scott stonehouse

When I was a vocational pastor I had a magnetic sticker I made and put on my whiteboard. It said, “You’re Not Jesus.”

It was a very helpful reminder.

I still have that written on the back of my Daily Motivations card.

It is still a good reminder.

It is a good reminder because some can struggle with a “Jesus Complex”. Outside the church world it can be referred to as a “Superman” or “Super Hero” complex.

The need to be the hero.

The felt responsibility to save other people and fix their problems.

That is a heavy burden to bear.

An impossible burden.

Not only is it not possible but sometimes it isn’t even the helpful thing to do. Sometimes (Often? Usually?) the best thing to do is Tame the Advice Monster and allow people to work through and solve their own problems. Or perhaps allow someone else more skilled in the particular area of struggle to help.

None of us are good and skilled at everything.

This is why we need others who are good at things we aren’t.

I didn’t want to carry the burden of trying to be the hero and I didn’t want to hurt people by trying to be the hero for the sake of my ego. So, I reminded myself every time I looked at my whiteboard, “You’re not Jesus.”

Jesus is Jesus.

Scott is Scott.

I will do what I can do and let Jesus do what he does.

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