5. Ignore evangelism.
Failing to pursue evangelistic endeavors has got to be the height of pastoral stupidity. Jesus gave us a Great Commission—and that means going beyond your many-walled church and into the surrounding community with the saving grace of Christ’s gospel. And refusing to have an altar call for salvations because you insist the lay people in your church should be getting them saved before bringing them to service is just plain stupid.
6. Refuse to network with other leaders.
You may have accountability, but if you refuse to network with other pastors and leaders in your city then you are part of the division that’s running rampant in the church. Sitting on the wrong side of the unity table lacks common sense. Jesus wants us to be one as He and the Father are one. He didn’t make exceptions for denominational differences.
7. Fail to make prayer a priority.
It amazes me to see how little prayer is going on many churches. Pastors who don’t make prayer a mandate in their church are shooting themselves in both feet and crippling their vision. And pastors who are too important to show up to the prayer meeting to join hands with the laity are sending signals that prayer is not their priority.
8. Overemphasize spiritual warfare teaching.
Spiritual warfare should be taught, but not at the expense of teaching the rest of the gospel. Pastors who focus too much on spiritual warfare are making unbalanced disciples that flow in suspicion rather than discernment and may all the while miss the devil’s work in their midst.
9. Quench the Holy Spirit.
For all the extremes out there with false prophecies, gold dust, gold teeth and angel feathers, quenching a genuine move of the Holy Spirit is stupid. Cutting the worship at three songs in order to rush to your memorized message when the Spirit of God is obviously doing a work is dumb. Put your pride down and let the Holy Spirit take control.
10. Burn out.
The ministry brings pressures that can lead to divorce, emotional breakdowns and sin of all manner. Failure to take heed to the warning signs of burnout is stupid and it can cost you your ministry.
At the end of the day, if you take on the David mentality you won’t get stupid. David said,
One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple. For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; in the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock. (Psalm 27:4-8)
Pursuing intimacy with the Lord is the smartest thing you can do. Amen.