Why Do Pastor's Leave The Ministry?

Dr. Albert Mohler discussed this very important topic on February 9, 2009. You can give a listen to that podcast here.

Due to my being a pastor and particular circumstances I've gone through over the years, there were several statements that really stood out to me in an encouraging way. Here are a couple of those quotes.

"The ministry is not a profession."

"The first thing that you know [if you are called to ministry] is that you have a compulsion to do this--that this compulsion is backed up with the gifts of ministry that Paul very clearly articulates to Timothy in 1 Timothy 3. And that you meet the criteria that are set forth there in scripture for what it means to be a preacher, teacher, minister of the Word of God. But that is not complete until a congregation recognizes those gifts and calls and commissions you to exercise those gifts."

"You can get fired in ministry. That may happen. But I'm going to argue: you just can't quit."

"We have older established churches that want anything but expository preaching. They want anything but the full application of the gospel. They want anything but the recovery of a biblical ecclessiology. Even in a church like that, I wouldn't leave. I'd make them force me out. And if you get fired for the felony of preaching the Word of God, then God bless you. If you get fired for being faithful in ministry and a church just won't have that faithfulness, then you can wear that as a badge of honor."

"When God calls a minister, he better stay called. And if Jesus Christ makes a minister for his church, he better stay made."

Listen to the whole podcast. It's good stuff.

The WORST business plan ever!

As a business major in my graduate studies, it is becoming more self-evident that Gods way of doing things is really bad at making money. I mean the character traits of selflessness, sacrifice, generosity, honesty mixed with the service of ministry is not exactly a compelling business plan for worldly investors.

It is disturbing to see teachers, preachers, and businessmen who proclaim Gods word and use it as a means of financial gain. What is worse is that it has made its way into the church. The Bible speaks clearly on this;

“(there is) constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of truth , who suppose that godliness is a means of gain.” 1 Timothy 6: 5



Do not get me wrong, people do not go into hell by being rich. (There are plenty of wealthy people in heaven) But people go into hell by being greedy. Paul talks about a different kind of wealth and gain in the next verse.

“But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment” v 6

I know one of the richest people in the world whose name will remain anonymous. He lives in a modest apartment in Los Angeles and lives of 25% of his income. With his remaining income, time, and resources he spends ministering to others, evangelizing the Word, and helping those in need. Although he may not be able to afford a huge house or gourmet meals what he gets in return…..money cannot buy.

He has built up the kingdom of God, has a spirit of peace and contentment, and has an influence with people that cannot be bought. This is what God must have been talking about in verse 6.

The tale of two workers

Two people who did the same task were asked what they did over the weekend. Both responded.

Worker one states “It was beautiful I got to help out with a wedding. I help serve food for hundreds of people and it really was great to have God use me to minister this couple and their friends and family.”

On the other hand worker two replies “It was horrible. I worked in the kitchen all day, nothing came out right, and my body hurts. To make matters worse, no one even thanked me.”

Which worker is right? They did the same task. On the outside they both looked like they were serving. But on a much more important question, which one was ministering?

Jesus provides us with an answer in 1 Corinthians 13:1

“If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.”

In service, love is the difference between serving and ministry. Even if the intention and task is right but do not posess love in your heart then you are just mere noise that has no value for teaching or encouragement.

I must admit, I am found myself of falling of the trap of the second worker when it comes to ministry. My sin is having the wrong focus. There is more emphasis on the task than the actual purpose of the ministry and how I treat people around me. Even if the task seems right, and the intentions are good, but there is no love then it disqualifies you from your rewards in ministry.

The Noose Ministry of Judas Iscariot

“Not to put your halo down around your neck and tug you off your cloud” but one thing that scares me about my ministry is how much of it is tainted with pride and ulterior motives no matter my prayers of trying to serve with a pure heart. A trap of ministry is the yearning and seeking for the praise and accolades of fellow men and gloryfying myself instead of God.

I guess one reason why this shakes me to the core is because of the life of Judas Iscariot. He ministered and fellowshipped with Jesus Christ himself. Outwardly his actions and activities looked holy and God honoring. He would often greet Jesus with a holy kiss. But because of his pride and greed, he was the one to betray Jesus.

It all comes down to motives.

What Do You Want On Your Tombstone?

The following quote was taken from "Dear Timothy: Letters on Pastoral Ministry." It serves as a startling and sober reminder that men of God are not here for our own agenda but for the service of the Lord.

