Churchtown Church of God
717-258-5337
  • Home
  • Pastor's Blog
  • About Us
    • I'm New Here
    • Find Us
    • What to Expect
    • We Believe
  • Resources
    • Announcements/Events
    • Churchtown Concert Series
    • Ministries >
      • Men's Ministry
      • Women's Ministry
      • SON SEEKERS
      • Children's Ministry
      • Choir
      • Music
      • Gallery
  • Prayer
  • Media
  • Contact

All In...

10/8/2014

1 Comment

 
I spent the last year of my seminary education learning all about the hazards of becoming a Pastor. They threw so many negative statistics at me - like Pastors have a suicide rate 7 times that of the average person; or pastors are 15 times more likely to be addicted than a person in another walk of life. It was almost as if they were trying to scare me away. I think that perhaps they are scaring people away considering that the pastorate is losing people almost twice as fast as they are being replaced. Churches are closing. For all intents and purposes we appear to be fighting a losing battle - but that's only because we are.

I grew so weary of this facet of my "education." I endured self-help book after self-help book, leadership book after leadership book, as well as self-care and resiliency training -  all of which was based on the same faulty premises: 1. That the issues that led to the burn out and eventual burning up of pastors was either the fault of the congregations that he or she served or the fault of the pastor himself; and 2. That I could somehow, if I learned enough, save myself from the same fate.

What was obvious to me throughout the learning process, and I could never figure out why it was not obvious to others, was that the issues that pastors face are not human problems - they are spiritual problems; and that the battle for pastors and other Christian leaders is not with their congregations or with themselves, but with Satan - the father of all lies. In short, it is not human warfare but spiritual  warfare that is in play - as such, there is no amount of education outside the Word of God than can serve me in victory.

I do not simply want to survive this "job," I want to thrive in my calling. This is only possible when I stop looking outward for solutions and start looking inward, and upward, to my Lord and Savior. Jesus Christ has defeated Satan, I know this to be true. Claiming that truth, thus rebuking the lies of Satan, is the only true defense against the weapons of this world that my enemy wields so expertly. My life should not be dedicated to finding ways to build boundaries between myself and the people to whom I have been called to pour out my life; but to ways through which I can submit more dutifully and more completely to the Lord Jesus Christ.

In short, the answer is not to draw back but to go ALL IN.

One hundred percent given over to the will of God and the life that God has planed for me. One hundred percent trusting that I am where I am supposed to be and doing what I am supposed to be doing. One hundred percent submitted to the idea that if God wants me moved, He alone will move me.

I do not worry about how "good" I am; how "successful" I am or what people are thinking or saying about me. I worry as to whether or not I am honoring God in my position as pastor - and in order to do that I MUST first submit my will to His.

I have preached these words many times, "There is no safer place that you will ever be than in God's will." I either believe that or I don't.

I do.   I'm all in.

Are you?
1 Comment
Mark Snyder
10/9/2014 01:34:57 am

Being a Pastor is a Calling. Its what the Master calls us to do. We are with out a doubt ,incomplete if we do something different with our lives.Jesus always called FOLLOWERS The concept that Christ was expressing was that of the old Rabinical schools,where you would follow so closely to the teacher ,gathering the wisdom he spoke ,That by days end you were covered with the dust from his shoes ! We are doing as we were asked. Its the physical act that is the manifestation of the Love we have for Christ! We sere just to make Christ smile. You my brother are an absolute inspiration to jr. Pastors. I'm all In ! No return trip, no whining my way back to Egypt ALL IN !!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Pastor Brian is the senior pastor of Churchtown Church of God and regularly shares his thoughts & insight here - he invites you to join in the discussion of life & faith!

    Archives

    December 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    September 2019
    June 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    April 2015
    October 2014
    August 2014
    June 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    August 2013
    July 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    August 2012

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

ABOUT US

About the CGGC

What We Believe

Time and Location

RESOURCES

Announcements/Events

Ministries

CONNECT TO US

Subscribe to the Pastor's Blog

Listen to the Messages Online

Like Us on Facebook

Follow Us on Twitter

Copyright (c) 2016 Churchtown Church of God 
Website by Missional Media