Why Pastors Leave (Part 2)

Part 1 can be found HERE.

Some pastors leave because God calls them to another church and/or ministry. Some pastors leave because they find a better deal or are climbing the ministerial ladder. Some leave because they’re running from a tough situation. 1,700 a month are fired in the United States. Then there’s another group. These guys usually aren’t understood by their friends, church members, or family. Let me explain…

Sure… ministry is tough. But no tougher than any other vocation. Pastors don’t have it easy, but neither does anyone else in this world. My thoughts are not with the situation in churches… but rather what ought to happen in churches when there are struggles among pastor… staff… and/or the membership. Of all places where love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, and reconciliation ought to be front and center it is the church. But sadly too many times those virtues are trampled under foot. Sometimes Jesus’ recommendation is the best course to follow (CLICK HERE and HERE).

I know a pastor who was called to a church on a 100% vote. A year later the church voted “no confidence” by a  75% margin. He hadn’t preached heresy… there was no immorality… he hadn’t broken any laws. The problem? The same one the last two pastors had… a personality conflict with church leadership (A man & his wife). So what was he to do? This suggestion was made to him as a plan of action… (Note: I’m feeling very defensive for him!)

Acknowledge openly to all there is a unity problem. Admit and confess honestly any fault or failure of your own.

Set before the leadership (Staff, Deacons, & Personnel Team) the importance of following Scripture for all to: Repent… confess… forgive… and be reconciled. Remind all (Including yourself) that if the church is not able to (Or won’t) do these things, then everyone’s credibility has been compromised… the message of the cross won’t be believed in the community… and have contributed to Jesus’ name being tarnished (Ro 2:24).

Set before the leadership to call for a time of prayer for repentance, restoration, and reconciliation.

Then leave the decision about this in their hands trusting God for the outcome (See Gen 13:8-9).

Then it was suggested he spend much time in prayer and reflection in God’s Word… and if the leadership rejected his offer, to remember what is written in the Scripture…

Mt 10:14 If anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. 23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next…

Mt 5:39 Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.

Mt 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Ro 12:14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all (So everyone can see it). 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God… 20 “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink… 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Update: His offer was rejected. He was given 3 months severance and is to move out of church housing in three weeks.

Some pastors leave because they refuse to be a flash point for the church to get a black eye in the community (The church splitting). Some pastors choose to get slapped rather than to slap the Bride of Christ. Some pastors choose what looks like running and weakness because they will not be a cause for those inside and outside the church to stumble. Some pastors leave because their definition of “winning” is not the world’s definition. Some pastors leave because they are trying to keep The Golden Rule as best they can. Some pastors leave and affirm what Paul wrote in 1 Cor 4:3-5…

With me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4 I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart.

Why Pastors Leave (Part 1)

Because of my desire to help hurting, wounded, and struggling pastors, an article in The Alabama Baptist caught my attention. Tim Peters wrote 10 common reasons pastors quit too soon (Click the previous for his explanation of each). His points were:

1) Discouragement, Fifty percent of pastors report feeling so discouraged they would leave the ministry if they could.

2) Failure, Seventy percent of pastors say they have a lower self-image now than when they started.

3) Loneliness, Seventy percent of pastors do not have someone they consider a close friend.

4) Moral Failure, Thirty-three percent of pastors confess having been involved in inappropriate sexual behavior.

5) Financial Pressure, Seventy percent of pastors feel grossly underpaid.

6) Anger, Each year, 4,000 new churches begin and 7,000 churches close.

7) Burnout, Ninety percent of pastors report working between 55 and 75 hours per week.

8) Physical Health, Seventy-five percent of pastors report a significant stress-related crisis at least once in their ministry.

9) Marriage/Family Problems, Eighty percent of pastors believe pastoral ministry has negatively affected their families.

10) To Busy/Driven, Ninety percent of pastors feel they are inadequately trained to cope with ministry demands.

His ten reasons could be described as… LIFE (From my perspective, while accurate, not nuanced enough). His suggestions could describe the business world where, by comparison, pastors have it easier. My thoughts of why pastors leave are different from Mr. Peters, probably because I’ve been a pastor local churches while he served in church media communications… the two calls are worlds apart.

