There is no such thing as “Generals of the Faith”

In many charismatic and Pentecostal circles, it’s common to hear certain leaders referred to as “Generals of the Faith.” It’s meant to honor men and women who have served the Lord with boldness, endured trials, performed miracles, or pioneered ministries.

But here’s the question:
Is that a biblical way to describe people?

Let’s explore the roots of this phrase, what Scripture actually teaches about honor, and whether spiritual “ranking” is part of New Covenant thinking.

Where Did “Generals of the Faith” Come From?

The phrase likely draws from military language. In the natural, a general holds high authority in an army. So in church culture, the term is used to describe someone with “great spiritual rank,” who supposedly has a higher level of anointing, access, or authority in God’s kingdom.

But Scripture doesn’t present the church as a hierarchy of spiritual titles. In fact, it turns that whole idea upside down.

Jesus’ View of Spiritual Greatness

“The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them… but you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves.”
— Luke 22:25–26

Jesus didn’t rank His followers by accomplishments.
He didn’t divide the kingdom into “generals,” “majors,” and “foot soldiers.”
He defined greatness by servanthood, not status.

Smith Wigglesworth is a general, and so are you and I. Each and everyone is a general because we are in Christ, and He is the highest general there is!

The Foundation Is Christ, Not Individuals

Paul addressed this head-on when the Corinthian church started creating celebrity factions:

“When one says, ‘I follow Paul,’ and another, ‘I follow Apollos,’ are you not mere human beings?”
— 1 Corinthians 3:4

He goes on to say:

“For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
— 1 Corinthians 3:11

Even Paul—an apostle personally commissioned by Jesus—refused to let people elevate him above the message of Christ.

Honor ≠ Ranking

We are absolutely called to honor leaders:

“Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.”
— 1 Timothy 5:17

But honoring someone doesn’t mean assigning them a spiritual rank or assuming they carry some mystical access we don’t.

Honor is about gratitude and respect, not hierarchy and control.

The Problem with “Generals” Language

1. It suggests elitism in the Body of Christ.
   It promotes the idea that some believers are “higher” in spiritual class.
2. It creates dependence on personalities instead of Jesus.
   People start following the general, not the Gospel.
3. It leads to passive faith.
   If you think only “generals” hear from God or carry power, you’ll never walk confidently in your own identity.

What Does the New Covenant Teach?

“There is one body and one Spirit… one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all.”
— Ephesians 4:4–6

“You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”
— Galatians 3:26

We are all part of the same family, filled with the same Spirit, washed in the same blood.

Some may be more seasoned, but no one has a “higher class” of access to God.

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🙌 Final Thought

Let’s absolutely honor the men and women who’ve gone before us in the faith. Let’s celebrate their obedience, their legacy, and their example.

But let’s stop labeling them as “generals,” as if the kingdom of God runs on ranks and spiritual superiority.

In Christ, there is no elite class—only one body, one Spirit, one inheritance, and one Savior who is the Head of all.

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