Donnie passed this article on to a number of us in Pioneers, with this note:
“I read this excellent article and thought I would pass it along (rarely do I do such things but this one is short, yet powerful). It is great for us in some role of formal “christian leadership” reminding us that the inside (being) is the beginning place everyday.”
From LeadershipJournal.net, It is well worth the read.
“Full-time Pastor but only part-time follower of Jesus”
Very few pastors are not battling these very same thoughts. The positional pedestal that is either coveted by parishioners or pastors invariably leads to separation to some degree. Understanding that we are brothers and sisters gets lost all too easily. The reason this article in leadership journal is so popular is because it is so normal.
The article concludes in a less than satisfactory way. He will now be a really open, honest person following Jesus. He still has not recognized that the position itself has its own built in corrupting factors. Its nice that he understands that but consider his seminary teacher who is more the norm who continues to teach hiding out and creating the positional pedestal.
As a former full time vocational pastor I understand the difficulty of trying to get rid of the shackles of ministerial separation.
Jesus said for us to not be like the gentiles in positional authority. Mathew 20:25-28 We interpret this to mean, “be a really, really good, honest person when we are in positions of leadership and only use that position to serve. The desire is to have a benevolent dictator that only seeks the good of others.
I think He was saying, don’t have the positions at all and everyone learn to serve within His body.
The system says fix the person but never, never abandon the system of leadership that reaches out and defiles many.
Wow…I love the phrase “His presence is hard to describe but it’s even harder to miss”. How true that is! I admire a pastor who can be real and admit his own weaknesses and sin to his congregation. That’s what inspires us to be real before others and God and leads us to confession. If we look up to our pastors (and I think most of us do or should want to)shouldn’t they be someone we can relate to? Usually you can only wear a mask for so long before it starts slipping off.