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Senior Member
10 Things Pastors only say to other Pastors
http://chucklawless.com/2015/10/10-t...other-pastors/
1)
I hate people! – I said this once in a sermon. Needless to say, my elders had to sit me down to have a conversation. Many pastors are just overwhelmed by the challenges associated with ministry, causing their mire to be misappropriated.
2)
Most Mondays I want to quit. – After Sunday's adrenaline rush, Mondays often feel like a hangover. That, accompanied with the grind of "doing it all again," can be draining.
3)
I am fighting an ongoing battle with lust built on the sins of my adolescence. – I don't mean to paint your pastor in a bad light, but he is fighting some of the same battles you are fighting. The difference is he has nearly no one he can safely share his struggles with.
4)
My marriage is so strained I'm not sure we will make it. – The divorce rate for pastors is striking, yet somewhat predictable. People who are unable to admit their struggles and unwilling to seek help are set up to fail.
5)
I'm scared to go on vacation. A story every pastor has heard (and fears will become his reality) is the one where the pastor goes on vacation, the leaders meet, and he comes home to a pink slip and a notice to be out of the parsonage ASAP.
6)
My greatest concern is that my kids will leave my home resenting me, hating the church, and rejecting Jesus all because of their experience of being a pastor's kid. – I heard this from almost 100% of the pastors I spoke with.
7)
I'm depressed, and I have to manufacture joy to do my job. – From David to Elijah, Augustine to Luther, Spurgeon to Brainerd, many pastors suffer silently through depression behind a well-manicured smile.
8)
My wife begs me to leave the ministry for a more "normal" life. – Many pastors and their wives dream of a different life where their kids are not under a microscope, they are paid a fair wage, and they have a job with a predictable schedule.
9)
Most of the time I have no idea what I am really doing. – What other job description requires a man to be proficient in oratory, marketing, research, computer information systems, management, finance, and human resources, all while having impeccable theological expertise? Oh, yeah, by the way, you are also expected to raise perfect kids and have a perfect marriage.
10)
If everyone knew how insufficient my devotional life was, they would all leave and I wouldn't blame them. – The emails that await us every morning, the work necessary to develop a quality sermon, and the unpredictable schedule ministry brings—these factors often crush a pastor's devotional life.
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Senior Member
Another one.........The church would be great if it wasn't for the people
No. 6 was my concern but PTL it didn't happen
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Administrator
Originally Posted by
Cardinal TT
Another one.........The church would be great if it wasn't for the people
In essence that's #1. :)
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Senior Member
Originally Posted by
fuego
In essence that's #1. :)
Stop giving away pastoral secrets
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Administrator
I am a pastor and none of those apply to me. I love people, If you don't then not only should you question your calling but even your salvation.
It is not to say that people don't get on your nerves but that is both in and out of the ministry.
I am not afraid to go on vacation, I am not worried about my children, my wife is very supportive of me, I follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit as well as the pastoral training I had been given by others so I know exactly what I am doing, and I spend plenty of time in fellowship with God and I love the Bible.
I know that their are burned out pastors but it is a myth to apply the above to the idea that this is common among pastors. I have a number of pastor friends who love the call of God on their lives. As one of my friends told his congregation last week, "I love my job."
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Senior Member
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Administrator
Oh, don't get me wrong, I went through many of these things as well. I have been discouraged big time on many occasions. Few ministers do not go thru those things. But I think some of the statements in the OP are extreme. It seems like a popular thing today to either bash pastors or to make it appear as if pastoral ministry is so difficult that you will go thru all of the stuff in the OP on a consistent basis. It is almost as if Jesus does not give His pastors grace and strength.
Whenever I have been tempted to be discouraged or any of the above I go to the One who called me to pastor in the first place. If He can't equip me with what I need then I should not be doing this work.
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Senior Member
Originally Posted by
victoryword
Oh, don't get me wrong, I went through many of these things as well. I have been discouraged big time on many occasions. Few ministers do not go thru those things. But I think some of the statements in the OP are extreme. It seems like a popular thing today to either bash pastors or to make it appear as if pastoral ministry is so difficult that you will go thru all of the stuff in the OP on a consistent basis. It is almost as if Jesus does not give His pastors grace and strength.
Whenever I have been tempted to be discouraged or any of the above I go to the One who called me to pastor in the first place. If He can't equip me with what I need then I should not be doing this work.
Good comments
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Senior Member
a few of them are reasonable like burnout, depression, worrying about your kids getting bitter toward church etc
But no. 1 is a deal breaker. If you hate people, you are NOT called to be a shepherd
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Administrator
Originally Posted by
Pentecali
a few of them are reasonable like burnout, depression, worrying about your kids getting bitter toward church etc
But no. 1 is a deal breaker. If you hate people, you are NOT called to be a shepherd
Agreed
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