One of the occupational hazards of pastoring is when people leave your church. We remind ourselves that Judas left Jesus and Peter denied Him, and encourage ourselves that we're not every body's cup of tea. Some are more spiritual about it and just move on without missing a step, others, like me, who are not gifted or charismatic teachers, and whose confidence is solely rooted in the Lord, take it very personal. It's hard not to when the folks leaving say "We just don't receive from you, pastor", or, "I am ADD and my attention span isn't very long", or "I really question your calling as a pastor".
I (we?) tend to question my calling, or if I heard God's leading as I prayed over a passage I was to teach or If we've ever really heard God at any time at all!
But I am encouraged by a passage of scripture one of my associates shared with me from 1 Corinthians 1 "For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles" (vv 21-23).
Like many of us, the apostle Paul couldn't make people happy either! The Jews came looking for a sign, the gentiles wisdom and he failed to meet either's expectations! So even the great evangelist, thinker, pastor, preacher the apostle Paul experienced the same problem we pastors do.
So I climb back into the pastoral saddle this morning determined once again to preach the whole counsel of God chiefly because the great need in the church today is not to get more Christians in the church but to get the word of God in to those who do come. 2Ti 4:3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
To my pastor friends who fight the same battle as I do "Don't give up the fight! Preach the word! Don't give in to the temptation to water down the scriptures just to keep people in the pews. Don't be boring but teach the full counsel of God!
Thursday, April 17, 2008
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23 comments:
Steve: I identify with you completely. I too take it hard when people leave.Over the course of 7 years we have had three couples leave because they were mad at me (because they couldn't be in charge, i.e., get their own way). I've learned that people do come and go and that we are not the church for everybody. From a practical standpoint, we couldn't build a building big enough to hold everybody. So we continue to seek to faithfully serve Him and leave the rest to His plan and purpose.
Steve, as you know, this is a common struggle. I appreciate your sharing Corinthians. We live in such a consumer Christian society - our churches are more like stores in a shopping mall - all putting our ads each week with what specials will entice the shoppers to "come on down".
Preaching to an audience of One is the only way to survive and thrive!
Tom
Woildn't that make an interesting story line for a book? A kind of Walmart scene where Christians with thier shopping lists, run around fantically looking for the best deals, what's hot and a guy comes on the sound system sying "Attenting Walmart shoppers...Todays blue light special is in isle 4..." and the people all push thier shopping carts bumping into each other, running as quickly as they can to get to isle 4 to buy what ever the man on the speaker says is cool?
Oakie
Only 3 couples in 7 years??? I wish I hade your problem :-)
Steve those were those who left because they were mad a me. Others have left for a variety of reasons. Did not mean to indicate otherwise. :)
Oakie
Thanks for the clarification. Other pastors who read that might have become jealous!!
Steve,
I think we must be on a similar wavelength right now. I resigned 4 times today already and then that passage about Jeremiah kept coming up...you know, the one about the "fire inside" :) Of course reading Spurgeon's "Lectures to my students" helps to understand this isn't a new phenomenon, but still it's nice to know we aren't the only ones.
Steve,
Amen...our conversation and your words here reminded me of something else Paul shared:
From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.
Gal 6:17 (KJV)
When we are "pierced" by people's departures and "whipped" by their criticisms - it leaves upon us the identifying "marks" of Christ Himself!
So then let no one trouble us...
Thanks for drawing your ink from a familiar inkwell,
LD
Steve:
I guess we all suffer the same wounds as our Savior, only not to the depths He suffered them for us. We do get to fellowship in His suffering though.
People leave us, people deny us and we are called to find our Lord's grace sufficient for the thorns they leave as they leave and deny. I can tell you are a graceful pastor and I know you will find His full measure of grace enough for this time and those in the future you will experience.
2 Cor 1:3-6
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.
Thanks for being transparent! It is a comfort to me.
so-n-so
I don't know about you pastor guys but I like to teach the scriptures, and am dedicated to at least, try and handle them respectfully but I don't know that I am very good at it. Now that is not a big fat worm on a hook fishing for some sympathy! It's just a fact. I know I am a leader; I know I am called to ministry; I know too I have skills but I am not sure preaching is something I am gifted at. Do any of you deal with that? How do you deal navigate the issue of being a teaching pastor of a medium sized church where your gift may not be as a teacher? Ideas thoughts (positive or negative)?
Steve: I know that I am called to pastor and to teach. I love it, and people are ministered to. I struggle with other things, though (I write about it on my blog). I don't know how to answer your question, except to wonder what you use as a criteria to gage your gifting? Is it a feeling or has it been confirmed by the Spirit, other believers, from the word?
I am reading John Piper's book "The Roots of Endurance". I take comfort in the fact that John Newton was not respected as a teacher--yet he still taught and affected thousands
Steve: You may want to read "The Preachers Fainting Fits" Lectures to my Students, Spurgeon. I read it at least once a year...
K
I've said too much. But that's OK: I can take my post down later :-)
OK OKIE
Preachers Fainting Fits!!! I'll get it.
Gotta go t a wedding. Talk later ya'll
Steve: I'm sorry (but not really); one of my gifts is that of encourager. I can't help but think that you are where you are because God put you there. Moody was perceived to be an uneducated idiot (he was uneducated). But God used him. Some (like Jon) seem to come by it so naturally; others like you (and me) seem to need to work much harder and results come hard. A wise man once posted: "Don't give up the fight! Preach the word! Don't give in to the temptation to water down the scriptures just to keep people in the pews. Don't be boring but teach the full counsel of God!" I think that wise man was you...
Steve: One more thing: In seven years of pastoring here in Oklahoma, I have been asked to guest speak twice (CC Shawnee). I don't exactly have them standing in line either; but I keep on keeping on. Like Bill Walden said "you be's what you be's."
Steve: One more one thing. I suspect that you are going though a "fainting fit." This too shall pass. The best is yet to come...
I asked a guy for his favorit passage of scripture. He said "Ezekiel 11:13..."It came to pass..."
I liked that it came...then it passed
Just so you know Steve, I enjoy and learn from your teaching. May not be always. Some things go over my head, but the way I look at it is it was not anything that I needed to glean from at that moment. But! I've learned that when we come back to it at a later time, THEN, I may learn something from it. I also find I need to hear things over and over, in order to retain things. Thank you for your faithfulness to your call. And don't get down, Many of us are still here each Wednesday and Sunday. ..... God loves you, and so do I.
Lovedbyhim
I tried emailing you but it came back. You c an contact me at sh621@hotmail.com
Steve,
I just wanted to say that I think you are a great pastor. I have learned SO MUCH from you and from other speakers and pastors at this church. I feel so very loved and accepted when I walk in the door and I think that is vital to people. My husband who has refused to go to church for years, really likes Calvary Chapel and comes even when I am unable to attend. You have an honesty and openness that isn't found in a lot of churches. You are a real person and I wish you could see what we see. You speak with a truth and passion for Christ that I have not seen in all the churches I've been to in my 29 years of life. Keep up the good work. God sees you and loves you and is cheering you on!
Jo Anna
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