The Burden of the Church (1 of 4)
One thing I’ve noticed in the pastor blogging world is that most rave about how much they love their church, how much they love pastoring, how it’s the greatest thing in the world.
That is not the case for me. I don’t always love my church, I don’t always love pastoring, and I think there are approximately one thousand things I would rather do than this. I’m not confessing that to get your pity, or offers of counseling. I’m admitting it because maybe some people can relate.
A few years ago I was at a conference and a (mega-church) pastor I really admire admitted that he often daydreams about leaving ministry and going back to his high-school job of mowing golf courses. He explained that one day he got up his nerve and confessed that to a pastor he respected. He asked that pastor, “Do you ever do that?” The other pastor said, “No. … For me it’s working at an ice cream stand. No one ever leaves angry from an ice cream stand.”
I was shocked. I thought it was only me. That led me to start doing some research, and I’ll tell you about it tomorrow…
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Vince:
I often wanna go work a “mindless” job–one that I can clock in, clock out, and leave it there. One where you’re not constantly dealing with people’s problems, with your problems, with the stress of ministry, with the disappointments. The thing that keeps me coming back is (not to be simplistic) Jesus–and catching the glimpses of Him cleaning up people’s mess, and seeing Him clean up mine. It makes the negative stuff worth it…
Thanks for taking time to dive into this subject.
there is a difference between being called and being driven, and i think the latter is what most experience.
i also think that doubt and fatigue are part of our humanness, and represents the gap between christ and us. the honesty has to exist…would god require anything else?