the paradoxes of pastoring…
NOTE: I am out of town 11 June - 7 July, so I thought I would use this opportunity to invite some of the leaders I have the opportunity to serve with to write a guest devotional. My “pen” will return on 12 July… and you might (rightfully) prefer their reflections to mine!
This week’s devotional comes from the pen of Pastor Ron Flores: Ron and his wife, Portia, co-pastor Meadows Fellowship in Las Vegas. Before entering pastoral ministry, Ron spent ten years playing professional baseball, with the majority of his career in the Oakland Athletics organization. He has a passion for loving people well through laughter and tacos. In his spare time, Ron is pursuing his Masters in Strategic Leadership from Life Pacific University.
If you’re like me, you got into ministry because you love Jesus and have a heart for people. And like you, I take Paul’s call to church leaders seriously to “pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith” (1 Timothy 6:11-2). Having grown up a PK, I went into ministry with (what I thought were) eyes wide open. My dad’s life lesson was always, “Count the cost and then pay the price.” I knew what I had to do. And I knew what people expected of me as a lead pastor.
I need to be an:
- Inspiring leader
and
- Excellent communicator
But as ministry often entails, I quickly found out that I also need to toe the invisible line:
- Raise funds but don’t talk about money.
- Be clear in your leadership but don’t hold anyone accountable.
- Draw crowds but don’t be about the numbers.
- Lead by example but don’t be legalistic.
Also, apparently I need to:
- Get the worship just right,
- Crack the code of small group dynamics,
- Lead my staff and ministry leaders to ultimate life fulfillment,
- Make sure I work out daily and sabbath weekly.
Also, in my spare time I need to:
- Master the Greek and Hebrew (even though I got a C in High School English)
- Be a social media guru
- Tech-savvy
- Miracle-worker (literally)
- Conflict resolution specialist
- Financial wizard
- Compassionate counselor- Community impactor
- Creator of catchy slogans and sermon titles
- Building expander
- End-times expert
- Trend spotter/pop-culture referencer
- Attract the younger, honor the elder
- Ultimate multi-tasker
- Crisis manager
- With super-human patience
- And by the way - you ARE preaching this Sunday and, yes, you do have a super quick meeting with a disgruntled member right after service.
(I know that list should have come with a trigger warning.)
All jokes aside, we know our calling is bigger, grander, and weightier than the external expectations we live under, however unrealistic they may be. Our work is Kingdom work—e work—spiritual eternal work. And it’s worth the fight. As Paul instructs, “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
I’m thankful for a Big Jesus, a good group of friends, and fellow pastors who can shrug off the small stuff, laugh a lot, and point everyone to the real Savior! I hope that you have these in your life too…
