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Ms. Prata quotes a social media post written by discouraged pastor and another pastor's response. She then has some closing remarks.
But none of what is written below is biblical. This is a textbook example of why pastors fail, stumble, get divorced, have affairs, or just give up. These pastors are doing a laundry list of duties that has nothing to do with being a true pastor.
A biblical pastor has no other duty than to care for the flock. He isn't the singular CEO leader, he isn't the administrator, he not the teacher, he doesn't shovel snow off the sidewalks.
He cares for the flock.
The Bible teaches that local churches are run by a plurality of elders:
1Pe. 5:1-2 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow-elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers — not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve...
Peter was exhorting this group of elders to be the pastors and overseers. In other words, these elders needed to step up and care for the flock and take care of the business of the church.
The elders function in these roles. The elders do the pastoring. Pastors do not preside over the elders, the elders pastor.
I write this because a pastor posted this on Facebook about being a pastor:
THE PRICE OF BEING A PASTOR
Being a Pastor is listed among the four most difficult professions in the United States because, a Pastor must be:
- Preacher (There is nothing in the Bible about a pastor doing this)
- Example (Not unique to pastors)
- Father (Not unique to pastors)
- Husband (Not unique to pastors)
- Counselor (Still nothing in the Bible...)
- Conference caller (Still nothing...)
- Planner (Still nothing...)
- Minister (Still nothing...)
- Visionary (Still nothing...)
- Director (Still nothing...)
- Mentor (Not unique to pastors)
- Friend (Not unique to pastors)
- Reconciler (Still nothing...)
- Marriage counselor (Still nothing...)
- Youth Counselor (Still nothing...)
- Leader’s trainer (Still nothing...)
- Bible teacher (Still nothing...)
- Intercessor etc etc (Still nothing...)
- Keeper of the Temple (Still nothing...)
- Cleaning staff (Still nothing...)
Every Pastor constantly confronts Reviews like:
The Pastor is often the loneliest person in the congregation. (Again, this is a dysfunctional idea of church leadership. In any case, anyone who would accept such an idea as being a part of a pastor's job should not lead a church.)
You may see a Pastor be surrounded by people, but very rarely people who are interested in their problems, needs or even in their lives. (He just keeps going on with this toxicity.)
- The Pastor doesn’t visit me
- Sermon don’t fill me up
- The Services are to long
- Temp is either to cold or to hot
- Pastor’s children are not an example according to others. (These are toxic expectations imposed on church leaders that are not found in the Bible.)
The Pastor is often the loneliest person in the congregation. (Again, this is a dysfunctional idea of church leadership. In any case, anyone who would accept such an idea as being a part of a pastor's job should not lead a church.)
You may see a Pastor be surrounded by people, but very rarely people who are interested in their problems, needs or even in their lives. (He just keeps going on with this toxicity.)
And let’s not mention the demands that congregations place on Pastors’ children. (... as he mentions it.)
For this I would like to give you advice: if you have a Pastor or have as friends Pastors’ children take care of them, pray for them, connect with vision that God gave them, support them, but above all love them. Remember they are human and in the same way they go through the same needs as you. (Good advice.)
Even if you don’t believe it, many Pastors and their Families have sacrificed comforts, rest, personal plans and so many things including some of their own family’s needs to attend God’s call. (This pastor is willingly destroying his family for the sake of a mistaken idea of pastorship. Perverse and sad.)
Value the time a Pastor puts into work, the prayers he makes for everyone, the burden he voluntarily carries for ministry. You don’t know how much he’d appreciate knowing you do.
Jeremiah 3:15, And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.
… For all pastors
For this I would like to give you advice: if you have a Pastor or have as friends Pastors’ children take care of them, pray for them, connect with vision that God gave them, support them, but above all love them. Remember they are human and in the same way they go through the same needs as you. (Good advice.)
Even if you don’t believe it, many Pastors and their Families have sacrificed comforts, rest, personal plans and so many things including some of their own family’s needs to attend God’s call. (This pastor is willingly destroying his family for the sake of a mistaken idea of pastorship. Perverse and sad.)
Value the time a Pastor puts into work, the prayers he makes for everyone, the burden he voluntarily carries for ministry. You don’t know how much he’d appreciate knowing you do.
Jeremiah 3:15, And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.
… For all pastors
*
–end of sad pastor’s comment
OK, all that is true. (It shouldn't be.)
–end of sad pastor’s comment
OK, all that is true. (It shouldn't be.)
One thing he didn’t put on the list is that a pastor must sometimes face persecution and death, at least the ones often do who minister outside the US. (Um, this would be a missionary.)
All this is scriptural and expected. (Whaaaaat? No! None of it is scriptural, and none of it should be expected! It's wrong, failed, unbiblical, and damaging.)
All this is scriptural and expected. (Whaaaaat? No! None of it is scriptural, and none of it should be expected! It's wrong, failed, unbiblical, and damaging.)
I know he didn’t post it as a complaint but simply as a reminder to be fair, nice, and encouraging to one’s pastor or elder. All well and good. But where is the joy? (THIS is what Ms. Prata is worried about, joy? This pastor's problem is lack of joy? Whaaaat?
He takes on duties and responsibilities he shouldn't, he accedes to unbiblical and in fact unreasonable expectations, he runs himself and his family down into discouragement and burn out, and the answer is he just needs to be joyful about all of it?
Astounding. Truly astounding.)
Well my friend Pastor James Bell posted a response.
