It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. (Ephesians 4:11-13)
October is Pastor Appreciation Month, so it seems appropriate to take a moment and reflect on what it means to be a pastor, and what pastors mean to us. Being a pastor - much like being a teacher, a nurse, a parent, and so many other things - involves much more than the title implies. At first glance, it might seem that a pastor simply delivers a sermon on Sunday mornings, and officiates weddings and funerals when requested. Assuming this is all that pastors do (it's not), even these things require much more planning, preparation, skill, and faith than we realize, and they are almost never performed on the nine-to-five schedule that many of us are accustomed to. A sermon is not just a speech; it is an oratory spiritual meal for congregants. A wedding is not just a rite or a ceremony; it is the joining of two lives in commitment to God and each other. A funeral is not just a final farewell to the dearly departed; it is a reassurance of the risen Christ for the grieving and brokenhearted. I've not performed any of these duties, but I have witnessed them performed many times. The words a pastor uses, and the manner in which he delivers them, have the capacity to inspire one to faith in Christ and to heal a broken heart - or not. No pressure, right?
Of course, there are countless things that parishioners, wedding parties, and mourners never see of their pastors, among them: prayer; triaging the needs of those who enter the church building, call, or email looking for help; juggling the business aspects of keeping the doors of the church facility open; being creative while also being true to the Gospel; visiting the sick, grieving, and shut-ins of the community; fielding multiple questions, suggestions and complaints of church members; and inspiring others to service by engaging in frequent, humble service themselves. Pastors choose a vocation that causes their every word and action to be subject to scrutiny, both from those inside the faith and from those outside the faith looking for any excuse to discredit Christianity.
What does your pastor mean to you? The word "pastor" has the Latin root of "pastorem," meaning shepherd, and more specifically "to tend, keep, pasture, feed, guard, protect." Among those descriptors, the one that stands out to me is the word "feed." Christ saves, redeems, and sustains us through His life-giving blood and the gift of the Holy Spirit. He alone is the leader of the Church. But pastors feed our faith in word and deed. They teach us, comfort us, hold us accountable, and inspire us to service. Such is a calling of utmost responsibility and honor.
Thank you, Pastor Norm, Brian, Deona, Debbie, and all at Christ Church in the past, present, and future who have impacted our community (and us individually) for Christ. We appreciate you! Let us take a moment this month - and anytime the Spirit moves us - to thank and pray for all those in our lives who have fed our faith, whether they are ordained or not.
No comments:
Post a Comment