"To keep the gospel unadulterated and unchanged and undiluted is very hard. While the word faithful may seem old-fashioned and weak, like the Bible word meek, it is not. It is required of men entrusted with the sacred charge that they prove faithful.

1 Corinthians 4:1-2 This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.

Christian pastors want "faithful" written on their tombstone, not "innovative," not "creative," not "he pushed the envelope." Those terms are left for the biographies of the liberals, the heretics and the heterodox. Biblical shepherds want to hear our Lord say on Judgment Day, 'Well done, good and faithful servant!'"

Get Your Cyborg Name

The Brotherhood

A while ago I posted this piece on a former blog of mine. I thought it'd be a good to reflect on where I was, where God has brought me...and His hand in it all.






BEGIN:
There are few things greater than having a "band of brothers" with whom to serve the Lord in student ministry. In the first church that I served I had "helpers" in student ministry. We all need helpers--those that help set up, clean up, make calls and so on. There's no denying the value of such people in ministry. Big wheels, small wheels, they all help with the inner-workings of church life. Those that served in my former student ministry were invaluable in this capacity. At the same time it seems necessary to have people serving in ministry that function on another level. It is this level of ministry partnership that God has blessed me with at the current church I serve.

I'm not sure how you might categorize such friends in ministry. But I'm not sure that this is most necessary. For discussion sake, I will borrow a term that I read in an article by Sinclair. B. Ferguson. Brotherhood.

There is a group of young men within our church that are very much a Brotherhood. No, we do not have any initiation practices. We do not have any special wardrobe or apparel that we don on special ocassions. On the outside, there's no distinguishing us from any other members in our church. But if you were to dive into our hearts you might see what draws us together. Though not perfect, we all have an intense hunger for God. We have a desire to keep the gospel pure that lost souls might come to know our all-surpassing Savior Jesus Christ. We have a passionate love for God's people. As scripture says of the early believers, we are of one accord. And because we are sons of God who have these common desires, we are drawn together. Now that doesn't mean that we agree on everything or that others in our church are not in accord with us or that we are a faction within our church. It simply means that God has used our friendships in such a way that we push each other towards God. We hold each other accountable. We share with each other what we are learning in order that we do not fall into doctrinal error. In fact, this bond in us is so intense that the thought of "doing" ministry apart is practically unbearable. Although any of us would have God's will over our own desires.

In discussing the "principles that recur in the annals of the expansion of the Christian church", Sinclair B. Ferguson writes in a Tabletalk article titled, "Columba: Missionary to Scotland,"

"The third principle is that God's way, customarily, is to advance His cause through spiritual brotherhoods (not meaning exclusively male societies). Herein lay part of the pwer of the monastic movement, and certainly of Columba's mission: he and his companions, bound together by their common vision, were prepared to risk all for the cause and for one another. This pattern goes back through Scripture to the schools of the prophets, to the Lord and the apostles, to the apostolic missions, to Augustine and his friends, to the great Reformers, and, perhaps most notably in our own history, to the Puritans and to the Great Awakening. Iron sharpens iron.

Columba's story thus serves to encourage us to pray that God would raise up laborers for His harvest, and bind them together to live, serve, and--if need be--give all for Christ and His cause. This so often, has been the instrument God has used to advance His kingdom into future generations."

As I read this portion of the article a few weeks ago for the first time, it resonated with me in such a way that my thoughts dwelt for some time on the goodness of God for giving me such brothers in student ministry. They are the men that are part of this group blog--although a few have yet to post anything! I imagine that they will eventually.

These men are crucial to my spiriutal health. John Piper, in his biography on David Brainerd, said that ministry partners are important becuase they keep up from becoming proud in ministry "success" and they keep us from being discouraged at what seems to be ministry "failure". Yes, they do this for me and so much more. My prayer is that God will use me in some small way to return to them what they have given to me.

I do not know what the future holds, but it would a most wonderful blessing if God allowed us to serve alongside each other til the Lord returns. And if you do not have a "brotherhood" or a "sisterhood", I pray that God brings you into such a fellowship with a group of godly believers.
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In being part of a church plant, one thing I have prayed for and desired is a new brotherhood. Slowly but surely God is answering that prayer. At the same time, I am still privileged to be close friends with those that have moved away or be directed by the Lord elsewhere. Joey, Jeremy, Matt, Ruben, Richie, Paul, Ernesto, Brian, BJ...I love you guys and miss serving together. Maybe one day God will allow us to serve together once again.