Well my friend Pastor James Bell posted a response.
(...)
Pastor James Bell of Southside Baptist Church, Gallatin TN, source Bell’s FB profile
(We hope this pastor's preaching style is not as irritating as his writing style. Perhaps he doesn't know that typing in all caps means he's shouting.)
Having been a full-time pastor for 55 years, (one congregation for 6 years, the next for almost 49) … yes, I’ve had a ‘few’ experiences AND tough times … Amazingly, I have survived several church wars … etc… etc… HOWEVER, although there is SOME truth in the long list under ‘The Price of being a Pastor’ and some truth in similar POSTS placed on FB from time to time– I, for one, DO NOT LIKE such presentations.
WHY? Such lists do not have a proper BALANCE; they have the wrong FOCUS; they easily degenerate into feeding a PITY PARTY.
1. Every Christian in a local congregation faces many TOUGH, difficult situations… there will be differences in each one’s list; BUT ALL FACE DIFFICULTY…
2. The Bible gives clear instructions as to how we are to treat one another… and some special ones, as to relating to Elders/pastors.
3. As a pastor/elder, MY FOCUS is not to seek sympathy from the congregation– BUT TO MODEL AMAZING GRACE in the midst of whatever trial I may be facing; to be focused on THE HIGH CALLING… the privilege to have the opportunity to function as the LORD’S servant.
4. My real tests, trials, troubles, etc… ARE MY OPPORTUNITY to MODEL CHRIST in the midst of the congregation and before a watching world. LET US NOT CALL ATTENTION TO OURSELVES… nor to seek pity… but let us REJOICE and be FOUND FAITHFUL in our high calling.
5. IN A WORLD OF growing self focus among pastors– let us forget ourselves and deny ourselves, and take up our cross daily, and be those in whom and through whom others will SEE CHRIST!
WHY? Such lists do not have a proper BALANCE; they have the wrong FOCUS; they easily degenerate into feeding a PITY PARTY.
1. Every Christian in a local congregation faces many TOUGH, difficult situations… there will be differences in each one’s list; BUT ALL FACE DIFFICULTY…
2. The Bible gives clear instructions as to how we are to treat one another… and some special ones, as to relating to Elders/pastors.
3. As a pastor/elder, MY FOCUS is not to seek sympathy from the congregation– BUT TO MODEL AMAZING GRACE in the midst of whatever trial I may be facing; to be focused on THE HIGH CALLING… the privilege to have the opportunity to function as the LORD’S servant.
4. My real tests, trials, troubles, etc… ARE MY OPPORTUNITY to MODEL CHRIST in the midst of the congregation and before a watching world. LET US NOT CALL ATTENTION TO OURSELVES… nor to seek pity… but let us REJOICE and be FOUND FAITHFUL in our high calling.
5. IN A WORLD OF growing self focus among pastors– let us forget ourselves and deny ourselves, and take up our cross daily, and be those in whom and through whom others will SEE CHRIST!
*
Now. THAT is wisdom! THAT is joy! (No, that is a recipe for failure.)
Now. THAT is wisdom! THAT is joy! (No, that is a recipe for failure.)
That is a clear view of the pastorate, the congregation, the church life, and a good scriptural perspective. (We are still waiting for where in the Bible we find all this.)
For me, the key word in Pastor Bell’s post was “balance”. I write discernment essays and cry out against false teachers. That’s a ‘negative’ work if you want to look at it that way. But there are also posts about grace, joy, song, praise, spring’s renewal, triumphs, and more. Each and every ministry should have balance. Each and every Christian should have balance and display that balance to the world.
Social media is increasingly used by our Adversary for ill, and part of that ill is an ever quickening slide into darkness, negativity, anger, gossip, screed, and so on. Social media reflects the world. We Christians are not of the world. We are in the world, but we have a peace and joy that surpasses understanding. Sometimes, you’d never know it if all you do is view us on social media, (as pagans and teenagers do).
My encouragement to you (and me also) is to recollect your recent conversations, review your recent posts, check your recent texts. Are they skewed to one side, the dark, angry, or negative? (Oh, so the problem isn't what this pastor posted, it's that he actually posted it and shouldn't have. Ms. Prata would seem to want this pastor to just keep his mouth shut unless he displays a proper attitude.)
For me, the key word in Pastor Bell’s post was “balance”. I write discernment essays and cry out against false teachers. That’s a ‘negative’ work if you want to look at it that way. But there are also posts about grace, joy, song, praise, spring’s renewal, triumphs, and more. Each and every ministry should have balance. Each and every Christian should have balance and display that balance to the world.
Social media is increasingly used by our Adversary for ill, and part of that ill is an ever quickening slide into darkness, negativity, anger, gossip, screed, and so on. Social media reflects the world. We Christians are not of the world. We are in the world, but we have a peace and joy that surpasses understanding. Sometimes, you’d never know it if all you do is view us on social media, (as pagans and teenagers do).
My encouragement to you (and me also) is to recollect your recent conversations, review your recent posts, check your recent texts. Are they skewed to one side, the dark, angry, or negative? (Oh, so the problem isn't what this pastor posted, it's that he actually posted it and shouldn't have. Ms. Prata would seem to want this pastor to just keep his mouth shut unless he displays a proper attitude.)
Joy is a fruit of the Spirit says Galatians 5:22. Let’s bear fruit for the Name of Jesus.
A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones. (Proverbs 17:22)
A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones. (Proverbs 17:22)
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