Giving Up
Category: Faithblogs
A couple of months ago I had an email from a minister friend informing me of his decision to quit his current position as pastor. It turns out that he has, for some time now, been deciding between continuing on in ministry or moving into the secular work force. And he has chosen to give up his ministry.
He has admitted that he feels like he is failing, but due to financial pressure and feelings of inadequacy as a pastor he feels he has no choice. He also admitted that he’s going to take some time away from the “organization we call church,” his words not mine.
I feel quite sad because the “church” has lost a good man. I hope he chooses to return to the ministry one day. But I understand the pressure he faced as a minister. One revealing point he made was, “I feel like everyone’s eyes are on me to perform well. I can feel them all watching me, not so much as a nod when I do well, but ever ready to rip me down when I fail them.”
The Lord calls all of us, minister or not, to proclaim the Gospel message to the world, something I wrote back to my friend. Just because one may not wear the “pastor” badge doesn’t mean we can’t be as effective a “minister.” Let’s face it, God desires for all of us who proclaim to follow him to reach out to a hurting, lost, and dying world wherever we might find themselves. It doesn’t matter what job one has, we are called to love others, and one of the best ways we can love others is to share the love of Jesus with them.
As for giving up, well, that’s a choice. I’m not trying to be harsh, but many great men and women of God have had to endure much suffering for their witness to the world. Do you think it has always been easy for Billy Graham? Sure, up front he has always had the air of confidence and cool composure, but I bet he’s had his days of doubt, fear, frustration, etc. And what of Philip Yancey, Max Lucado, David Jeremiah, and any other public ministers for God? I bet they’ve all had to battle inner wars and fight the good fight. I bet they all have felt like giving up, but they didn’t and as a result millions have come to know Christ through them and their work.
As a minister, I often hear people say they were going to take the day off from church. That’s fine, because I believe church does not a Christian make. But I know all too well that there are believers who believe they can take the “day off” from God. In fact I know many “Christians” who take the six days between Sunday’s off!
I digress… my point is this, don’t give up. No matter what life throws at you, it threw at Jesus too. No matter what the world does to you, it did to Him too. Jesus Himself told us that if they persecuted him, we would also be persecuted. Notice one thing though, Jesus didn’t tell us who “they” would be. We often look for attacks, problems, and issues to come from without the church… the cold hard truth is sometimes they come from within.
Which leads me to my last point… be good to your pastor/minister. They are only human like you. Ask yourself, would I be willing to work his/her hours, put up with what or who they have to, all the while trying to live up to everyone’s expectations? Make a decision to be good to them. Give them space to work. Make sure that they are adequately paid for the job they do, even if it means putting a few extra bucks into the offering each week. Give them a smile instead of a frown. Maybe go out and buy them a coupon for Starbucks. And maybe, just maybe, instead of bitching about them and their failings… pray for them.
There are too many good men and women of God walking away from the ministry, and as anyone in “the know” will tell you, there are less and less people ready to take their place.
Note: I had permission by my friend to quote sections from his email and talk about his situation. So please, do not write me and call me insensitive; he asked me to be honest with him and this article is based, in part, on the email I sent back to him, which he received well.
Christian St John M.Div, BChM, ACS
December, 2008
Picture by Nadjib Aktouf
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