Last month marked five years since I was officially ordained
into pastoral ministry, and last week was my second anniversary as a lead elder
in the church. Pastoral ministry comes with a lot of unique challenges and joys;
these challenges and joys become more peculiar the younger you are. I will
share the challenges this week and hopefully share the joys next week. Let me
state that this is a personal reflection, so I am in no way suggesting that all
young pastors face these challenges.
Un-informed zeal
Zeal is a blessing of youth. Young people are eager to have
things done yesterday. When you add an aggressive personality to young zeal, it
is often a deadly combination! The problem with this combination is that it is
often accompanied by lack of know how. Even the Scriptures warn about the
dangers of un-informed zeal (Prov. 19:2, Rom. 10:1-3).
As a young pastor, I
often find that I have overemphasized what one sermon can do and what can be
achieved in a year. Yet, at the same time, I have underestimated what the Lord
can do with one sermon, and the work He can achieve in a year. Un-informed zeal
often leads you to want to change people and then you get impatient when people
are not getting it, forgetting that it is God’s work to change people. In my un-informed
zeal, I have found that i often do not know when to pick my battles. I am eager
to jump into every fight that comes my way, when it would be better for me to
let some things go.
Struggle with sin
This is perhaps the biggest challenge of them all. There is
a reason Paul urged Timothy to flee youthful passions. The battle with sin is a
huge challenge. The hard part about it is that it is unrelenting. Because of my
inclination to sin, I have to be daily on guard so that I do not fall into sin
either in thought, word, attitude or deed. An even greater challenge is
cultivating an attitude of confession and repentance of sin.
This challenge is often made worse by the busy nature of
ministry such that if one is not careful they do not have time to take care of
their souls. You can easily deceive yourself into thinking all is well, that it
is possible to go on “doing ministry” while your heart is far from God and no
one knows.
Identity crisis
There is a real danger for young pastors to feel guilty for
being young, largely because of the stigma and mockery that comes with young
age. Interestingly this comes from both those who are older than you as well as
your age mates. This can then cause a young pastor to disregard his youth.
There have been times I have thought to myself; “I am too young to be doing
this, and why can’t I just be a normal young man!” It is for this reason that
Paul urged Timothy not to let anyone look down on him because of his
youthfulness. Instead Paul instructs him to be an example, and when you look at
the passage, Timothy is to be an example of a righteous Christian. It is said
churches want a 28 year old pastor with 35 years of experience!
Other people’s burdens
Nothing can prepare you for the emotional, mental, physical
and psychological demands of shepherding people. From the highs of rejoicing
with those who are rejoicing, to the lows of weeping with those who are weeping
or being devastated by a member who falls into sin, to enduring attacks on you
and your family (attacks on my wife are the hardest to bare), and still I need
to joyfully pastor these people! From the betrayal of someone you have loved,
to encouraging someone who is out of employment and struggling financially, the
list really is endless, and the rollercoaster ride can take its toll on a young
minister and if not checked can lead to depression.
Phillip Brooks sums it up
perfectly when he says “to be a true minister to men is always to accept new
happiness and new distress… the man who gives himself to other men can never be
a wholly sad man but no more can he be a man of unclouded gladness. To him
shall come every deeper consecration before untasted joy, but in the same cup
shall be mixed a sorrow that it was beyond his power to feel before”[1].
It makes one resonate with Paul’s cry: “who is sufficient for these things.”
The incipient desire for success
Just like everyone else, young pastors want to do well. That
in and of itself is not wrong. It is in fact a healthy desire. However, the
desire for success can become the driving force, which is often sacrificed on
the altar of faithfulness. This desire, coupled with the church growth movement
that is often devoid of biblical principles and full of pragmatic, man centered
thinking, results in preoccupation with building reputations, getting numbers,
self-promotion and massive investment in programs, which in turn reduces the
pastorate to a program coordinator.
Young ministers often face the temptation of getting success at all cost
instead of pursuing godliness. The end result is often shipwreck.
Lest I discourage some young man somewhere about to answer
the call, here are some encouraging words.
1. The Lord knows the weaknesses and limitations of
those He calls, and yet he chooses to use them anyway. Remember you are an
instrument in the hands of a sovereign Lord. Your ministry is not dependent on
your know-how or ability but on your humility before the Lord as he uses you.
2.
You are not all knowing. Shut up and learn!
There is really no nice way of saying that. In His wisdom the Lord made the
church a body so that there is inter-dependency. Do not try to be a jack of all
trades.
3.
Find joy in your limitations. You are a mere man;
God will not judge you on your success but your faithfulness. The farmer sowed
the seed and went to sleep because he understood that it is the Lord who gives
the harvest.
4.
Thankfully we do not have to come up with any
tricks or schemes. Our primary task is simple and straightforward. Preach the Word!
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