Yesterday I was asked the question, "What is it like to be the pastor of a church?" The college student who asked me was sincere - she is writing a paper for a philosophy class and has found that her studying has discovered as many questions as it has revealed answers.
Before I answer that thought provoking question, I need to say that there are some personal dynamics that shape my answer. I grew up in a pastor's home, so being in a ministry atmosphere is as natural to me as breathing. In addition, I have been privileged to pastor four different churches over the past 27+ years, all of whom have added great value to my life and which I still deeply love. Vocational ministry is not my job - it is my calling and who I am. I love what I do, but am honest enough with myself to not be naive.
In our modern society and culture, the demands upon a pastor often are greater than what they should be or than many of their friends, family and church members can possibly understand. The multiple skillsets that a pastor is expected to have are demanding. And he is usually expected to be above average in all of them. In an average week, he will be a Counselor, an Administrator of a complex organization, a Supervisor of employees, a Teacher, a Financial Planner / Manager, a Vision Caster, a Recruiter, a Referee, a Community Leader - and of course on Sunday a Gifted Communicator of biblical truth. His schedule is unorthodox - he is expected to be hard-working, yet always available. His office door must always be open in case someone wants to drop by - yet it is assumed that he regularly spends time alone with God in prayer and the study of scripture.
It is a vocation of extreme contrasts. It can be exhilarating at times, and gut-wrenching at others, often in the same day. The rewards are great - there is no greater honor than to be called a shepherd. The dangers are severe - and many pastors ignore them and sacrifice their health, their families and their future simply because they ignore the warning signs along the journey.
Many of the other pastors I know and work with are some of the most gifted people I have ever known. There is no doubt in my mind that they could take their skills and their heart and do well in another profession, and, sadly, many of them do. In the United States more than 1,000 pastors leave the ministry every month for a variety of reasons (financial, relational, physical, emotional, and spiritual). But most of us do what we do out of a clear and compelling drawing of God's Spirit.
Perhaps the greatest challenges a pastor faces are those realities that often go unseen and/or unnoticed:
1. Being tired. Many pastors spend much of their ministry tired - primarily physically and emotionally. This makes them more vulnerable to attack and more reactive to criticism. There is a delicate balance that most of us find hard to achieve between working with a sense of urgency (which I believe every Christian should have) and setting aside time to rest, play and relax. Many pastors do not take time away from their ministry simply because they cannot afford to do so, and the long term, cumulative effect happens so slowly that no one notices.
2. Time management. Since most pastors are required to multi-task every day, there is a constant tension between what should be done and what must be done. And because pastors are human, often we want to work in our areas of strengths or giftedness, not in what seems urgent to someone else. Many pastors feel overwhelmed and discouraged by the sheer volume of work that could be done, and choosing every day where to give priority to is a challenge. It is a learning process to understand and be able to juggle different agendas that individuals or groups within a church may have, and yet, at the end of the day, know you have given God your best. Some pastors mess up in the area of time management because they are chasing popularity, or because they are pressured to trade time for influence. In scripture, Jesus often withdrew and got alone to be quiet and still, and every time we see that pattern it is followed by a life-changing event and teaching.
3. Recognizing and resisting manipulation. This may surprise some of you, but most pastors are a frequent target of manipulation and control. Sometimes people unintentionally take advantage of a pastor's willing heart, and make requests or demands that do not respect his personal life and family. We understand (and hopefully so do our families) that crisis cannot be scheduled, and that when people are in a storm they call on those whom they know they can trust - and we love being with you in your most difficult times. But there are those who have a definite personality type who are bent on control and on their own agenda, and they will do whatever they must in order to get their way. Because of this, pastors often distance themselves from close personal relationships. One of the things pastors and pastors wives talk about when they are with other pastoral couples and feel safe is their loneliness or feeling of isolation. Many serve in an area where they have no family living close to them, and struggle to separate in their personal lives and relationships the difference between when I am expected to be a pastor and when I can just be myself. Pastors are not paranoid - but they do tend to be very cautious in who and when they let their guard down around.
4. Spiritual warfare. Pastors and their families are often targets of some of Satan's most painful attacks. Our enemy knows that if he can distract or destroy the shepherd through temptations or trials, he can likely scatter the sheep. Pastors and their families are not immune from any of the normal challenges that life can bring - the difference is, when they do face such challenges, some will criticize them and even call them a spiritual failure.