Every vocation is difficult, ministry is no different. But how issues are handled in church should be different. Outside the church it is dog eat dog. Only the strong survive. The ends justify the means. The goal is to win at all costs. All that matters is the bottom line (Profits). But in the church there is supposed to be a different dynamic at work.

But sadly, too often churches and staff function, act, and look like the world. “Playing the game” as seen on Celebrity Apprentice and Survivor has made its way into the church. Deception, manipulation, and misrepresentation have taken the place of love, compassion, mercy, grace, forgiveness, and reconciliation in intrapersonal relations. And we wonder why revival tarries… why people outside the church won’t listen to our message… why churches are dying…

Monday, God willing, I’ll suggest another perspective of why pastors leave…

How Pastors Fail Churches And Themselves

I was not surprised when the Pope told Catholic priests practice what you preach. Quote…

Inconsistency on the part of pastors and the faithful between what they say and what they do, between word and manner of life, is undermining the church’s credibility…

Protestant pastors need to heed the Pope’s words in this area! In another article about clergy mental, physical, and spiritual health, this was written…

(Beginning in the 1920s) Clergy became “pastoral directors” who focused on the administrative tasks of managing and maintaining churches for the benefit of the denomination. And, as retired United Methodist bishop Richard Wilke has noted, by the 1960s, pastors were being evaluated on their “competency, acquired skills, and professional status.”

Until the 1920s, the pastor was a cura animarum, the “cure of souls,” or “curate” — a person who cared for souls by helping people locate themselves in God’s greater story. The first step in this work was the pastor’s own attention to… his soul-care through an intentional focus on… his personal relationship with the Holy.

Churches are “places for programs” and because of this, pastors themselves “haven’t known the church to be a place of spiritual formation.” As a result of their own poverty in spiritual formation and relationship with God, pastors are not prepared to help people build relationships with God.

Do you realize how significant those quotes are?! PASTORS have/are neglecting their own spiritual health to the detriment of the church! Pastors have abandoned God’s call to follow the world’s business model and the expectations of those they’re called to care for! In other words, PASTORS are primarily responsible for the dismal spiritual condition of God’s people in America. Not only that, they have starved their own souls to the point they are incapable of leading God’s people closer to God. The anemic condition of the churches in our nation is because PASTORS are anemic in their walk with God!

My suggested remedy for pastors (First the negative):

Forget what others think of you and the “effectiveness” of your ministry!

Resign from denominational boards and committees for a good while (You’re not called to serve a denomination but a local flock of God’s people).

Quit having to present the latest or coolest program… book… or seminar at the church (Caring for souls isn’t doing the greatest or trending thing!).

Quit preaching everywhere else and focus on faithfully delivering God’s Word to the people God sent you to. Either be a traveling God called evangelist or a pastor, you are NOT called to be both.

Quit wasting so much time on good things and focus intently on the BEST thing for God’s people… preaching, teaching, and ministering God’s Word TO THEM. Charge deacons and church members to do the other stuff. YOU are called to do something much more important!

Quit worrying about what anyone (Or everyone else) is doing, you lead your people to connect with God through His Word, prayer, and worship.

THEN… in place of all those things:

Walk with God yourself!

Invest at least a hour a day praying for God’s people you have responsibility for.

Read (Slowly) God’s Word every day for your own spiritual well being (Not just to get up a sermon or Bible study!).

As you study God’s Word to present to His people, stay in an attitude of prayer.

Final word… for Pastors…

Rev 2:5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.

Rev 3:2 Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.

What Should Motivate Christian Leaders

There is one passage of Scripture that is constantly on my mind more than any other right now.  It comes from Hebrews 13:17-B.  It is written…

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

“AS THOSE WHO WILL HAVE TO GIVE AN ACCOUNT’

I tremble every time I read Hebrews 13:17-B.  Truth be told, those nine words are the second most weighty in all the Scripture for me (After 2 Timothy 4:1-2).

Hebrews 13:17-B means for me… (And for people on committees & even those who make motions in business meetings):

Every message I preach had better be true to God’s Word (The Bible)…

Every study I present had better be faithful to those same Scriptures…

Every decision I make on behalf of the people I shepherd had better come from God and not myself…

Every plan I implement had better be FIRST for God’s glory, then for the Church’s ultimate good…

I had better treat each member of the congregation with respect and love as The Bride of Christ…

I had better be sure to lead God’s people as HE would have me to…

I had better not please men over pleasing God…

And on and on and on.

