Have you noticed the number of pastors this year who have reportedly committed suicide and have had to leave the ministry because of personal sin and struggles? Just one would be heartbreaking, but the reality is, there are pastors serving congregations all over the world who quietly struggle great battles of the soul. Pastoral life and ministry bring many challenges. Most pastors choose not to share what their real burdens are or determine they do not have anyone particular to talk with or to regarding their own struggles. Therefore, day after day they linger under the stressful conditions of pastoral ministry.
However, the month of October is Pastor Appreciation Month. As such, you can provide a great blessing to your pastor or possibly some pastors that you know. In what sometimes is a seemingly thankless job, this month provides you the opportunity to do something to help lift at least part of the burden from your pastor. For many years my own church so graciously celebrates this month, for which the pastors and I so appreciate. We are served well. I’m writing today for you – not my own church members – so that you might provide encouragement to the one who serves you in pastoral ministry.
The Burden
Most individuals never consider the burden on the shoulders of the pastor. The pastor’s role includes more than most. In a sense the pastor functions as an employee, employer, small business owner, manager, artist, creator, and student, in addition to his responsibilities at home. Every week the pastor faces multiple opportunities to speak publicly, serve individually, and provide care. As a shepherd who guides, protects, and feeds his sheep, the pastor sacrificially does the same for the congregation. As a shepherd the sheep depend upon his wisdom, diligence, and proximity for their well-being.
In addition to the burden of serving a congregation well, the greater burden originates from God. All of these people – you included – he cares for also fit under the category of God’s children. He must love and serve them as God their Father. He seeks to shepherd them as Christ, their Savior, the Sacrificial Lamb, and Suffering Brother. Your pastor recognizes his responsibility before God on His behalf.
Consider these issues…
- When you pray, you pray about you, your family, your concerns, and those in your church and life for which you are concerned. At the end of the day, you are spiritually responsible for a limited group. When your pastor prays, he has all the same concerns as you in terms of normal life. However, he is responsible for all the other members in the congregation as well. He prays about your concerns too because as his sheep, your concerns are his as well. If you are burdened, then by extension, he is burdened too.
- When you miss church or struggle spiritually, or just take a break, you are responsible. You have your reasons. However, when you miss, struggle, and break, your pastor is affected as well. Although those are your struggles and decisions, by extension, as one responsible before God for you, they become his as well.
- When you sin, you bear the responsibility before God and to whomever you have sinned against. The same is true for your pastor and his sin. However, when you sin, your pastor becomes involved as well. If it is an outlier, then no worries. But if your sin becomes a life-dominating, others-impacting sin, then your pastor must also become involved. He cannot afford to allow you to sin without concern, conversation, and action. Why? Because again, he is responsible before God for his sin and by extension your sin.
- When you are sick, you feel it, live it, and become burdened by the physical struggle. The same is true for the pastor’s own health. He also cares for you when you are sick. Your emergencies, surgeries, long-term illnesses, and other physical problems become his burdens as well.
- When you are sad, disappointed, discouraged, and overwhelmed emotionally it stinks as you feel life is miserable. The same is true for your pastor. However, he also bears the burden of weeping with those who weep, caring for your sadness, and seeking to encourage you in your troubles.
- When you read your Bible and do your devotions, you have the opportunity to grow. Where you do not understand, misunderstand, or begin to believe something inaccurately, it is a significant concern and burden for you. Again, by extension, your pastor also bears that burden. He must read and study for himself, but also read and study for you. Listen to you, help you grow in areas where you struggle, defend the faith, and protect your faith.
- When you need advice and counsel you seek it. You have a burden or struggle for which you desire help. Often you call your pastor (as all responsible pastors desire for you to do to seek godly, wise help). Your pastor then shares that burden with you and helps carry that load. He gets the opportunity to come alongside you.
This list is just a start. There are many other things that could be listed. And here’s the kicker…as one church member all of those things are true for you, but he has many church members, not just you.
In other words, the burdens are real. I have not even listed the people who are demanding, change churches on a whim, resist change, and do not make these responsibilities easy.
Your Pastor Does These Things Willingly and Without Compulsion
The good news really is good news. Your pastor does these things because he wants to serve Christ and you well. He loves you as sheep, children, and family. He willingly serves you often with a small salary and a busy schedule. But, he does not complain. Instead, he walks with God, his own family, the family of God, and seeks to bring others into the family of God as a humble person seeking what is best for all those around him. Most of the time he even works with a smile. In fact, most pastors would argue it is not work per se, but instead, is their privilege and ministry.
You do not know his burdens because he brings them to God. You fail to see his responsibilities because he does not go around broadcasting them. Most pastors will not share this blog because they would feel guilty putting this much spotlight on their average burden and day.
Celebrate Your Pastor and Other Pastors in October
Therefore, go celebrate the person that God provided for your care. The invisible burdens are great, but they are there. You have the opportunity this month to help alleviate some of those or at least make them feel less burdensome. So go do it!
Click Here for some creative ideas and Bible verses to help you celebrate your pastor.
Image Credit Marc Scaturro
KevinCarson.com | Wisdom for Life in Christ Together