The Perils of the Man-of-God Syndrome

In 2016, I attended a fellowship led by a flamboyant prophet at a good friend’s invitation or rather insistence. She was convinced that attending this fellowship would, in some way, help me along in ministry, as she sensed the Lord had taken hold of my heart for that purpose. I know she meant well but I had doubts, although I did not have enough biblical knowledge to follow my instincts. Plus, the endless testimonies of people who attended this fellowship convinced me to try it. 

My fears were confirmed a few weeks after I went. Besides using Jesus’s name, nothing in that place was worthy of the great name. All I saw was pride, boasting, and unsupported claims about being great. Also, the so-called ‘miracles’ only happened to a few, specifically those who were known to this prophet or his close associates, while the rest of us were encouraged to keep believing, “just have faith.”  
 
I am ashamed to admit that this detour lasted one year and six months. It is not because I did not know this fellowship was wrong; instead, my fear kept me there longer than I should have stayed. I was afraid that if I left, God would not be pleased with me and would not bless me, or even worse, He would punish me. Like many people in such churches, I associated God’s blessings with what many call the man of God, and even when all the signs showed something wrong, I still stayed because of my fear.

Who is a man of God?

This term is used 78 times in the Bible to refer to individuals whom God used for His purposes relating to the nation of Israel or broadly to accomplish His purpose of Salvation for all nations, for example, Moses in Deuteronomy 33:1, Samuel in 1 Samuel 9:6, Shemaiah in 1 Kings 12:22, David in Nehemiah 12:24, etc.  
 
Its common usage is derived mainly from 2 Timothy 3:17, where Paul refers to Timothy (he also uses it in 1 Timothy 6:15). It refers to a servant of God equipped with God’s word to shepherd God’s flock. It is also used in the Old Testament (OT) to refer to some OT prophets who received God’s word to Shepherd God’s people.  
 
Broadly, it refers to all believers as all believers are the people of God. But it finds its most significant meaning in Jesus Christ – God who became man. He reveals to all creation what it truly means to be a man of God through His sinless life on earth and His perfect obedience to the will of the Father in all things.

Is that what it means today? 

The usage of the term today has broadly departed from its biblical meaning. It has become synonymous and ubiquitous with pastors or people who claim to be ‘anointed with God’s power’ to change people’s circumstances. He/she is some sort of papa/mama that God has placed somewhere so that God may use them to help those in that area.   
 
The man-of-God Syndrome is a complex in which someone believes they are superior to others and have exceptional powers or authority over them. They act in a way that makes them God’s assistants through whom He works. For those under them, the work of God in their lives flows through them. They usually claim or insinuate a closer walk with God than the rest and project a higher level of Christian maturity.  

Origins of this syndrome

While the term is used several times in the Bible, its present-day usage does not flow from its biblical use. It is more akin to a character in our traditional beliefs commonly known as a witch doctor. 

You see, back then (not too long ago and still happens today), if anyone wanted something from the gods, they went to a witch doctor.  The witch doctor would then consult or beseech the gods on their behalf. They were the only way to the gods. They would also make outrageous demands (they still do) that only they could fulfil. They were also notorious for demanding unquestioning loyalty. They promised severe consequences if you fell out with them or did not do what they told you to do.  
 
Unfortunately, this is how many of these men of God behave. They demand unquestioning loyalty and submission that is only due to God. They often claim that God is blessing you through them, and they are God’s gift to you. They also claim that their commitment to God (or to some other men) has gotten them to where they are, and if you show the same commitment to them, you will also get to where they are. They have become mediators between God and men, and we have given them a ‘befitting’ title.  

The dangers of these men

First, they have put themselves in the place of Jesus Christ. The Bible teaches that Jesus is the only mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5). Through Him, all the blessings of the Godhead come to us (Ephesians 1:3). But these men, through fear, manipulation, and twisting of scripture, have somehow managed to fix themselves into the equation, such that (they claim) the blessings of God flow through them to their congregation. God’s blessing now flows through them from Christ.  
 
Second, they demand a kind of submission and loyalty due to God alone. These men are demanding unquestioning loyalty. They equate questioning them to questioning God. Refusing to follow their demands is equated to disobedience to God. Using passages like Ephesians 4:11, they claim Christ Himself chose them for ministry, and their congregation must submit to them accordingly. Usually, they will prefix their name with an appropriate title, such as apostle, prophet, evangelist, teacher, etc.