Leading God’s people… The Bride of Christ… isn’t about pithy quotes on Twitter or new programs or fad ideas, it is about seeking God through prayer in fear and trembling because…

We make it our aim to please Him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body (2 Corinthians 5:9-10)

The Problem With Preaching

There are several young preachers that I pray for and try to encourage regularly.  For today I thought I’d pass this along for contemplation by more than just the P.I.T guys (Preachers In Training).  CLICK HERE for “Young Preachers (Part 1)”

This quote is from a book I’m reading, “Feed My Sheep: A Passionate Plea For Preaching.”  Dr. Al Mohler writes the following in regard to the proclamation of The Word (From the Kindle edition):

Furthermore, this line of work has a nasty way of getting you into trouble.  It seems that the more faithful one is in preaching, the more trouble one encounters.  Why?  You did not come up with the Word.  This is not your opinion.  It is not something you are saying in order to offend people.  You are simply preaching it.  After all, that is your assignment.  So you preach the truth, and the next thing you know you are on the front page of the papers.  You are the subject of gossip for the deacons and their wives; even the youth group is up in arms over what you said.  Conflict and controversy are always hard, and they tend to be correlated to faithfulness in preaching.  The harder you work at it, the greater the risk.

One of the things I press upon younger men going into the ministry (Especially those who will preach) is this… “You have been called to a life of suffering.  You have been called by God to endure hardship and difficulty.  You signed up for it.  Therefore do not be surprised when you are maligned… misunderstood… given a rough time… and at times persecuted.  It WILL happen… and it is God’s will that it happens.”  In closing consider the words of Paul from  2 Timothy 1…

8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, 9  who saved us and called us to a holy calling… 11 … I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, 12  which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me.

When A Pastor Leaves

Some say you can determine the success of a pastor by what happens AFTER he leaves a church (If it does well… he was successful.  If it fails, that is his legacy also).  I would agree that the longer a pastor is at a church… the more they take on his personality.  Until about year six a man is just the preacher (He has to do baptisms, weddings, make visits, counsel, & do funerals… THEN he becomes the Pastor).  After year six the congregation usually begins to take on more and more of his demeanor, attitude, and personality as the years go by.  When a man has been at a church 15, 20, or 25+ years… they think and act pretty much alike most of the time.  That is a decent rule of thumb in most situations.  That could be good OR bad… depending.  I served one church where the pastor prior to me had a 27 year tenure…

So what does that say?  When a pastor leaves a church there is a lot that is said… not said… and should be said.  Presently I am pastor of a church where the last four pastors served for 10+ years each.  I have been here now for almost 18 months and I have been able to get a pretty good read on both the congregation AND the legacy of the previous pastors.  Here’s what I’ve concluded about the people of Huffman Baptist Church (Pictured above).

They have deep respect and honor for the office of Pastor (Did you get that… the OFFICE OF Pastor).  For them it translates to the man who holds the office.  The congregation expects him (Rightfully so) to not tarnish the reputation of that office.

They have a good understanding of the Pastor’s call to lead and feed the flock… so they give him time to do those things properly.

They have a good understanding of what it means to pray for… love… support… and encourage their Pastor (This is rare today).

The leadership supports the Pastor as the God Called leader of the congregation (This is a blessing!).

The Deacons support the Pastor as the God Called leader of the congregation (This too is a blessing!).

What have I learned about the men who have been pastor here?  The most prominent pastors were… Dr. R.B. Culbreth (He baptized me),  Dr. Harper Shannon, and Dr. Tim Lovett (My immediate predecessor).

These men filled the office of pastor in an exemplary manner.  All of them are still fondly remembered today as godly men of moral character.

These men preached God’s Word.  All of them were faithful to this most important part of God’s call on their life.

These men loved people.  While all three showed it in different ways and varying degrees, but there is no doubt that they “watched over the souls of Huffman Baptist” well.

These men left a legacy that is evidenced in how God’s people have treated each successive pastor with respect and honor.  I am the beneficiary of their ministry AND thankful to the people of Huffman Baptist church!

