The Importance of Character in Church Planting
Character is essential in church planting and can never be overemphasized. I believe that the ultimate result of a church that is unwaveringly committed to The Great Commission (Matt.28: 18-20) is a church that is committed to being a church-planting church. However, as important as church planting may be, the character of the Church Planter is critical if we are to have any expectation of health and longevity in that Church Plant. We do a great disservice to a future planter, his family, his church plant, and ultimately the glory of God when we elevate gifting (though also important) above character. This is especially easy in our Western world where bigger and faster seems better, and charismatic personalities seem more promising than the proven consistency of Christ-like character. While giftings will serve some purpose, Christ-like character is absolutely essential. Below are six SIMPLE characteristics of a healthy Church planter.
Self-Control - A church planter must have self-control. This means that they must be able to control their emotions and desires. This requires discipline in both their personal life and ministry. Everything your thinking does not need to be said. This includes taming your tongue (James 3) and not allowing your emotions to lead your decisions. I have heard countless stories of Pastors who have lost their temper with a member or even their family because they were either having a bad day or were just fed up with the pressures of ministry. Brothers, this must not be. While leading in ministry is undoubtedly one of the most spiritually, mentally, and emotionally taxing things we could ever endeavor to do, you are called to a higher standard. Proverbs 25:28 says: “A person who does not control his temper is like a city whose wall is broken down.” We all make mistakes, but you also have a responsibility to model the fruit of the Spirit for your congregation. Three things to consider:
Get regular therapy to help you grow in self-awareness and best practices to help you control your behavior when you are upset.
Be sure to have friends you can confess your sins to, share your frustrations and weaknesses with, and speak freely about what you are going through.
Quickly repent and apologize when you hurt someone or act out of character.
Integrity - A church planter must have integrity. This means that he must be honest and trustworthy. He must be a person who keeps his word. This is a bigger deal than most think and happens more often than we realize. I am still repenting for being someone who over promises and under delivers. Part of the challenge is learning to say NO to
some things so that you can say YES to the right things. Don’t allow people pleasing or your desire to be acknowledged as a dependable pastor to cloud your judgment of your capacity. You are not available all the time. You don’t have the capacity to be at every event. You cannot answer every call. You are not Jesus. Don’t trick yourself into believing that you can meet every need. You will end up disappointing people even more than if you had just said no or been honest about your limitations. Let your Yes be Yes and your No be No. Proverbs 11:3 says: “The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.” A church planter who lacks integrity will have difficulty gaining the trust of those they have been called to serve. Your integrity is a gift to your people.
Maturity - A church planter must be mature. I am not talking about how gray your mustache is or how long you have been a believer. Although a church planter certainly must NOT be a recent convert (1 Timothy 3:6), we should not assume a person’s maturity by age or when they have been in ministry. There are countless men 50 years or older who have lots of growing up to do. A mature planter is a humble planter. Not a know-it-all who lacks self-awareness. Humility is expressed in an unashamed willingness to admit “I don’t know.” It’s seen when one acknowledges they have much to learn. A mature planter has done the Task before ever receiving the Title. They speak from experience, not just their ability to learn or find information. A mature planter can use wisdom and discernment both in difficult situations, but also in their day to day. Do you tell jokes when you feel awkward or uncomfortable? Do you avoid difficult conversations until it absolutely needs to be addressed? Do you struggle to know how to read a room? If so, you have some growing up to do. Church planting is not for boys; it’s for men. You need to be able to lead with courage and wisdom. Maturity also means that you must have a deep understanding of God’s Word and can apply it to your life. You must have a biblical understanding of human nature and be able to relate to people from all walks of life. Ephesians 4:14-15 says: “Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit. But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into him who is the head—Christ.”
Perseverance - A church planter must have perseverance. This means that he must be able to endure difficult times. Don’t give up when things get tough. If you hope that struggles and challenges in your life will be kept at a minimum, stay as far away from church planting as possible! No seriously. Stop now! Abort mission! Church planting is the hardest thing you will ever do! As you engage against the evil rulers and principalities that seek to thwart the plan of God (futile as that may be), you will need to learn over and over again how to trust and rely on the Holy Spirit. Your seminary degrees, amazing preaching ability, interpersonal skills, likeability, money, communication eloquence, or anything else you bring to the table will not sustain your ministry. Those things will not keep you when your world begins to fall apart. Only the God who, by his grace, will give you what you need when you need it is sufficient to keep you in ministry. James 1:12 says: “Blessed is the one who endures trials because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” A church planter who lacks perseverance is a church planter who lacks dependability on the power of God and will not be able to overcome the obstacles they will inevitably face in church planting.
Love - A church planter must be marked by love. This means that they must love God and love people. This is seen less in what they say and more in what they do. It amazes me how many “Pastors” unashamedly proclaim how much they can’t stand people. I understand that people hurt people. Indeed, some people are not a joy to be around (a nice way of putting it). However, If you don’t like people, you should not be a pastor. Notice I am not talking about your personality. This is not about whether you are an Introvert or an Extrovert. This is about the great commandments. The first is to Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind, and The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands (Mt 22:37–40).
Hospitality (which means the love of strangers) is one of the qualifications to be an elder. Do you engage outsiders (those not in the church)? Do you invite people into your home? Do you love serving people? Do you grieve the brokenness that people experience because of sin? If not, how can you be marked by love? Love is not just declared; it’s demonstrated. God demonstrated his love to us, sinners, by the sacrifice of Christ. If you don’t love people, you should find a different profession. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 says: “If I speak human or angelic tongues but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so that I can move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing.”
Encourager - Finally, a church planter must be an encourager. This means that he must be able to encourage others in their walk with Christ. They must be able to build up others and help them grow spiritually. The Bible says in Hebrews 10:24-25 “And let us watch out for one another to provoke love and good works, not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.”
The biblical qualifications for being an elder are found in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9. These passages outline the character qualities and spiritual maturity required for individuals to serve as elders in the church. A church planter must be elder-qualified
before planting a church, which means character is essential. Brothers, the world does not need us to be impressive, all-powerful, all-knowing, or omni-gifted church planters (you are none of these things anyway). The world needs more SIMPLE church planters committed to reaching every nation, tribe, and tongue with the Gospel. Pointing them to the truly impressive, all-powerful, all-knowing giver of life and King of the Universe named Jesus! Keep it SIMPLE.