Remembering The Gift of Pastor

Disclaimer: I do not love my pastor more than I love Jesus. I do not exalt him, however, I do esteem him highly in love for his work's sake.

^{1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 (AMP)}

¹²Now also we beseech you, brethren, get to know those who labor among you [recognize them for what they are, acknowledge and appreciate and respect them all]--your leaders who are over you in the Lord and those who warn and kindly reprove and exhort you.

¹³And hold them in very high and most affectionate esteem in [intelligent and sympathetic] appreciation of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.

I have to give this disclaimer whenever I talk about Pastor Clements because I really love and appreciate him (or rather, the gift of God in him) but I do not want people to get the wrong idea. It's a hard thing to explain, but when you spend most of your life without someone who is called by God to lead and shepherd you, and then suddenly you are supernaturally hooked up with someone who is--well, there are not a whole lot of things you appreciate more. For those of you who grew up in a strong church with a strong leader--let me assure you, you don't want to know what it's like without one. Sadly, many pastors in America today go unappreciated. My pastor shared some statistics with us this morning and I wanted to pass them on to you. He had several sources, but I am just going to use one I found from Schaeffer Institute to give you an idea.

• Over 70% of pastors are so stressed out and burned out that they regularly consider leaving the ministry.
• Thirty-five to forty percent actually do leave the ministry--most after only five years.
• 77% of the pastors surveyed felt they did not have a good marriage.
• 71% stated they were burned out, and they battle depression beyond fatigue on a weekly and even a daily basis.

Some research this same site got from Barna, Focus on the Family, and Fuller Seminary includes:

• Fifteen hundred pastors leave the ministry each month due to moral failure, spiritual burnout, or contention in their churches.
• Fifty percent of pastors' marriages will end in divorce.
• Fifty percent of pastors are so discouraged they would leave the ministry if they could, but have no other way of making a living.

A few other interesting facts:

• The average insurance costs to churches for dealing with mental breakdowns with clergy is four percent higher than any secular industry.
  
• 90% of pastors work more than 50 hours per week.
• One out of three pastors state that being in the ministry is clearly hazardous for their families.

This is really unfortunate America! In my opinion, a large contributing factor to this problem is that most people are ignorant of their pastors position and role in their life, and what their pastor's job really is (and really isn't). Let's look at a few things the Bible says. You know, the church's reference book that tells us what God's plan is.

• Jeremiah 3:15, "And I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding."
• Jeremiah 23:4, "'I will set up shepherds over them who will feed them; and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, nor shall they be lacking,' says the Lord."
• Ephesians 4:11-12, "And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,"
• 2 Timothy 4:2 (AMP), "Herald and preach the Word! Keep your sense of urgency [stand by, be at hand and ready], whether the opportunity seems to be favorable or unfavorable. [Whether it is convenient or inconvenient, whether it is welcome or unwelcome, you as preacher of the Word are to show people in what way their lives are wrong.] And convince them, rebuking and correcting, warning and urging and encouraging them, being unflagging and inexhaustible in patience and teaching.

I don't know about you, but it sounds to me like a pastor's primary job is teaching the Word of God. That last scripture is one of my favorites. Show people in what ways their lives are wrong? Rebuking and correcting? Whoa! I could be wrong, but it seems to me that maybe if more people related to their pastors in light of these scriptures, that maybe the pastors of America would not be so frustrated and facing so much burnout. As a side note, there isn't much point in following a leader if you won't ever let them correct you. How can they help you in life if you won't receive their counsel and you are just going to do whatever you want anyway?

Hebrews 13:17, "Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you."

If you haven't done anything recently, I want to encourage you to do something to show appreciation to your pastor. Do something to help your pastor's job be one of joy and not of grief. It doesn't have to be anything big--maybe just a thank you card with an encouraging scripture. You could also do something to be a blessing to his family. Tell his wife that you appreciate her. This post was primarily about pastors, but pastor's wives and children also deal with a lot.

If you regularly do things to show appreciation to your pastor, what kinds of things do you do? Is there anything that your church does in October for Clergy Appreciation Month? Do you honor your pastor at birthdays and anniversaries? What other ideas do you have? Please leave a comment below! As always, I appreciate and anticipate hearing from you!