There are many dynamics at work when pastor’s leave a church.  The best test regarding a pastor’s ministry is not how good of an administrator he was… not how well he led people… nor how effective he was at visiting.  The best tests are:  1) How much closer to God were the people when he left?  2) What was their walk with God like when he left?  3) How much more did they know of God as a result of his ministry?  4) Did he preach the Word of God or was he better at something else (If a man doesn’t faithfully preach God’s Word FIRST… he has no business being a pastor!).

This much I know… I am thankful to God for the people of HBC and to the men who preceded me that upheld the office of pastor well.  I am blessed!

January 2013 update: It is interesting the difference a few months make. More later… maybe… God willing.

June 2013 update: Click HERE (6/14/13) and HERE (6/17/13).

August 2013 update: Redemption Ministry

To Pastors And Teachers

Each week I meet with four men from three denominations for prayer.  Rarely a week goes by that we don’t discuss some kind of brushfire that is directly related to their ministry of the Word.  I have another four men who are my pastors.  Each of them have diverse struggles directly related to their calling.  Then my own son has been called to ministry and he will eventually encounter opposition like all those before him.  Not to mention the many I’ve know through the years who teach the Bible faithfully in Sunday School and “let the rough end drag” (Shout out to a friend).

To these men, and others who are in ministry teaching Scripture, I submit these thoughts from Ray Ortland…

None are more exposed to slanders and insults than godly teachers.  This comes not only from the difficulty of their duties, which are so great that sometimes they sink under them, or stagger or halt or take a false step, so that wicked men find many occasions of finding fault with them; but added to that, even when they do all their duties correctly and commit not even the smallest error, they never avoid a thousand criticisms.  It is indeed a trick of Satan to estrange men from their ministers so as gradually to bring their teaching into contempt.  In this way not only is wrong done to innocent people whose reputation is undeservedly injured, but the authority of God’s holy teaching is diminished. . . .

[T]he more sincerely any pastor strives to further Christ’s kingdom, the more he is loaded with spite, the more fierce do the attacks upon him become.  And not only so, but as soon as any charge is made against ministers of the Word, it is believed as surely and firmly as if it had been already proved.  This happens not only because a higher standard of integrity is required from them, but because Satan makes most people, in fact nearly everyone, over credulous so that without investigation, they eagerly condemn their pastors whose good name they ought to be defending.”

The misbehavior that makes gospel ministry difficult is the very thing that makes gospel ministry necessary.

Does Your Pastor REALLY Love You?

The best way you know if your pastor loves you is not if he visits you in the hospital… gives you a hug with a smile every time he sees you… writes you a note on your birthday… or calls you when you’ve missed a service (Although a loving pastor will do those things).  No… the way you know if your pastor really loves you is much more simple than that, much more obvious, much more important.

THE way you know if your pastor really loves you is whether or not he faithfully proclaims God’s Word.  The way you know if your pastor really loves you is whether or not he faithfully teaches you God’s Word.  The way you know if your pastor really loves you is whether or not he spends large quantities of time praying for you and the church.  The way you know if your pastor really loves you is when he leads you to honor God by glorifying Him in all things.

I’ve considered this question before, you can CLICK HERE to read on this topic from 2008.

Consider the Scripture…

Acts 6:2-4, It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3  Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.

1 Timothy 5:17, Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.

The best thing a congregation can do for their own spiritual health… walk with God… and the vitality of the congregation is to require of their pastor that he prove his love for them by spending massive amounts of time in prayer and ministry of the Word.  They will protect the time he spends with God pouring over the Scripture and seeking God’s face through prayer. 

The church must not tolerate their pastor telling story after story in the pulpit and calling it preaching.  The church must not tolerate their pastor delivering a watered down religious speach that skips over deep truths and doctrines of the faith.  The church must not allow their pastor to short change them by presenting things to them other than Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  The church must hold their pastor accountable to love them in the purest way as found in Scripture and that is how faithful he is to proclaim and teach God’s Word!

Too many churches are weak, cold, and dying because their pastor has abandoned God’s call for him to pray, study, and proclaim God’s Word.  If your pastor really loves you, you’ll be able to tell by what comes from the pulpit.  If your pastor really loves you, you’ll be able to tell by how faithful he is in prayer.  If your pastor really loves you, you’ll know because every time you hear him speak from the pulpit it will be obvious and evident he has sought God about what is in the Scripture for the congregation to hear.

