“I’m kind of a big deal.” 

Mark Driscoll made this statement to his coworkers as detailed in The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill, a podcast by Mike Cosper of Christianity Today. Driscoll is not alone. There are a lot of people who think they are kind of a big deal. 

I uttered these words facetiously in a conversation with leaders from across the country Tuesday morning. We all laughed, but it felt terrible deep in my gut. I am not a big deal. 

Turn to Matthew 11:7-15 and read what Jesus said about John the Baptizer. In verse 11 he says, “Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one greater than John the Baptist has appeared.” That’s pretty high praise. That sounds like someone who is kind of a big deal. 

What did John say about himself in relation to Jesus? “He must increase, but I must decrease,” (John 3:30). 

“He must become greater; I must become less,” (New International Version).

“He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less,” (New Living Translation).

“This is the assigned moment for him to move into the center, while I slip off to the sidelines,” (The Message).

As inflation diminishes the value of a dollar, so does an inflated ego diminish the value of our contribution to the world. 

Preachers and politicians and podcasters need these two memory verses to guide them day by day and moment by moment:

“I am not the Messiah.”

“He must increase, but I must decrease.” 

So let it be written. So let it be done.