“Dear Leaders: Don’t Ignore the Little Guys”How God Uses the Whole Body—Not Just the Big Names: Rom 1: 12

Let’s just say it: spiritual elitism is real.

And it’s ugly.

I’ve seen it firsthand. Some ministers—especially those with titles like “Apostle” or “Prophet” or a big online following—carry themselves like they’ve reached a level where they don’t need encouragement from “ordinary” believers.They’re above it. If someone lower down the so-called “spiritual food chain” shares a word, they might smile politely… or worse, respond with:

“If God wants to tell me something, He’ll tell me directly.”

Okay, sure—God can speak directly to anyone. But that’s not how He always chooses to work. He works corporately. He builds His body to function as a body—not as a one-man show.

The Myth of “Too Anointed to Be Encouraged”

Let’s debunk a dangerous idea:

There is no pecking order in Christ.

No one is too anointed to be encouraged. No one is too seasoned to be spoken to. We’re all members of one body, and God distributes gifts as He pleases (1 Cor. 12:11)—not based on status or fame, but on grace.

Even Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, said in Romans 1:12:

“…that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.”

That’s mutual encouragement. Paul didn’t just come to give—he came to receive.

Why Leaders Need Encouragement Too

Sometimes leaders hesitate to open up or show vulnerability. They fear that if they reveal a struggle, people might lose confidence in them. So they hide behind the phrase, “I’m accountable to God alone.”

But that’s not healthy. It’s isolating.

Even leaders can grow weary. Even pastors can doubt. Even prophets need reminders of God’s promises. The Body of Christ is designed to encourage one another—leaders included.

As John Calvin so wisely put it:

“There is none so void of gifts in the Church of Christ who cannot in some measure contribute to our spiritual progress… But pride and superiority keep us from receiving what we need from one another.”

Let’s Flatten the Hierarchy

The Kingdom isn’t built on ego, title, or platforms. It’s built on grace, humility, and love. So whether you’re in full-time ministry or just figuring out your walk with Jesus—don’t hesitate to give or receive encouragement.

Sometimes the most powerful word you’ll hear isn’t from a pulpit—it’s from a person sitting next to you in church, who simply says,

“Keep going. God sees you. He’s not done.”