So… does your pastor really love you?

The Joy Of An Interim Pastorate

Since August of 2008 I have had the joy and blessing of being the Interim Pastor of a church in Northwest Alabama.  Admittedly, I had always viewed the interim pastor position as one that was a glorified “fill in” till the church calls their next pastor.  I decided to take a different approach.  I wanted to be their interim pastor… with a purposeful focus to doing all I could under the Spirit’s leading to help the church get ready for their next pastor.  In some ways, the interim position can be one of the most beneficial to a church that is in transition between shepherds.  There are some things that only an interim pastor can do and say for the future good of the church.

Let me tell you a little about this congregation…

They were looking for, wanting, and needing encouragement.  Due to an unusual set of circumstances, their Pastor and Youth Pastor had left under a certain amount of difficulty the year before I came.  Then their Worship Pastor left under pressure not long afterward.  They had one ministerial staff person who was trying to handle everything in the church.  This made for a tense situation each time the church came together.

There was a lot of stress, pressure, and anxiety in the congregation each time they met.  This came from hurt feelings and disagreements over decisions and misunderstands in their recent past.  There was tension in the air just about everywhere you turned.  The faithful were attending… but there wasn’t much joy because of how the Adversary had wormed his way into the fellowship to cause disharmony.

At business meetings their hurt and frustration was expressed openly.  I can remember after attending my first business meeting (As an observer since I was interim), I called my wife and said… “I thank God I’m not pastor here!” And before you ask… I did tell the church what I just wrote… after God had brought considerable peace into His fellowship.

In short, this congregation… by their own admission… was in trouble.  They were close to having a major meltdown and they needed the Lord to step in and bring them out of the situation they found themselves in.

Now, consider what God did in the months prior to them calling their pastor (January 2010):

For a good number of people, God restored hope that they would again be a healthy congregation glorifying Him.

In many situations and cases, the Lord helped people take steps to reconcile with those they had previously been at odds with.

Quite a few were able to begin the healing process from the hurt they had experienced during the previous years as God revealed to them His love and forgiveness to them as individuals.

The church was able to put on the table for discussion and possible solutions problems that had taken place.  The church put together a team to suggest actions points regarding: What the church did well… What the church could do better… and What they’d like to see God do in and through them in the future.

People began supporting the church again financially as they had done previously.  As a result, the Lord used them to begin returning the church to a healthy place financially… in the midst of difficult financial times in the nation.

The Lord restored to His people His joy.  Worship again became joyful, celebrative, and encouraging.

The church seated a Pastor Search Team that recently called a pastor who will begin serving this coming Sunday (1/24/2010).

Now, if you will allow me, here are the joys I experienced while being blessed to be this church’s interim pastor…

God used this congregation to reaffirm His call on my life to pastor.

God used this congregation to heal me of deep wounds I had experienced in the ministry.

God used this congregation to encourage me and my family.

God used this congregation to provide for me and my family in ways I didn’t expect.

God used this congregation to show me He is still God and the gates of hell will not prevail against His church.

God used this congregation to introduce to me brothers and sisters in Christ that are now some of my closest friends.

God used this congregation to reaffirm and strengthen my love for His people.

God used this congregation to show me that there are sheep and there is wheat.

God used this congregation to point out in clear, unmistakeable terms that He is God.

God used this congregation to re-establish and restore joy in ministry, preaching, and teaching His Word.

Of all the churches I’ve served since I’ve been in the ministry, I have personally experienced more joy and blessing as an interim than ever before.  I am thankful to God for all the things He did and allowed me to have the experience of being an interim pastor. In some ways, being an interim is as important and significant as being the pastor of a church… at least it is from my perspective.

May God richly bless the people of MBC!

A Blind Eye And A Deaf Ear!

“Do not quench the Spirit…” (1 Thessalonians 5:19)

It is amazing how insensitive some can be at church… to their pastor and others… when The Word is about to be proclaimed and enter into worship!  At one church I served the Chairman of Deacons came to me five minutes before it was time for the morning service to begin and said…

“I have a list of complaints and concerns some people in the church have that I think you need to be aware of…”

My reply: “In just a few minutes I am going to be leading God’s people in worship by proclaiming His Word.  If you don’t mind, could we discuss this on Monday?  Those comments are the last thing that I need to be thinking of right now…”

To his credit… he said, “I apologize…” Then wadded up the piece of paper in my presence and walked away.  But the damage was done.

