At the risk of sounding self-serving, I think it is important to be a spokesperson for pastors who are often suffering in silence.
For the past three years, I have had the privilege of serving as pastor of South Chatham Community Church. I still consider myself in the honeymoon period. Every week is a reminder that God is blessing the work of our ministry.
However, I know that this is not always the case for most pastors. In fact, many of the reports that I receive tell a troubling story of churches in crisis. Many of my peers are discouraged, or burned out.
Doing ministry in a post-Christian culture is difficult. Fewer people are identifying as Christians. And, of those who do, fewer still attend church on a regular basis. Many churches cannot afford to pay a full-time salary. In an area where there are already not enough pastors, we need to cherish the ones we have who are willing to serve these unreached communities.
October is Pastor Appreciation Month. At the risk of sounding self-serving, I think it is important to be a spokesperson for pastors who are often suffering in silence.
Unless a church is particularly healthy, the responsibilities of a pastor will often fall outside of the scope of what they have been trained to do, what they are best suited to do through their spiritual giftings, and what they have been called to do in Scripture. Pastors end up wearing a lot of hats which can wear them out. But a loving congregation can make up for their hardships by faithfully supporting their pastors.
RECEIVING THE WORD
After Jesus rose from the dead and appeared to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, Jesus demonstrated how to teach the Word, “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself” (Luke 24:27).
This is the practice that was picked up by the Apostles in the first century and can be seen clearly in their teaching throughout the Book of Acts. Even after two thousand years, faithful pastors have carried on this tradition to preach Christ from all of Scripture.
However, the appetite of our modern culture has drifted away from hearing sermons which faithfully unpack the Scriptures. Instead, what the Apostle Paul predicted has been fulfilled in our day. “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” (II Timothy 4:3-4).
The first misconception that many people have about pastors is measuring their sermons on the criteria of being relevant and entertaining, rather than being faithful and true. As a result, pastors feel pressure to base their success on attendance. This leads to an unhealthy standard of measurement that deviates from the principles laid out for us by Christ and the Apostles.
If you really want to honor your pastor, show up regularly for Sunday services. Listen closely to the sermon and make note of the use of Scripture and the gospel. Don’t be overly critical. Point out the highlights of the sermon and demonstrate that you want to hear more of what the Scriptures say and how they are fulfilled in Christ. One of the best compliments I ever receive is when someone says, “I have read that passage before, but it has never been more clear than it is now.” That is how I know that I have done my job well.
GROWING IN MATURITY
Perhaps the most important responsibility of a pastor is given in the Great Commission: to make disciples. This is unpacked by the Apostle Paul when he describes the role of church leaders, “To equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the Body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12-13).
This confronts yet another misconception about pastors. Who are the ‘ministers’ in the church? Pastors are instructed to equip the saints to do the work of the ministry. That means the ministers are the whole Body of Christ.
I know a lot of pastors who try to do it all. They may be too timid to ask for help, or too controlling to let others participate. I am thankful that I learned early on that I don’t have to be in charge of everything. In order to grow to full maturity in Christlikeness, everyone needs to be active on the frontlines, advancing the Kingdom of God. If you want to encourage your pastor, offer to serve in whatever ministries are available. Don’t use the excuse that something may not be in your skill set. Remember, Moses was not uniquely gifted in public speaking or leading a nation, but God called him and he answered that call.
If more people were willing to give of their time, talents, and treasures, and rally around their pastors in support, I am convinced that we would see an unprecedented wave of missions in our communities. As Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest” (Luke 10:2).
KEEPING IN STEP WITH THE SPIRIT
There is nothing more frightening or discouraging to a pastor than leading a church through conflict. The Apostle Paul addressed this issue in his letter to the churches in Galatia by telling them to keep in step with the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-26).
You would think that if everyone in the church had the Holy Spirit, that the congregation would be easy to lead, right? This is the picture of the first-century church in Acts 2:44, “And all who believed were together and had all things in common.” Except, that didn’t last very long in the early church.
We even see the Apostles, Peter and Paul, in a conflict over the acceptance of Gentiles into the church (Acts 15 and Galatians 2:11-14). This was not a minor issue, but it demonstrates that we are all susceptible to being in the wrong and in need of remaining open to criticism, as well as being gracious to those who disagree with us.
But why would a group of Spirit filled individuals end up becoming so divided? Because we are not always walking in the Spirit. I have found that the primary reason for this is that we assume that we are doing well without careful self-examination, without active participation in spiritual disciplines, and without addressing our besetting sins.
A misconception about pastors is that they will be able rescue a church from closing the doors after generations of spiritual decline. However, unless a congregation is open to being led by the Spirit and actively seeking the will of the Lord, the pastor is not going to be able to do anything to help.
Do you want to honor and protect your pastor? Remember the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). Allow the pastor to speak into your life. If your pastor addresses an area of concern, heed it. When your pastor makes a point of application in the sermon, apply it. Ask your pastor for advice on how to grow spiritually. Seek counsel on how to defeat sin. Share with your pastor what you are reading, learning, and experiencing. There is nothing more exciting to me as a pastor than hearing the testimonies of what God has been doing in the lives of my congregation. Pastors face discouragement just like anyone else. We need to be reminded of the faithfulness of God. Our congregations can be a huge encouragement to us by demonstrating the appropriate metrics of spiritual growth: a deeper understanding of Scripture, wider participation in ministry, and unity in the Spirit.
Adam Miller is the President and host of Songtime Radio and serves as the pastor of South Chatham Community Church.
You can hear his teaching on our daily broadcast on the radio or online, watch his preaching live on Facebook, and read his articles on our website.