I have experienced this in my own family and ministry. Yet, God is so faithful, and we have been blessed by a family of believers who have walked with us step by step through every challenge we have faced. My heart breaks for those pastors and their families who have not enjoyed the covering I have experienced. I believe that most of the people we lead and serve with know all too well that we are human, and they accept that - they just want us to be genuine and real.
5. Finally, and most importantly, pastors families pay a high price. For 13 years I served as a Chaplain with the Florida Highway Patrol, and those experiences gave me an opportunity to gain a new perspective of the demands that a law enforcement officer faces. Many of them (along with paramedics and firefighters) will quickly say, "The only one who really understands a cop is another cop." These men and women see and experience things that most of us will never understand or even know about. The divorce rate among law enforcements families is one of the highest of any profession in our country - in large part because of the toll their profession and identity take on their family.
Pastors and their families are similar. Our lives are often lived in a fishbowl. People watch and examine what we wear, where we go, who we spend time with, what we buy, and critique everything we say - or don't say. And hey - that's OK. Shouldn't we all strive to live in such a way that we are above reproach? But at times, this public scrutiny just wears a family down, and they just get tired - which brings me back to #1 and the cycle starts all over.
I absolutely love knowing that God chose for me to serve Him by shepherding sheep. Even though sheep sometimes bite one another, and occasionally even bite the shepherd, I love wool! Being a shepherd sometimes means I get to lay down in green pastures, and at other times there are still waters. Those experiences refresh my soul and spirit, and I love the reality of Psalm 46:10 - "Be still, and know that I am God." When God's own Son was born, He announced it to shepherds first, and then gave them the task of telling others what they had heard and seen. What an awesome gig!!! I still believe God speaks to shepherds, and gives them the same responsibility He gave those shepherds on a hillside outside of Bethlehem. I hope you love and honor your earthly shepherd - He will help lead you to know The Great Shepherd.
Next time you want to complain the water in the stream or criticize the color, type or length of the grass, just remember - shepherds love sheep, and give their lives for them.
Monday, July 4, 2011
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
The Great Fish Controversy
For the past couple of years our national and state denominational leaders have been meeting about, studying and recommending ways to help Southern Baptists return to our first love. I'm sorry - I just don't get it. And neither does my imaginary friend Cletus. Here is how he sees it:
For months the Fishers Society had been racked with dissention. They had built the new meeting hall which they called their aquarium. And they had even called a world renowned manual scholar to lecture them each week on the art of fishing. But, still no fish were caught.
Several times each week they would gather in their ornate aquarium hall and read portions of the fisherman's manual and listen to their scholar teach them the intricate details and mysteries of the manual. The meeting would usually end with the scholar dramatically casting his net into the tank in the center of the hall to see if any fish could be caught. None ever did, of course, since there were no fish in the tank - which brings up the reason for the controversy. The temperature of the tank was carefully regulated to be just right for ocean perch. In fact, oceanography experts had been consulted to make the environment of the tank nearly indistinguishable from the ocean. But still there were no fish.
Some blamed it on poor attendance of the society's meetings. Others were convinced that specialization was the answer. Perhaps several smaller tanks designed especially for different age groups of fish would be more effective. There was even a division over which was more important, casting or providing optimum tank conditions.
Eventually a solution was reached. A few members of the society were commissioned to be professional fishermen and were sent to live on the edge of the sea and do nothing but catch fish. It was a lonely existence, because most of the other members of the society were afraid of the ocean. So the "professionals" would send back pictures of themselves holding up some of their catches and letters describing the joys and tribulations of real live fishing. And, periodically, they would return to the aquarium and show slides. After these kind of meetings, members of the Fishermen's Society would return to their homes thankful that their new aquarium had not been built in vain.
Just sayin . . .
For months the Fishers Society had been racked with dissention. They had built the new meeting hall which they called their aquarium. And they had even called a world renowned manual scholar to lecture them each week on the art of fishing. But, still no fish were caught.