Another time, again just before worship, I saw an older lady walking to me like she was on a mission.  Her eyes were glaring and lips pressed tight.  She pointed her finger at my face and said…

“I’ve got something we need to talk about right now!”

(Remembering the event with the Deacon earlier I said) “M’am… If it is something good, positive, and/or encouraging I’d love to hear it.  But if it’s not, I’ll be glad to talk to you tomorrow because worship is about to begin and that is more important.”

She walked away and out the front door in a huff.  And I was glad she did.

I’ve been told by many church members a person’s careless words were spoken just before worship began that took the wind out of their sails.  They bemoaned how for the rest of the morning their mind was not on worship or the Gospel… but on what that person said.  That is sad…

All who want to encounter God regularly… need to have a blind eye and a deaf ear.  That means it is good, best, and right to NOT hear or see some things that go on in church!  There are times it is best to ignore the gripes and complaints of misguided people who Satan is using in an attempt to quench the Spirit… IN YOU!

Here are phrases that causes me to ignore whatever they say next… “People are saying…” OR “A lot of people are saying…” OR “I’ve had people ask me…”

Translation… “I have something to say but am not man enough to say it myself.”

Be on your guard on Sunday morning and every time just before you worship!  Satan knows if he can get to you, he can get to God’s people around you.  Guard your heart.  Guard your spirit.  Be ready to say (In the inner man, and verbally if necessary), “Get behind me, Satan! You area hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

“We Didn’t Know!” (Pastor Search Team Member)

As an interim pastor I am delivering a series of messages to the church designed to help the congregation understand the Biblical requirements for their next pastor and how they should relate to him.  The Scriptures I used this past Sunday were…

2 Timothy 4:1 “I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom; 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.”

Acts 6:2 It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.

Hebrews 13:17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

1 Timothy 5:17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.

1 Thessalonians 5:12 We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you andare over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.

After the message was over, a dear sweet lady who had been in the church for decades came to me and made an interesting comment.  She said…

“I didn’t know all that!  I didn’t know what God requires of the pastor.  If I had known that… if we had known that… we would have been much wiser in our selection of who to call as pastor…”

This lady is in her late 80’s and I had no idea who she was talking about… and that isn’t germane to this post.  What I got from her comment is that it is important for pastors to be faithful and diligent in teaching God’s people “the whole counsel of God.”  Otherwise they don’t know clearly how to honor God’s will as found in His Word.

It is a pastor’s first call to preach The Word.  To teach God’s people what is in Scripture.  Not just from favorite passages, but from the entire Word of God.  Only when/if the pastor does this can he be considered faithful.  Then the church will better be able to honor and glorify God.

God Recently Saved My Dad (A Preacher)

My dad was a preacher from 1957 to 1960.  He served three churches before getting out of the ministry for 11 years.  After my conversion he went to seminary (Didn’t finish), and was then the founding pastor of a church in Clay, AL in the late 70s.  For reasons that aren’t pertinent, he got out of the ministry again in 1987.

Fast forward to 2009. My dad is presently in ICU in Columbus, GA.  His pastor was visiting and mentioned he baptized my dad several weeks earlier!  This was a SHOCK to me… I had no idea it had happened.  I asked his pastor about it and here’s what he told me…

I got a call from your dad a few months ago and he told me, “I know my mom is in heaven… but if I died I wouldn’t be.  I want to get my life right and be baptized…”

The fact that he admitted his lost condition… confessed his sin… sought out the preacher himself… was willing to be baptized publicly… and a couple of other things, gave me a reason to celebrate!  And celebrate I do!!  But I want you to please consider a few things!

First… My dad served as pastor of four churches and was NOT a Christian.

Second… My dad led people to Christ for salvation and was NOT a Christian.

Third… My dad preached many sermons, gave many Bible studies, helped many Christians mature in their faith, and was NOT a Christian.

Fourth… God used my dad to build His church and he was NOT a Christian!

Fifth… My dad was accepted to seminary to train for the ministry and he was NOT a Christian.

