11-Aug-2010
Posted by : David
Yesterday I wrote (somewhat cynically) about why men become pastors. Alot of us become pastors for less than holy reasons. But the main question pastors need to ask is, “Why should I stay a pastor?”
When you start dating someone usually you don’t say, “I really like her because of what I can be for her.” No, we usually like the qualities about the other person that directly benefit us.
But when you get married you are making a commitment to do what is best for your spouse, for the rest of your life. You are not making a commitment to “the marriage,” you are making a commitment to do good to the other person, “as long as you both shall live.”
This must be the approach of the pastor as well. Maybe we got into ministry because of what it could be for us. Eventually, though, we need to make a commitment to ministry because of what it is — a commitment to the good of the congregation no matter what.
Pastoring a local church is like a marriage. We aren’t joined with perfect people — and they don’t have a perfect pastor — but when we are committed to each other a great beauty unfolds.
Does this not reflect Jesus commitment to his bride? Jesus’ commitment to his church was costly. Giving eternal life to all those who trust in Him required Jesus to lay down his own interests and to take up ours. And Jesus still suffers today for the good of the world; now through his followers. And Jesus is calling to his leaders to forsake cohabitation with the church — commitment as long as the church meets their needs — and move on to covenant — a commitment to do what is best for the church “as long as you both shall live.”
10-Aug-2010
Posted by : David
Why do men become pastors? This answer is simple economics. They become pastors because there is so much reward at the top.
Being a pastor in the U.S.A is a job that has potential. A pastor can be nationally recognized. They can go on speaking tours. They can write books that sell in the millions. When a pastor is at the top there are plenty of perks.
I admit this didn’t immediately become recognizable to me. I discerned a call to ministry after observing a powerful speaker at a Campus Crusade for Christ conference. I could speak in front of people. Maybe God would use me to impact people, like this speaker had just impacted me. What greater trip could there be, what greater boost to a reputation than to hear, “God has used you in a mighty way?”
No matter what people or organizations say they believe about the gospel, they celebrate those who appear to be used by God in a big way. Young men notice this and believe they can make it to the top. Being a pastor is about being exalted. We will endure hardship as long as a chance remains for us to make it to the summit.
These are wrong motives. But what of it? If we had to wait to do ministry out of pure motives surely we would never begin. Certainly these motives disqualify us for ministry. But if God used qualified men, then there would be no shepherds. God gives men ministry as a sheer act of mercy. “Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart” (2 Corinthians 4:1).
When we realize that ministry is a gift of mercy, not an engine of exaltation, we can finally begin to become worthy of the calling of pastor, not having the results of the pastorate be worthy of us.
Yesterday I wrote (somewhat cynically) about why men become pastors. Alot of us become pastors for less than holy reasons. But the main question pastors need to ask is, “Why should I stay a pastor?”