Minister With Joy
Minister with Joy
Now we ask you, brothers, to give recognition to those who labor among you and lead you in the Lord and admonish you. (1 Thess. 5:12)
People often complain to my husband about the pastors in our church. You see, my husband is a deacon and is on the church’s personnel committee, so members feel free to call and complain about what isn’t going their way. The sermon’s too long. The music isn’t contemporary enough, traditional enough, reverent enough, loud enough. The family minister doesn’t offer a full-blown children’s church. The youth minister isn’t having enough socials for the students.
My husband was on the phone today with a particularly rude member, one who calls to complain often, and I heard my husband say: “Paul, God has called this man to be our pastor. I’m sorry he doesn’t do everything to your liking, but this is God’s church. I would advise you to pray about it, and then talk to Pastor Joe face-to-face to discuss any suggestions you have. But remember, God says our pastor has been appointed by the Holy Spirit to shepherd His flock.”
His words prompted me to renew my commitment to encourage and stand by the shepherds God has appointed to labor among us, to admonish us, and to lead us in the Lord. The pastors at our church spend their lives serving their congregation, and I want to encourage them so they can minister with joy.
An imperfect shepherd leading an imperfect flock. Sounds odd, doesn’t it? But because we live in a fallen, imperfect world, our pastors are fallen, imperfect people (just like their fallen, imperfect congregations). God has placed the responsibility of shepherding His flock, His church, in the hands of pastors who are called and appointed by the Holy Spirit (Acts 20:28). So let’s support and encourage them.