Sixth… My dad has an excellent knowledge of the Scriptures from years of personal study, yet he was NOT a Christian!

Last… God’s timing is always perfect, good, and right.  He brought my dad to salvation BEFORE the medical issues would have prevented him from trusting Christ for salvation.  God is never late!

Matthew 7:21 Not everyone who says, ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven.  22 Many will say to me on that day… ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy (Preach) in Your name?  And cast out demons in Your name?  And do many wonderful works in Your name? 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘Depart from me you workers of iniquity.  I never knew you.’

It IS possible for a person to think they are saved… do things we consider good for God’s Kingdom… and still be lost (That is a description of my dad).  There IS such a thing as a false conversion.  Simon Magus believed… was baptized… and followed… but was lost (Acts 8:9-24).  Judas walked with Jesus Himself for three years… preached the Gospel… and cast out demons… but was never saved.

“You believe there is one God… you do well… the demons believe and shudder…” (James 2:19).

Peter encourages us to make our salvation sure.  Paul wrote to his readers to test and examine themselves to make sure they were in the faith.  We too must follow their encouragement so that Matthew 7:21-23 will not be true of us… to God’s glory!

Continue to pray for my dad.  I don’t know what the future holds for him physically… but I do believe I know what eternity holds for him and that is much more important!  To God be the glory!

Note: My dad is 75 and had a subdureal hematoma that was surgically corrected last Tuesday, has “A-fib” as a heart condition, pneumonia in both lungs, and other medical issues.  Please keep him in your prayers… for God’s will to be done for His glory.

It’s Good To Be Where I Am…

As I am writing this, I am in the library of a hospital.  I’ve been doing research on a medical issue that I am having to deal with for my dad who is in ICU.  He had to have surgery on Tuesday to relieve pressure on his brain for a subdural hemotoma.  But that isn’t the main issue I’m concerned about… and for now, the real problem is not the reason for this post.

Realization: You don’t know what people go through… and you cannot know what they go through… until you have been there yourself.  You can try… you can have sympathy… you can think of what it might be like… but until you are actually there yourself, you don’t know.

Thus… it is good that I am where I am today.  It is good that I am having to wait in the ICU waiting room.  It is good that I am by myself (By my choice in telling my family when and if I need them, I’ll call them… knowing they will come).  It is good that at this moment what will happen the next moment is completely unknown (Which means I MUST trust God!).  It is good that I am feeling what it is like to be completely helpless because I have to… and enjoy… relying completely upon God.

I have been to many ICU waiting rooms to visit families over the years.  I’ve prayed with them… sat with them… encouraged them.  But have not been able to emphathize with them… until today.  So it is good to be where I am.  THEREFORE…

“My grace is sufficient for you…”

God is in control…

I will not be anxious for anything… God’s peace will protect me…

I will trust God completely… with abandon!

God will NOT put any more on me than I can handle with His strength!

I have these things… Click… Click… “And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10b)

It is good to be where I am… for this is where I am getting to know God better.  Whatever it takes for that to happen is worth it!

So You’re Called To The Ministry?

I wish there were some way I could talk to more young guys going into the ministry.  I wish I could encourage them in some way about what their life will be like.  I wish God would allow me to show them where a few pot holes are so that maybe they could side step them.  But there isn’t much of a chance of that happening anytime soon unless God does the unexpected… so maybe someone reading this can get it to someone who could use it.

My first thought is this: You will have more joy and blessings than you can imagine! There is nothing like seeing God turn on the light in a person when they come to Christ!  There is no greater joy than seeing people honor God as they live their life.  You will get to know many wonderful godly people that God will use to bless you… and that is special.  You will be honored to be  a part of God calling people into ministry.  You will be able to walk with God’s people through many good times (Birth, Salvation, Weddings) and hard times (Death, loss of job, sickness)… and in both of them God will display His power.  You will see seasons of God’s blessing, provision, strengthening, work, and power.  You will be amazed at the things God will do that you did not expect.  There will be many days when joy will overflow from your heart as you watch Him transform people into powerful witnesses.  You will have more mothers and grandmothers than you can shake a stick at!  You will make more lifetime friends than you can imagine.  There are long stretches of time where you will have just plain fun being in the ministry!  Then it will hit you one day… YOU GET PAID to pray, preach, study God’s Word, and visit His people (How cool is that?!).  Note: It is indeed a great thing to consider that GOD has chosen to use you to do His work.  There is no greater honor than that.

