“But you have lost your first love” Revelation 2:4People lose their passion and then their interest in many aspects of life, a particular sport, a hobby, a car. More significantly they lose their passion for a great cause - a friendship, a marriage, a relationship with Christ, a calling to Ministry.
The statistics on Pastors, who responded to a “Call to Ministry” with a passion to serve, who have in later years left ministry, and in some cases left the Faith, is dramatic and almost frightening. The life of the pastor and their family, along with the life and effective witness of the Church is significant.
Experts say pastors leave their pastorate for a variety of reasons, including family pressure, needing more income, burnout, disillusionment, being forced out, discouragement and feelings of unfulfillment.
There are many occasions which can contribute to Pastoral depression. In 2 Cor 7:6, Paul wrote, “But God, who comforts the depressed, comforted us.” The Corinthian church drove Paul down to the “pits of despair.”
Many pastors, like C.H. Spurgeon, have wrestled with dark days of depression throughout their ministries. Did you know that ministers can also get discouraged? Pastor R Kent Hughes notes, “Almost everything a pastor does, can be scrutinized by the church: selection of house, and cars, tastes in clothing, education of their children, choices of entertainment - to name just a few possibilities.” The “fishbowl syndrome” has given rise to some inside humor among ministers about The ‘Ideal Pastor’.
The Ideal Pastor
Is always casual, but never under-dressed
Is warm and friendly, but not too familiar
Is humorous, but not funny
Calls on his members, but is never out of the office
Is an expository preacher, but always preaches on the family>
Is profound, but comprehensible
Condemns sin, but is always positive
Has a family of ordinary people, who never sin
Has two eyes - one brown and the other blue
It is tough out there for the Pastor as effective ministry is far more complex than in years past.
Whilst there are support systems available the simple steps of Rev 2:5 are worth heeding, “Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first."
It behoves us as colleagues in Ministry, Church Councils, and friends of Pastors to keep asking “How are you doing?”
And sometimes ask “but how are you doing really?"
Pastors and people in Ministry need to read and respond to Revelation 2:4-5 on a regular basis... just as we respond to questions on our growing maturity in other areas… remember your first love!
By: Rev. Ken Anderson
Ministry Advantage Coaching for Australian Pastors
For further reading: An article worth pursuing on this topic is ‘Twenty-Five Ways To Lose Your Passion For Ministry’ from John Mark Ministries
Instead of just telling pastors to remember their first love, how about tell that to the churches they pastor for there is where the real problem is.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately I felt myself becoming cynical over the years. Instead of being in a loving atmosphere where we were a part of a great adventure of growing spiritually together, as the pastor I realized there was this game going on of picking the pastor to death.
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