Could you become a pastor for the wrong reasons? Karl Vaters of CHRISTIANITY TODAY argues that you could.[1]
“People become pastors for so many wrong reasons. They like the status. They like speaking in public. They like arguing theology. They come from a long line of ministers. The list goes on.”
The trouble with entering the ministry for the wrong reasons is that you will fail. It may be burnout—you can work hard with the most pure intentions, but if God has not called you, you will burn out. Or the stress and unique temptations of a ministry career may drive you into a moral or even criminal failure. These are not trivial concerns. Are you thinking that would never happen to me? I hope you are right. But I have personally witnessed extraordinary moral and criminal failures.
I know a young preacher who was convicted of embezzling over $800,000 from his church. A close friend of mine was murdered by her pastor-husband. A third friend was working in youth ministry when he received a 25-year sentence for child molestation. These are people I knew personally—and I didn’t bother to list the more “ordinary” failures of adultery and broken homes.
A ministry career is not easy, and it is not for everyone. (Are you prepared to face a “stricter judgment”?) James says, “Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such, you shall incur a stricter judgment” James 3:1.
Read this passage from Romans in which the word “Jew” has been replaced by “Preacher.”
“Now if you call yourself a Preacher, and rest in the law, boast in God, know His will, and … are convinced you are a guide for the blind, a light to those in darkness, an instructor of the ignorant, a teacher of the immature, having the full expression of knowledge and truth in the law—you then, who teach another, don’t you teach yourself? You who preach, ‘You must not steal’—do you steal? You who say, ‘You must not commit adultery”—do you commit adultery? You who detest idols, do you rob their temples? You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? For as it is written, ‘The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you’” Romans 2:17-24.
Lost people do not need more reasons to blaspheme God. Is your life going to bring honor to the name of Christ or dishonor?
If you are in the ministry, take the time to “GUARD YOUR HEART for from it flow the springs of life” Proverbs 4:23. Take a sabbatical every year. Take a sabbath every week. Take time daily to commune with God. Check your heart. Your personal walk with God matters more than your huge To-Do list.
And if you are considering a ministry career, think hard on these closing words from Vaters:
“There are only two good reasons to become a pastor. (1) Because you have an unshakable call from God to help people know Jesus and grow in their relationship with Him and each other, [and] (2) Despite how hard it is to be a pastor, it’s harder for you not to be a pastor….
“The unique call of the pastor is to live among the sheep as we equip them … You have to love Jesus. You have to love people. You have to love equipping, mentoring, and discipling people. You have to be willing to stick with them over the long haul—through good times and bad.
“If you’re looking for something other than that, you need to look elsewhere. If you can’t find God’s will for your life doing anything but that, welcome to the pastorate. It’s the hardest job you’ll ever love.”
Dear God,, may those of us who are laymen do a better job encouraging and praying for the pastors and ministers among us. Give us insight and compassion about the struggles they face. Make us wise comforters to everyone in vocational ministry.
ΑΩ
[1] So Many Wrong Reasons to Become a Pastor | Pivot | A Blog by Karl Vaters (christianitytoday.com)
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