"So, you're studying to be like a pastor or priest or something?" It's a pretty natural question, considering I am in a seminary, although I think the answer is closer to 'something' than pastor. Part of the reason is that I make a better teacher than anything; the other is that being a pastor, as near as I can figure, is the hardest job out there. I've gotten a decent taste of it here, and have filled certain pastoral roles enough to make me appreciate the full time ministers out there. Because appreciating these people is a really good idea, I thought I'd share some of these observations. In the words of Iñigo Montoya, "let me explain...no, there is too much. Let me sum up."
1. Pastors are people. These may seem obvious, but a pastor doesn't leave his or her personality behind when called to the ministry or speaking from the pulpit. The dynamic of the seminary group ranges from Angel, whose gestures are louder than his voice, to straight-talking Franco; from nearly always upbeat Tatiana, to Camilo, who tends toward melancholy even on sunny days. The church needs each type of leader. It needs women like Julia who can prayerfully intercede with tears. It needs men like Diego who can confront gently. It needs people like Mecha who can joke a point across or Gaby who can talk with anyone or Luci who can encourage thoughtfully or Raul who can lead worship in music and attitude or Agus who will tell the truth. That said...
2. Pastors are individuals. If pastors are anything like their seminarian selves- and I suspect they are- then no matter how much they try to be "all things to all people, to reach some," at the end of the (Sun)day they are...themselves. Don't expect or ask them to be Billy Graham or Joyce Meyer or your former pastor. Every now and again, encourage them to work in the style that they work best, on the topic that they're most passionate about: it's something to behold.
3. Pastors are poor. Most of the seminarians have given up any hope of being "successful" by society's standards, and all will make their living by a side job or skill. Computer technician. Music lessons. Teaching (double-bonus there). That said, be so generous that they never have to preach on tithing. Seriously. There's a lot of heresy around that topic and they'd just as soon NOT go there to pay the bills.
4. Exegesis (what did this mean?) is easy. Hermeneutic (what does this mean today?) is easy. A GOOD exegesis and hermeneutic is hard. It takes work, time, resources, the Holy Spirit, and (dare I say it?) brains. If your pastor has done both well, the Bible may end up contradicting the top-selling self-help book or your neighbor's pet philosophy. Or supporting- you never know. A good sermon or teaching should leave you full enough of God's word to share with someone in need, and hungry enough to devour more.
5. Pastors do it all. Counselor. Exorcist. Theologian. Babysitter. Advisor. Academic. Musician. Teacher. Speaker. Tech guy. Accountant. Psychologist. Leader. Janitor. Executive. Host. Confidant. And, especially if they live near the church, they are on call. All the time. Staying at my friend Ani's house (whose parents are pastors), I was amazed that the stream of "visitors" was steady from 7 am to 1 am. Not kidding.
6. ...but that doesn't mean they should. I'll keep this simple: help your pastor out. These men and women are not only happy to share the Gospel with you, but also "their very lives." They've given up time, energy, privacy, and more to serve you, and they do a lot of it on their own. That's not how the church is supposed to work. Pull together.
7. Pastors wouldn't be pastoring if they hadn't felt called by God to shepherd His flock. Yep, that's us, sheep (pastor=shepherd in Spanish). Sheep and people can be very tough to work with, so let's keep the politics to a minimum, eh? But, we all are the very ones who are closest to the good Shepherd's heart. If you have the sort of pastor that I've just described- the kind my co-seminarians are becoming- thank God for them. Support them. Encourage them. Follow them as they follow Christ. And try not to head-butt them too hard.
1. Pastors are people. These may seem obvious, but a pastor doesn't leave his or her personality behind when called to the ministry or speaking from the pulpit. The dynamic of the seminary group ranges from Angel, whose gestures are louder than his voice, to straight-talking Franco; from nearly always upbeat Tatiana, to Camilo, who tends toward melancholy even on sunny days. The church needs each type of leader. It needs women like Julia who can prayerfully intercede with tears. It needs men like Diego who can confront gently. It needs people like Mecha who can joke a point across or Gaby who can talk with anyone or Luci who can encourage thoughtfully or Raul who can lead worship in music and attitude or Agus who will tell the truth. That said...
2. Pastors are individuals. If pastors are anything like their seminarian selves- and I suspect they are- then no matter how much they try to be "all things to all people, to reach some," at the end of the (Sun)day they are...themselves. Don't expect or ask them to be Billy Graham or Joyce Meyer or your former pastor. Every now and again, encourage them to work in the style that they work best, on the topic that they're most passionate about: it's something to behold.
3. Pastors are poor. Most of the seminarians have given up any hope of being "successful" by society's standards, and all will make their living by a side job or skill. Computer technician. Music lessons. Teaching (double-bonus there). That said, be so generous that they never have to preach on tithing. Seriously. There's a lot of heresy around that topic and they'd just as soon NOT go there to pay the bills.
4. Exegesis (what did this mean?) is easy. Hermeneutic (what does this mean today?) is easy. A GOOD exegesis and hermeneutic is hard. It takes work, time, resources, the Holy Spirit, and (dare I say it?) brains. If your pastor has done both well, the Bible may end up contradicting the top-selling self-help book or your neighbor's pet philosophy. Or supporting- you never know. A good sermon or teaching should leave you full enough of God's word to share with someone in need, and hungry enough to devour more.
5. Pastors do it all. Counselor. Exorcist. Theologian. Babysitter. Advisor. Academic. Musician. Teacher. Speaker. Tech guy. Accountant. Psychologist. Leader. Janitor. Executive. Host. Confidant. And, especially if they live near the church, they are on call. All the time. Staying at my friend Ani's house (whose parents are pastors), I was amazed that the stream of "visitors" was steady from 7 am to 1 am. Not kidding.
6. ...but that doesn't mean they should. I'll keep this simple: help your pastor out. These men and women are not only happy to share the Gospel with you, but also "their very lives." They've given up time, energy, privacy, and more to serve you, and they do a lot of it on their own. That's not how the church is supposed to work. Pull together.
7. Pastors wouldn't be pastoring if they hadn't felt called by God to shepherd His flock. Yep, that's us, sheep (pastor=shepherd in Spanish). Sheep and people can be very tough to work with, so let's keep the politics to a minimum, eh? But, we all are the very ones who are closest to the good Shepherd's heart. If you have the sort of pastor that I've just described- the kind my co-seminarians are becoming- thank God for them. Support them. Encourage them. Follow them as they follow Christ. And try not to head-butt them too hard.
This is great! Thank you for sharing your insight. You are spot on! ��
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sharon! Welcome back to Oregon!
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