Can a pastor (or other person) be TOO “spiritual”?

Robert Moore, Jr posted an article on his blog recently in which he spoke about leaders who are insulated from the realities of the people that they should be leading. (Read his article here.) This concept is similar to the quote that is commonly attributed to Marie Antoinette, “If the peasants do not have bread, let them eat cake.” Note, the Wikipedia suggests that she was not the originator of the phrase. However, the phrase demonstrates the same isolation that the “Emperor’s New Clothes“ describes.

I responded on Rob’s site but this issue ties into the “Authority Under God” series of articles on this site so I am adding it here also. Here, I can include a bit more detail and offer you,  my users, the opportunity to read and respond.

During my two interruptions in pastoral ministry, I learned a lot about the “insulated leadership” that sometimes happens in churches today. I found that the same things that I had said previously from the pulpit sounded quite different when sitting on the pew.

I believe that when a pastor is able to give all of his time to the church (a very desirable situation that I endorse), he or she has a tendency to get isolated into what I call the “glory world.” It is a place where he has the time to study God’s Word and pray and get in touch with God – every day. And, although that level of devotion is possible (and desirable) for EVERY Christian, in my experience, it is not the norm.

The people who sit on the pews on Sunday have spent the entire week fighting the devil – in the person of their supervisor and/or co-worker or someone that they have to deal with every day. When Sunday comes around, he/she is spiritually exhausted and the most spirituality that they feel they can muster is to just get up, get dressed and go to church. And maybe, the pastor will say something, or do something, that will help them get through another week — a week that will start in less than 24 hours!

When the pastor sees these folks, he (having been in his “glory world”) expects them to be just as spiritual as he is. (Let me interject here that pastors are often not as “spiritual” as they feel they ought to be. But feel that they must display spirituality or else the congregation will never be spiritual.) So the pastor expects Mr Pew Sitter to jump right into worship with “both feet.” And in many cases, it just ain’t gonna happen! (Can I get a witness here?)

What do you think?

Have you ever known a pastor or other Christian that you felt was just TOO “spiritual”? Do you think that pastors are always as “spiritual” as they appear? Is it an unforgivable sin to go through a church service with LESS than a “super spiritual,” “glory world” feeling? Tell us about it in the comments section.

In reading the first part of Jeremiah 23, I came recognized some very significant issues concerning the ministry.

Jeremiah 23:1-4 (NIV):

1. “Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture!” declares the LORD.
2. Therefore this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says to the shepherds who tend my people: “Because you have scattered my flock and driven them away and have not bestowed care on them, I will bestow punishment on you for the evil you have done,” declares the LORD.
3. “I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture, where they will be fruitful and increase in number.
4. I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing,” declares the LORD.

Questions:

1. What is the primary job  of a shepherd?
2. Does a true shepherd coose the job?
3. Who gathers up the lost sheep?
4. Who is responsible for the sheep being driven away?
5. What is needed for the sheep to be complete?

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Some ideas to REALLY show your pastor that he/she is appreciated

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The Pastor Appreciation Net website has these ideas (plus others)

They offer the following advice, “Present your pastor with meaningful pastor appreciation gifts. Pastor gifts can [be] given not only during pastor appreciation month but also throughout the year, making every Sunday Pastor Appreciation Day.” Good point. So here are the ideas:

• Actually listen to your pastor’s sermons.
• Better yet, apply the truth of your pastor’s preaching to specific areas of your life and then say “Thank You Pastor, for helping me spiritually”.
• If you nod your head during the sermon, do so because you are in agreement, not falling asleep. (Please avoid shaking your head “NO” should you disagree with something the pastor says during the sermon.)
• Take notes of your pastor’s preaching, hopefully of the sermon.
• Say “amen” when the pastor proclaims spiritual truth, because “amen” means “so be it!” and “right on!”.
• Say “amen” real loud but be careful because it will shock the pastor and some will think a spiritual revival is beginning.
• If you hear someone say “Praise the Lord”, stand up and actually do so! People will be convinced spiritual revival is taking place.
• Give a good report about your pastor, bragging about your pastor in such a way that your relatives and friends just might want to attend church just to meet such a wonderful person.
• Show up at church workdays so that there will at least 2 people present, the pastor and you.

What can I say? That would definitely make almost any pastor happy!!

Here are a few other, more traditional, ways that they offer for showing appreciation:

Be aware of the unique needs of the pastor’s children, providing financial help for church children’s camp or church teen camps as well as youth group retreats.

Suggest your church leaders explore the idea of granting your pastor a pastor’s sabbatical.

A bed and breakfast gift certificate was one of the most memorable pastor appreciation gifts given my wife and [me] by one of our congregations.

Updated September 22:  Here are a few more ideas from My-Pastor.com:

• Adopt a child. Have seniors “adopt” each of the pastor’s kids. The adopted parents or grandparents would commit to pray daily for their adoptee, send them birthday cards and Christmas presents. A senior in my church intentionally seeks one of my daughters out each Sunday. This grandpa gives my daughter a hug and asks her how her week went. She feels special without being self-conscious.
• Make repairs to or paint the pastor’s house. Some pastors are skilled at home projects. Some are skilled and enjoy home projects. Some just enjoy home projects. Then there are pastors like me…I’m neither skilled at nor do I enjoy home projects.
• You might also pay for a year of music lessons, or karate lessons, or gymnastics for the pastor’s children.
• Or you might pay to send a child to basketball camp, or some other unique opportunity.

