This summer Metanoia is walking through Colossians. Two weeks ago I preached through Col. 1.24-2.7 and talked about the call to be a pastor/elder. In the sermon I affirmed that there are many callings and many ministries, and that the call to be a pastor/elder is to equip others to fulfill their callings and ministries.
I also talked about how hard pastoring is. In the text, Paul refers to his work as toil. In Greek the word is agonizomai--the root word we get "agony" from in English. Not many people realize how agonizing pastoring is. Expectations and pressures abound from within the pastor's own heart for the church community that he serves. In the US, many expect the pastor to be an amazing public speaker, a jack-of-all-trades and capable of making everyone happy. Pressure within and pressure from the community that ought to be lovingly supporting the man God has called to serve them is compounded by pressure from our common enemies: Satan, flesh and the world. No wonder 4 out of 5 seminary graduates are no longer serving in full time ministry within 5 years of graduating!
Yet, amidst the agonizomai, there is the sweet promise that God works powerfully in the pastor's ministry. There is the joy of shepherding and guiding Jesus' people through His strength. There is the excitement of leading the only counter-cultural movement the world has ever seen--and the thrill of danger around every corner. There are friendships--statistically few, unfortunately--where the pastor is known and loved as a person and not an "office." There is the hope of one day hearing, "Well done my good and faithful servant."
If you are a pastor and need a word of encouragement, I hope this has been a breath of fresh air for you from someone else in a foxhole just down the trail. If you are not a pastor and want to know how to practically support your pastor, here's the mp3 of my sermon. Download it and pray for the man God has called to equip you for your calling and ministry.
I just listened to this sermon on the way to work yesterday. I thought you did a great job of talking about the role of a pastor frankly and biblically without coming across as being to high or to low on yourself or others. Hard line to walk, but you did it well.
Anyway, I know you and I have talked about this on a few occasions, but while I was listening to the part about if you can do anything else do it, I was thinking about how glad I was to find a career that I enjoy that is not as an ordained church pastor.
Keep fighting the good fight bro.
Posted by: mo | Wednesday, July 08, 2009 at 04:24 PM
Counter cultural movement indeed! Foolishness to the world, but precious in His heart. Keep pressin on; keep pressin on
Posted by: mouse | Sunday, July 12, 2009 at 12:16 AM