Saturday, July 19, 2014

Called to Pastor?

Before a pastor can help a church he must become a student of it.
He must learn her ways and her motions, her strengths and weaknesses.
He need discover what gifts she carries in her body, and what her core strengths are, and in knowing this he will also have an idea of her weaknesses for they are often the very same things.

He looks at her foibles and doesn't ignore them or pretend they aren't there, but faces them with honesty and love.

He needs to study and become an expert at her ways, looking at her, listening to her, praying for her and listening for the soft sounds of the Holy Spirit who is at work in her.

If he comes first to listen, and if he comes as a servant to God to discern rather than to dictate, if he comes to love and to give, then perhaps he will be offered the vulnerable place of authority and work hand in hand with the Father, gently directing her in the ways God has for her.

This is not a work for the faint of heart, but it is a good work for those who are called by God to do it. So be brave and very courageous, and serve well.

-Randall Friesen, in the shower, to no one in particular.


*by "he" I could of course mean a she, depending upon the local context. And by "she" here I mean the church as the Bride of Christ.



1 comment:

  1. Today was a difficult day.

    Back among the people, some of our family, finding God was present, thinking about the holes we'd leave behind, feeling doubts. I think we stick with plan A, but this makes it harder.

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