Several times each week they would gather in their ornate aquarium hall and read portions of the fisherman's manual and listen to their scholar teach them the intricate details and mysteries of the manual. The meeting would usually end with the scholar dramatically casting his net into the tank in the center of the hall to see if any fish could be caught. None ever did, of course, since there were no fish in the tank - which brings up the reason for the controversy. The temperature of the tank was carefully regulated to be just right for ocean perch. In fact, oceanography experts had been consulted to make the environment of the tank nearly indistinguishable from the ocean. But still there were no fish.
Some blamed it on poor attendance of the society's meetings. Others were convinced that specialization was the answer. Perhaps several smaller tanks designed especially for different age groups of fish would be more effective. There was even a division over which was more important, casting or providing optimum tank conditions.
Eventually a solution was reached. A few members of the society were commissioned to be professional fishermen and were sent to live on the edge of the sea and do nothing but catch fish. It was a lonely existence, because most of the other members of the society were afraid of the ocean. So the "professionals" would send back pictures of themselves holding up some of their catches and letters describing the joys and tribulations of real live fishing. And, periodically, they would return to the aquarium and show slides. After these kind of meetings, members of the Fishermen's Society would return to their homes thankful that their new aquarium had not been built in vain.
Just sayin . . .
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
This Pollen is _________ing Me!
Spring is in the air. Unfortunately, that means pollen, which for many of you means allergies. But it is important for us to remember that pollen is what helps make growth possible.
What is the pollen in your spiritual life? What are you doing right now that may be uncomfortable or even cost you some convenience but will bear fruit in the weeks and months to come?
In John 15 Jesus teaches us that we are designed and created to bear fruit, a LOT of fruit! Verse 2 of that passage says that every branch that bears fruit goes through a regular and systematic time of pruning so that it will be even more fruitful. We tend to resist or complain when we are going through a pruning time, but it is a natural part of God's design. Instead of focusing on the present, do your best to have an eternal mindset. Verse 8 of that passage teaches us that it brings our Heavenly Father glory when our lives bear much fruit.
We live in a world of instant gratification, but spiritual victories often are realized after years of sacrifice. Sometimes God leads us into green pastures and beside still waters. But at other times, forllowing His commands means that we end up on a boat in a storm. Both work for our good. So don't complain about something like pollen and your allergies. Pollen is a gift of God that ALWAYS results in growth. What is pollenating you?
What is the pollen in your spiritual life? What are you doing right now that may be uncomfortable or even cost you some convenience but will bear fruit in the weeks and months to come?
In John 15 Jesus teaches us that we are designed and created to bear fruit, a LOT of fruit! Verse 2 of that passage says that every branch that bears fruit goes through a regular and systematic time of pruning so that it will be even more fruitful. We tend to resist or complain when we are going through a pruning time, but it is a natural part of God's design. Instead of focusing on the present, do your best to have an eternal mindset. Verse 8 of that passage teaches us that it brings our Heavenly Father glory when our lives bear much fruit.
We live in a world of instant gratification, but spiritual victories often are realized after years of sacrifice. Sometimes God leads us into green pastures and beside still waters. But at other times, forllowing His commands means that we end up on a boat in a storm. Both work for our good. So don't complain about something like pollen and your allergies. Pollen is a gift of God that ALWAYS results in growth. What is pollenating you?
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
"I Follow"
John 10:1-15
The word "follow" in the New Testament comes from the original Greek word "akolouthoe" and means "to follow one who precedes; to accompany him; to join one as a disciple, become or be his disciple." It is used 91 times in the New testament, 77 of which appear in the four gospels.
There are three stages to this process of following:
1. The Discovery Stage - In order for there to even be the opportunity to folow, there must be one to follow, a leader. Spiritually, this journey does not begin until a man or woman come to a point of personal understanding that they are in need of someone to follow, AND then freely and personally CHOOSE to follow Jesus Christ. Verse 9 affirms that He is the only gate through which a sheep can pass and be saved. No one is saved by heritage, nor is salvation automatic. It cannot be given to an individual by any religious ritual, tradition or practice. It requires each individual to make a decision of faith to choose who they will follow. The choice of who you follow determines your eternal destination.
2. The Obedience Stage - Obedience should come naturally to a true believer. There has already come that moment of complete surrender - the surrender of control - the submission of our will and the acceptance of God's divine plan in and for our life - no matter what that is.
