Or, Ministering to the Minister.
Or, Balancing Family and Ministry.
After a quick pitch for joining our newsletter, Keith shares a few short thoughts on the pressure laid upon the pastor in feeding the sheep. Nathan joins in to include some of his observations.
Some problems include:
- Family crisis, or neglecting the family over duties at the church.
- Priorities, or balancing duties/
- Whether intentional or not, sometimes there’s a bully or abrasive church member.
- Undermining, or dividing the unity of the church, or the direction of leadership.
- Unreasonable expectations. Whether expectations from the church or the pastor.
- Comparisons to a previous pastor.
- Unseen, or neglected family needs of the pastor.
- Reasonable allowances to tend to the family needs of the pastor.
Is there a line to cross to know when to step aside? When is it time to step down and take a new direction? What does it look like to recharge and rebuild?
After the brief exchange of thoughts, Keith returns to offer an example of a pastor, even a strong one, who can be plunged under more weight than he can carry. Sink, swim or get out of the pool.
Some helpful things for church members to do include:
- Prayer. For the pastor’s spiritual wellbeing, physical wellbeing, and family relationship.
- Encouragement. A spoken word, or a short note of appreciation to the pastor, but also support for his family.
- Promote unity. Speaking well of one another.
- Give of time. Volunteer for an area of ministry.
- Give of finances. Ministry is freely given, but it still costs money.
Biblical support is shared to come alongside the pastor, and relieve his burden is given. Keith summarizes the events found in Exodus 18. Moses took the advice of his father-in-law, Jethro to have trusted leaders take the burden of lesser cases from him. There’s also a precedent in the New Testament in Acts 6. Peter asked the people to call trusted men to serve their physical needs, while he tended to administer the word.
It’s a shared effort. Pastors shouldn’t be expected to do it all. Whether they pile too much on their plate, or the church is piling it on, expectations need to be set or changed to keep the pastor from going under the waves.
Credits
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NASB.
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Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”
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