Third, they twist scripture to try to back up their claims. Favourite passages include Psalm 105:15, which says, “touch not God’s anointed…;” 1 Timothy 5:17, which says those who rule well are worthy of double honour; 1 Corinthians 4:15, which they use to claim spiritual fatherhood over their congregations. 1 Corinthians 4:15 and similar passages are then combined with Ephesians 6:1-4 to argue that refusing to do what they tell you is disobedience to parents, and so the blessings of God or the inheritance due to a son from a father will not flow as happened in the case of Esau.  
 
Fourth, using such terms as man of God, prophet of God, apostle, etc., can be manipulative. The effect of those terms is to view the person carrying the title as God’s representative on earth. It, therefore, becomes hard to disagree with anything they may be doing wrong because of fear of judgment from God.   
 
Consequently, many people are in churches where this syndrome is prevalent. They would like to leave but cannot because of fear of either disobeying God or losing out on God’s blessing.   

Unfortunately, many of the churches where this man-of-God syndrome is prevalent tend to be abusive, and the leaders are narcissists. On the outside, the pastors can be loving and caring, and the people are very warm. But as soon as you disagree with the man of God, it can get nasty, even in small or unimportant issues. The effects on those who suffer the consequences can be devasting, even to the point of denying the faith because they associate the behaviour of these men with God since these men have conditioned them to view them as God’s representatives. 

What does the Bible say?

First, the Bible says that Jesus is the only mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5) and that all of God’s blessings come through Him (Ephesians 1:3). Through Him we have been adopted as sons (Ephesians 1:5). He commands us to pray to a loving Father who not only delights in His people but also desires to give us all things, provided they are within His will for us and they are for His glory and not for our selfish desires (Romans 8:32, 1 John 5:14-15, James 4:1-3). 

Second, the Bible teaches the priesthood of every believer (1 Peter 2:9; Revelation 1:6). This is not the preserve of a particular or unique group of people but a blessing God has bestowed upon every believer. Through Christ, we have access in one Spirit to the Father (Ephesians 2:18). We do not need special people to pray to God on our behalf. We can go to Him boldly (Hebrews 4:15-16) and present our requests to Him (Philippians 4:6). 
 
Third, those who shepherd God’s people do not Lord it over them but serve them as meek servants in imitation and honour of Jesus (Matthew 20:25, Luke 22:27).  Pastoral authority is not given to anyone because of something special they have done. The calling is by God’s grace and not given to anyone because they have earned it or are worthy of it. Therefore, ministers should not look at themselves as above anyone. Instead, they should carry out their duties with fear, knowing that a greater judgement will come upon them (James 3:1).

Fourth, pastor, shepherd, man of God, etc., described in scripture rightly divides the word of God (Titus 1:9). Whenever a person has a pattern of misrepresenting or misinterpreting scripture, that person should be rebuked (1 Timothy 5:20) and probably relinquished of that responsibility. According to scripture, such people should not be in leadership or stewardship of God’s people (Titus 1:7-9, 1 Timothy 3:2-7).  
 
Fifth, the man of God described in scripture knows that Godliness is not a means of gain (1 Timothy 6:5). Godliness is about holy living; be holy as He is holy (1 Peter 1:16). It is not about blessing or receiving honour from people. Unfortunately, many of these so-called men of God use their positions to take advantage of their congregations by demanding honour in many ways, e.g. financial blessings, sowing seeds, lavish gifts, etc.

What if I am in such a place? What should I do?

It took me a while to gain the courage to leave, but the fear did not go away for another six months after I left. My problem was a lack of biblical knowledge. I did not know that anyone who behaves in the manner that I have described above is not a man of God, and there is no reason to fear them. The Lord does not appoint wolves or charlatans as shepherds of His flock. These are the ones to whom the Lord will say, “I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness” Matthew 7:23).  
 
If you are in such a church, take courage and leave. God’s blessing does not flow through that pastor and will not stop when you leave. Also, God will not be angry with you for leaving a place where His people are taken advantage of. His word clearly explains the role and character of pastors. Those who are not in line with His word should be avoided.