invited to even more important speaking engagements?

I read a Pastor's weekly 'blog' - which includes some activities of the Church to be sure,- but which has lovingly become known as the Pastor's 'brag', which includes a long list of where he has preached, and committees he has served, places he has visited etc. etc. Talented he is, but I believe Nebuchadnazzar has found a peer. Fortunately God followed Nebuchadnazzar's career with tender care and restored him at last!

I wonder what God thinks about what I think about myself!