There is a listening component to following. Verse 3 - "The sheep listen to His voice." One of the problems we face in today's modern world is that it has become increasingly difficult to hear God's voice because there is so much "noise" competing for our attention. We can be so easily distracted. And with the rapid advances in technology, we are constantly tempted to stay "plugged in" to something.
The more devices we have to listen to, the fewer real listeners there are. If you try and listen to everyone (and everything) you will end up not really "hearing" anyone.
You cannot effectively follow Christ on a daily basis without listening to His voice. It is by His voice that He leads us. And often that voice is still and small.
3. The Constant & Consistent Evaluation / Examination - Sheep have no sense of direction. They have natural instincts, but direction is not one of them. Every day of their life they are dependent on following the leadership of their shepherd, and they follow by listening to his familiar voice. When they hear an unfamiliar voice, they run away (and so should we - verse 5).
In the same way, every day of our life we are dependent on the leadership of God's own Spirit living inside of us. We must be intentional about hearing His voice. To do so requires us to set aside a daily time and place where we can unplug from the noise and distractions of life and "Be still and know that He is God" (Psalm 46:10). It is only when we do this that the Shepherd is able to lead us to green pastures and beside still waters.
Taking time every day to examine our following provides us the opportunity to make corrections in our course before we get detoured. A small jog off course may not yield great impact in the short term, but one degree of misguided direction can cause us to completely miss our destination over the course of months or years.
Following by it's very nature present a control question. We struggle against authority, or against surrendering it. That's our old human sin nature. But when you come to a place of decision and give Jesus Christ full control of your life, He will lead you and guide you with His voice. It is one of the marks of a true believer engaged in a personal relationship with the Good Shepherd.
The word "follow" in the New Testament comes from the original Greek word "akolouthoe" and means "to follow one who precedes; to accompany him; to join one as a disciple, become or be his disciple." It is used 91 times in the New testament, 77 of which appear in the four gospels.
There are three stages to this process of following:
1. The Discovery Stage - In order for there to even be the opportunity to folow, there must be one to follow, a leader. Spiritually, this journey does not begin until a man or woman come to a point of personal understanding that they are in need of someone to follow, AND then freely and personally CHOOSE to follow Jesus Christ. Verse 9 affirms that He is the only gate through which a sheep can pass and be saved. No one is saved by heritage, nor is salvation automatic. It cannot be given to an individual by any religious ritual, tradition or practice. It requires each individual to make a decision of faith to choose who they will follow. The choice of who you follow determines your eternal destination.
2. The Obedience Stage - Obedience should come naturally to a true believer. There has already come that moment of complete surrender - the surrender of control - the submission of our will and the acceptance of God's divine plan in and for our life - no matter what that is.
There is a listening component to following. Verse 3 - "The sheep listen to His voice." One of the problems we face in today's modern world is that it has become increasingly difficult to hear God's voice because there is so much "noise" competing for our attention. We can be so easily distracted. And with the rapid advances in technology, we are constantly tempted to stay "plugged in" to something.
The more devices we have to listen to, the fewer real listeners there are. If you try and listen to everyone (and everything) you will end up not really "hearing" anyone.
You cannot effectively follow Christ on a daily basis without listening to His voice. It is by His voice that He leads us. And often that voice is still and small.
3. The Constant & Consistent Evaluation / Examination - Sheep have no sense of direction. They have natural instincts, but direction is not one of them. Every day of their life they are dependent on following the leadership of their shepherd, and they follow by listening to his familiar voice. When they hear an unfamiliar voice, they run away (and so should we - verse 5).
In the same way, every day of our life we are dependent on the leadership of God's own Spirit living inside of us. We must be intentional about hearing His voice. To do so requires us to set aside a daily time and place where we can unplug from the noise and distractions of life and "Be still and know that He is God" (Psalm 46:10). It is only when we do this that the Shepherd is able to lead us to green pastures and beside still waters.
Taking time every day to examine our following provides us the opportunity to make corrections in our course before we get detoured. A small jog off course may not yield great impact in the short term, but one degree of misguided direction can cause us to completely miss our destination over the course of months or years.
Following by it's very nature present a control question. We struggle against authority, or against surrendering it. That's our old human sin nature. But when you come to a place of decision and give Jesus Christ full control of your life, He will lead you and guide you with His voice. It is one of the marks of a true believer engaged in a personal relationship with the Good Shepherd.
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