Along the lines of ministering to the pastor’s children, they offer the following (excellent) advice: “It might help you generate ideas if you ask the question, ‘What do my kids have or what have they done that my pastor’s son or daughter does not have or has not done?‘”

And this one from the North American Church of God (Anderson):

• Pastor appreciation will continue throughout the year when each of our leaders will be treated to a home-cooked meal at least once a month by members of the congregation.

What have you and your church done in the past? Tell us in the comments section below.

“Five-Fold Ministry”

What is often called “the five-fold ministry of the church” has been grossly misnomered as five positions in the Church.

The apostle/bishop – is the only listed ministry that is also a position. But that position is totally misrepresented if the person with the title does not provide the relationship defined by the title.

The other four relationship-ministries may be provided by deacons, sons and daughters, mothers, fathers, grandparents, etc.

• The prophet is the person who provides the WORD OF GOD to all who will hear
• The evangelist is not limited to, or bound by, a local jurisdiction but hungers for the conversion of sinners to the Kingdom
• The pastor is a care-giver, providing care and guidance to all who will receive it.
• The teacher – educates with patience until doctrine is learned.

These ministries are divine relationships – not positions. They are provided by people who themselves are “gifts of the Spirit” to the Church. (Ephesians 4:8) I asked a group of men one day, “How many people do you pastor?” They all responded, “We’re not pastors.” I did not ask them if they were pastors, but they were quick to disavow any pastoral responsibility. I have never met anyone who did not pastor someone. If you pastor someone, then you are a pastor. The question was/is not “Are you are a pastor” but the question is “What are you pouring into the spirit of those you pastor? Where do you wish to lead them and how do you wish for them to act?” A 10-year-old boy overheard my question to these men and responded, “I think I pastor at least 10.” If we will “know the Truth,” it will make a difference.

The contemporary church confuses “manifestations of the Spirit” and “gifts of the Spirit”. Concerning the manifestation gifts, the manifestation IS the “gift”. The fact that any man can witness the works and Word of God is a “gift” from the Spirit to that man. This does not negate the fact that “the word of wisdom,” etc is a gift, but the word of wisdom, etc is a gift to the person it is addressed to while the manifestation is a gift to those who witness it. (1Corinthians 12:7) The mailman is also a gift because he has become a willing vessel for the delivery service offered by the Holy Ghost.

In Ephesians 4:8, the Scripture declares that the people who provide ministries are “gifts” to the church. The deacon is a person who provides ministry to the church and therefore is a “gift of the Spirit” to the church. They provide administration (among other things). Remember, administration is a gift from the individual who gives to the church; The PERSON is the gift that God (through the Spirit) has given to the church.

THESE WILLING VESSELS ARE PRECIOUS PEOPLE WHO BECOME “THE MIGHTY HAND OF GOD” IN THE LIFE OF OTHERS. (1Peter 5:6)

The Office of Deacon

After Christ commissioned the Twelve and created the first course of structure for the New Testament Church, the next order of business was to develop the office of the deacon. The men of God met and commissioned seven men who would facilitate ministry to the local church in Jerusalem and to the surrounding communities.

• A church without deacon ministry is a church pastored by a deacon who has not been properly discipled in the way of Biblical New Testament ministry.
• When the senior pastor is the lead deacon in a church, the church will repeatedly bounce off the ceiling at 75-125 in attendance.
• One deacon can effectively pastor about 50-75 people.  You may add 25-75 for each active deacon in a congregation. A deacon will be most effective serving between 25 and 50 people. That number may vary with his availability and effectiveness.
• The deacon is a bishop/apostle in training.
• A church pastored by a deacon will develop that deacon to the level of apostleship if the church is healthy and its members will embrace the commission of Christ to “Go ye, and teach, and baptize”
• Who has the responsibility to: “Go ye, and teach, and baptize”?

• Preachers?
• Pastors?
• Deacons?
• All Believers?

• What would happen if everyone in the church accepted their Discipleship responsibilities?
  • GO YE – where?
  • TEACH – who?
  • BAPTIZE – how?

The Biblical Qualifications of the Deacon Read the rest of this entry »

The work of the apostle (this information is provided for foundation):

• The original apostles (“living stones”), when laid upon Christ (“the Chief Cornerstone”) provided the “first course” in the building (cf. 1Pe 2:5,6)
• Apostles provide oversight of the deacon’s office of service. Paul became an apostle even after the 11 chose a replacement for Judas, at which time there were then 13 apostles.
• Apostles are added to the Church as men embraced their calling in God.
• Ecclesiastical orders do not bestow the bishop-prick or apostle-ship, they only embrace that which God has already commissioned in the life of an obedient disciple.
• Even the Apostle Paul had to “submit” himself to a man named Ananias, indicating that Ananias was a “discipler of men”.
• The apostle is equivalent in office and administration as the bishop.
• The senior pastor in a congregation should be a bishop/apostle.

In the event that there are mission works (groups of people) pastored by deacons, then these deacon-pastors should be provided apostolic leadership. The tutelage of a bishop should develop the local deacon-pastor to also become a discipler of developing deacons in their respective groups or mission works.

1. The primary responsibility of the bishop/apostle is to provide the Word of God with “power and demonstration” to those for which they are responsible. Secondarily they are to provide pastoral guidance to their deacons.
2. The contemporary model for the pastor will often have a senior pastor spend more time on the phone, visiting the sick, or even calling on sulking church members than they do studying the Word. This only happens when there is no active Deacon Ministry in the congregation. The design of the New Testament Church provides “Care Ministry” through the work of deacons (pastors).
3. The bishop/apostle of a New Testament Church disciples deacons who, in turn, provide ministry to a community, their immediate area, and to the world.