In my talks with pastors over the years, I’m not sure why many of them are in the ministry. Some are pretty blunt that they have to make money and they don’t know what else to do. One of the downsides of seminary education is that you are not qualified to do anything. Although, that appears to be the point of all education at this point, but I digress.
When I was preparing for pastoral ministry, my main motivation was thinking I could make the church better. I was judgmental about how churches did stuff. Instead of just complaining about the church, get in there and help if you know so much.
That was my thinking at the time. There was a bit of a Messiah Complex going on, not gonna lie. The church that showed interest in my help was in sort of a desperate situation, a perfect place for a messiah to go. It was a perfect fit.
And, as you can imagine, worked out terribly.
I know other pastors who approached ministry this way as well. They were honestly trying to help the church, but by “help the church” we mean “do church the way that makes me comfortable.”
I think this is the impulse behind 97% of church planting efforts: Let’s finally get a church that does everything how we want it done.
Yes, I know, I’m cynical, I’m also pretty observant and that sure looks like what’s going on.
The Apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 2 explains why he is in the ministry. It’s slightly different from my reason:
God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the ma Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle. (1 Timothy 2:3b-7a)
It appears as though Paul entered the ministry to make much of Christ and let people know Christ was the way and means of salvation. His preaching ministry was to make Christ known.
What a weirdo.
Obviously we all know this is the reason to go into ministry. Duh. In fact, most of us would probably even say it if we were asked, or at least something pretty close. Yet anytime a guy says this is his reason for being in ministry, I’ma go ahead and judge him. “Yeah right. I bet, you sanctimonious fruitcake.”
We know it’s the right answer and that actually it’s the only answer, yet we also know the thoughts and intents of our heart.
Is that really why I’m doing this?
Would I do this if I weren’t getting paid?
Would I do it on my “day off?”
What about to those annoying people I’m sick of talking to?
But wait, does that mean I don’t have to do hospital visits then because I’m too busy preaching about Jesus, because if so, I’d totally make more of Christ then.
What we say we believe is best revealed by what we do. You can say all day long that you are a pastor to glorify Christ, but what do you actually do?
Paul said he was in ministry to proclaim salvation and sufficiency in Christ. That’s the right answer. Is it your answer? Is it your answer in words, or is that actually what you’re doing?
Think about it, and act accordingly.
________________________________________
If you’d like to hear more about my failed Messiahship of a ministry, I wrote a book. CLICK HERE to get a copy of it. There are 9 tips for how to not grow your church for only $3.50!
Failing Pastor 
I think there are different kinds of ministry according to people’s passions, talents, and skills. In Seminary I knew many people who really felt called to hospital chaplaincy, but the denomination insisted they do their time in the congregation. I know of people who had a good church camp or retreat center experience which they wanted to share with others. I myself had a good campus ministry experience I wished I could share. However, most of the openings in my denomination are in struggling, often toxic, low paying congregations. Finally, it is a matter of calling. I see more bi-vocational clergy, who do not rely on the church for their health insurance or major income. I think the days of the “Professional Pastor [educated] are numbered. Had my denomination allowed me, I would have kept my old job in Detroit and simply did weekend preaching, teaching. The larger question as I see it is does the church value a Bible college/Seminary education? If not, simply lay those cards on the table, and pastoral ministry can take the University of Phoenix distance learning model and be done with it.
LikeLike
I think the seminary approach has clearly shown itself to be deficient. Growing up people in the church to serve in that church is the biblical model and one we should go back to.
LikeLike