Sometimes
pastors are the loneliest people in the church. Often their hours are long, the
pay minimal, the criticism considerable and constant. Feelings of
disappointment, discouragement, and defeat may begin to plague the best of them.
Paul's
admonition to "serve one another in love" (Gal. 5:13, ‘but by love serve one
another’) should encourage us to remember our shepherds. Here are eight ways to
make their lives better.
1. Cut the
criticism
Presbyterian minister Fred Rogers, creator and host of
television's "Mr. Roger's Neighborhood," once gave an address describing the
time he was a student at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and attended a
different church each Sunday in order to hear a variety of preachers.
One Sunday he was treated to "the most poorly crafted
sermon (he) had ever heard." But when he turned to the friend who had
accompanied him, he found her in tears.
"It was exactly what I needed to hear," she told Rogers.
"That's when I realized," he told his audience, "that
the space between someone doing the best he or she can and someone in need is
holy ground. The Holy Spirit had transformed that feeble sermon for her--and as
it turned out, for me too."
Unlike most workers who are evaluated once or twice a
year, clergy are often critiqued weekly after each worship service. It's not
unusual to hear people say "the music was poor," "the hymn selection was awful,"
or "the sermon was boring." We would do well to remember that most spiritual
leaders work hard to make worship a unique celebration each week.
2. Pray
regularly
Ask God to shower your pastor with an abundance of love,
hope, joy, faith, peace, power, wisdom, and courage. Pray for your spiritual leader's maturity and
growth in the faith. As you pray keep in
mind this wisdom from German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: "If you treat a
person as he is, he will stay as he is; but if you treat him as if he were what
he ought to be, he will become what he ought to be and could be."
3. Express appreciation in
writing
A spoken compliment is always welcome, but a written one
can be read over and over again for years.
So, when you hear or see something you like from your minister, write an
appreciative note.
4. Use your skills to
bless
Are you proficient with computers? Help your pastor
master the church's new computer. Are
you a mechanic? Offer to service the car free of charge or at a reduced fee.
One pastor I know recalls: "I was pastoring my first
church -- a small congregation with limited resources. While there, I developed
a series of dental problems and could not afford treatment. What a joy it was
when a dentist in the church offered to treat me for free. Correcting my dental
problem involved nearly a dozen visits. He treated me carefully and cheerfully
each time. I have thought of that dentist many times since then and the memories
of his kindness continue to bless my life."
5. Squelch
gossip
If you hear a negative comment, respond with a positive
one. If misinformation is being spread,
correct it with the accurate information. Or, if people are gossiping, just walk
away.
Remember the Bible soundly condemns gossip and careless
speech. James 1:26 says, " If any man among
you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own
heart, this man's religion is vain." And Psalm
34:13 reads, " Keep thy tongue
from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile “.
6. Offer to meet a
need
Some people make
their spiritual leaders defensive and angry by saying, "You need to … " That
approach is seldom welcome and almost always counterproductive. If you see a
need, approach your spiritual leader by saying, "I'd like to help by …" If you
see an area that can be improved, take responsibility for working on it.
Be an active participant in your church. Get involved by
teaching a class, leading a workshop, singing in the choir, feeding the hungry.
Ask your spiritual leader where and how you can employ your gifts.
7. Be openly
responsiveNothing so animates and excites a spiritual leader as
seeing people respond to the preaching and teaching. Imagine the surprise and
delight of a pastor in Virginia Beach, Virginia, who, when greeting a visitor to
his church, found she came because of the kindness of a church member who was
her neighbor.
"I'm recently divorced, a single parent and new to this
community," she told the pastor. "To keep up with rent and provide for my three
children, I must work two jobs. That leaves me very little time for yard work. I
was relieved when the weeds didn't overrun my yard as I had feared they might.
However, when I made an unscheduled trip home in the middle of my workday, I
discovered the reason why the weeds had not taken over my yard.
"My 86-year-old neighbor -- a member of your church --
was on his hands and knees pulling my weeds. I barely knew this man and he was
embarrassed to be caught in this anonymous act of kindness. He explained that he
heard you preach a sermon on the importance of living a life of compassion and
kindness and decided to put that sermon into practice by weeding my lawn."
One pastor's heart filled with joy when a group of women
in Washington, D.C., responded to a sermon preached from the words of
Jesus--"Judge not, that ye
be not judged" (Matt. 7:1). After hearing the
sermon, the women decided to give a baby shower for the young woman who provided
childcare while they met for Bible study. She was unmarried, close to going on
welfare, and without support from her family or the father-to-be. The young
woman was moved to tears by the surprise baby shower.
Later, the women explained to the pastor, "Your sermon
taught us that it's possible to reach out to someone in need -- in this case, an
unwed mother -- without judging or condoning the situation."
8.
Throw
away the measuring stick
Don't
expect that your present spiritual leaders will do things the same way their
predecessors did. Lay aside personal agendas and preferences. Instead, focus on how your leader is being
used by God to do effective ministry now. By serving your shepherds, you will
ensure that they will not only be encouraged but will feel appreciated and continue to minister with
enthusiasm and energy.
by
Victor Parachin
