I am just finishing my first semester experience at seminary. I personally feel every Christian should attend at least one semester. It is an intense study in our Lord’s Word. It is eye opening to say the least. So why do statistics show that 1 out of 2 seminary graduates leave the ministry after just a few years?
If you had to write up a job description for your Pastor how would it look? Just looking at what our ministers have to go through I would describe it like this.
Skills include but not limited to: cop, referee, cheerleader, manager, fundraiser, financial advisor, judge, counselor, administrator, teacher, student, salesman, marketer, news anchor, and so on and so on. Not one CEO in the Fortune 500 could meet these requirements. Yet we require our Pastors to meet these standards and more every day of the week.
Our church has several hundred who meet every Sunday. Can you even imagine what it might be like to be on call 24 hours a day? You could receive a call at any time from hundreds and have to respond to their needs immediately regardless of your own family’s needs. It is not fair. It is not biblical.
Mark 16:15 (NLT) And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.”
God’s Word is clear on what we all should be doing. Our Pastors have dedicated their lives to just that. Why as Christians have we decided to get in the way and try to stop those fulfilling what we are all commanded to do? Our Pastors stand in the open to preach and teach God’s Word. They stand in judgment of God and are a clear target for Satan to attack. Many of our Pastors seem to be engaged in having to pull our churches along rather than leading us from the flames of Hell.
There are only two professions I have any respect for. First are firefighters. The building is on fire. People run out. Firefighters run in. It is not natural. The second is ministers. They have given up their lives to serve others. Both save lives. One profession is for eternity.
Please pray for your Pastor. Pray for protection and strength for them. Look for ways to minister to your Minister’s needs.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Duke,
This is so true. You and I have been in class for a while now and have heard the lives of so many that are pastors and what they go through each and every day. I agree we should be in pray daily for our pastor and all who are in the ministry. As time is growing near to the Lord's coming it is only going to get more and more difficult on pastors and those in ministry. Thank you for taking the time to recognize them with your blog. Also thank you so much for what you said about firefighters because I have the honor of being a mother to a firefighter and covet your prayers for him daily also.
Love your sister in Christ
Becky
Attalla, AL
Post a Comment