A Pointed Observation

Pardon me for a moment while I make a pointed observation:

I have never met an over-encouraged pastor. 
It's almost an oxymoron.  Almost all are walking-wounded.  Bitten by their own sheep.

It has always boggled my mind when someone who has never undertook the tremendous physical, mental & spiritual challenge of planting a church criticizes a church planter.  That takes a lot of gumption, y'know?

Likewise, it has always astounded me when someone who has never pastored a church criticizes their pastor.  I think Paul said something about this in 1 Timothy 1.6-7.

It would be like me trying to tell my primary physician he's doing everything wrong while he's trying to treat me.  Ludicrous & judgmental, right?

Further, it has also always struck me as audacious when seminary students criticize pastors.  This is like a first-year med student walking up to a tenured brain surgeon with years of mettle and experience and saying, "Hey Doc, I'll take the scalpel here.  I obviously have a steadier arm having been watching from the sidelines.  You can scrub out."

My point?  Your pastor doesn't need your criticisms & judgments, trust me.  He needs your prayers and loud encouragements.

Allow me to go a step further with this observation:  If you have a long critical email/blog post/phone call that you can't wait to use to get your pastor's attention, read Hebrews 13.17-18 first.  And then if you're still feeling moved to speak, watch Session 2 from Unleash (unpacks Heb 13.17 perfectly).

Bottom-line:  It's hard to create something beautiful with a sledgehammer.  Criticize by creating.   Trust that the true Senior Pastor (1 Peter 5) is consuming
& guiding your local pastor's heart - the workman already approved.

Comments

[jay hardwick]

VERY well said, jonathan!

[Jonathan Herron]

Thanks Jay.

Just sharing my heart.

[steph]

Amen! It seems people can be very quick to criticize and point fingers at the pastor. Because it's easy to say "Hey- you change the way you're doing things, because i'm not planning on changing!" Well said.

[clayton king]

My 5 closest friends on earth are pastors. I was best friends with 3 of them before they planted churches. NOw each of them is consumed with the work of a shepherd, preacher, teacher, counselor, and all-around jack of all spiritual trades. The best way to bless you pastor, besides the wonderful words from this post, is to ask him (or his wife) what he needs most. THEN DO IT FOR HIM, no strings attached. Most people only take from their pastor. Very few give. Be one of the few that GIVE.

[mike watkins]

A pastor should at least seek out other pastors as a peer support network. These men need to be honest with one another and feel safe doing so. This is not easy on the mission field, but it is possible. I have many friends in other ministries that I talk with.

However, one of the most difficult areas concerns a pastor’s or a missionary’s wife. Anyone doing something for God knows how the enemy targets our most tender spot, our families. As pastors we need to also put more effort in finding sources of encouragement for our wives.

God bless.

[Paul Kuzma]

Jonathan,

This is so well said! May the Lord place His hand of blessing upon you as you step out on behalf of Pastors everywhere.

As a Pastor myself, I thank you!