My second thought is: Make sure you are called by God. My dad told me, “If there is anything else you can do and be in God’s will, do that.” There are some times and days that the only thing that will keep you in the ministry is knowing God called you.  Do not allow anyone else to make this decision for you… not your parents, church member, sibling, pastor, or anyone else.  Also… do NOT think that failure in everything else means you must be called into the ministry (That is not sound reasoning).

My next thought is: Be prepared to suffer hardship and difficulty… there is no escaping them. EVERY person who goes into ministry will suffer.  The reason is there are wolves among the sheep… there are tares among the wheat.  There is an adversary that will oppose you and do everything he can to discourage you.  If he is allowed, he will do anything he can to make you quit.  Don’t quit… don’t give up… don’t give in!  See point above.

Important: Love God’s People! That means you treat them all with kindness and respect.  The people you serve are The Bride of Christ… treat them as such!  ALWAYS protect, strengthen, encourage, and support them.  Do not say or do anything to hurt them because Jesus will take that personally.  If you love God, you WILL love His people!

Another thought is: Be wise as a serpent and harmless as a dove. Don’t play political games with God’s people.  Keep your cards above the table.  Be the same with everyone.  Keep your word.  Be honest.  Have integrity.  Don’t gossip… about anyone… to anyone (If a person will gossip about someone else to you, they will gossip to someone else about you).  If someone is going to give the church a black eye, don’t be the one doing it!

Here’s one you really need to know: Have a tough, thick skin. People are going to misunderstand you… misrepresent you… say unkind things about you… and do things that hurt you and your family.  It comes with the territory.  Welcome to the ministry.  If they did it to Jesus, what makes you think it will be any different with you?  This will include turning the other cheek when someone says things about you that aren’t true.

Next: Seek to glorify God in everything (Philippians 1:27a).

Last: DO NOT WHINE! Whining exposes a lack of faith in God.  God’s people don’t like listening to whining ministers either.  There are people in the church who have it worse than you ever will… they need to know that God will sustain them and you will show that by how you live!

God help me be the kind of person from whom those things flow…

Mindset Of A Winner

This is from H.B. London, who was Dr. James Dobson’s pastor.  This is good stuff!  It’s a little dated since he wrote it before the NBA finals of 2009 were over, but his point is still valid.

Okay, here goes. I am going to make a couple of uneducated guesses on who will emerge as the NBA Champion, and what NHL team will lift high the Lord Stanley Cup. But, first, I want to talk about excellence.

When you think of the Lakers, you immediately think of Kobe Bryant. When you think of the Orlando Magic, there is Dwight Howard. When you look at the roster of the Penguins from Pittsburgh, two names come up — Crosby and Malkin. Detroit will send Datsyuk and Hossa to the ice. Each has excellence associated with his name. Why? Because they are naturally gifted.

These athletes have been playing their respective sports for most of their lives. They are born winners (they cannot tolerate losses). They expect a lot of themselves. They work harder at improving their skills than most. They bear the name of their franchise (they put bodies in the seats). They are admired and supported by their teammates. They have had longevity with the same team and they are motivated as much by the challenge as they are by the money (well, maybe?). They make winners out of their teammates.

As I look at successful pastors I meet along the way, I am not so much impressed by the size of their congregations as I am with the commitment they make to excellence as they seek to fulfill the great commission and to make winners of those they lead. They study, love, set examples and value their assignments. That is why one has said, there are no insignificant assignments and no insignificant leaders. Wait a minute! I think I said that you are a winner!!

So, now to my predictions! I believe Orlando will win one more basketball game (perhaps the one on Thursday night), but the Lakers will win the series in six games.

In what is one of the most exciting NHL championships in years, I predict the Pittsburg Penguins will upset the Detroit Red Wings on Friday night and win the best-of-seven series four games to three games. As hockey analyst Jacques Demers said, “Whoever lifts the cup will have paid a big, big price.”

That’s the answer. The difference between winners and also-rans depends on those who are willing to pay a big, big price — just like you!

“If you falter in times of trouble (challenge), how small is your strength (determination)” (Prov. 24:10).