The church can get slick. Its ministers can become perfunctory in their tasks. I guess that’s why I love Pastor John Piper’s excellent volume, Brothers, We Are Not Professionals (great title!). Read his words carefully.
Not long ago, I spent some time with a pastor who serves in a church that’s more than 100 years old. As we sat down to have lunch together, I couldn’t help but notice his slumping shoulders and frequent sighs. He seemed weary and burdened. I asked him to describe the church where he has served for many years. After a pause and another deep sigh, he looked me in the eyes: “Chuck, I can sum it up in one word—dysfunctional.” He continued, “The ruts that have been formed are so deep and so long, it’s hard to imagine I could have any influence in pulling the church out . . . and getting it back on track.” As I listened to his words, I found myself nodding in sympathy. “How tragic,” I responded. His joy was gone. His hope was fading. His exciting dreams of yesteryear had turned into boring and predictable reruns.
That conversation reminds me of Ray Stedman’s words regarding the moment he crossed the border into Alaska: “I saw a hand-painted sign on the side of the road that read, ‘Choose your rut carefully. You’ll be in it for the next 200 miles.’” The same can be said of many a church. Obviously, the preference is to avoid the ruts altogether. But what if you find yourself stuck in one, as my pastor friend did? You need to take the difficult but necessary steps to begin climbing out. Climb alone, if necessary.
But climb!
1 John Piper, Brothers, We Are Not Professionals: A Plea to Pastors for Radical Ministry (Nashville: B&H, 2002), 1–2.
We pastors are being killed by the professionalizing of the pastoral ministry. The mentality of the professional is not the mentality of the prophet. It is not the mentality of the slave of Christ. Professionalism has nothing to do with the essence and heart of the Christian ministry. The more professional we long to be, the more spiritual death we will leave in our wake. For there is no professional childlikeness (Matt. 18:3); there is no professional tenderheartedness (Eph. 4:32); there is no professional panting after God (Ps. 42:1). . . .The church was NEVER meant to be a “professional organization.” We’ll let the world have all of those. The church is not a slick, efficient corporation with a cross stuck on its roof. It is a ministry. We do not look to the government for support or to the state for direction. We don’t seek the counsel of Wall Street for financial suggestions. We have one Head, the Lord Jesus Christ. We do not rely on any earthly organization or some rich individual to sustain the ministry. The church is a spiritual entity, built up and supported by its Founder, Jesus—who promised to build His church (Matthew 16:18).
Our business is . . . to deny ourselves and take up the blood-splattered cross daily (Luke 9:23). How do you carry a cross professionally? We have been crucified with Christ; yet now we live by faith in the one who loved us and gave Himself for us (Gal. 2:20). What is professional faith?
We are to be filled not with wine but with the Spirit (Eph. 5:18). We are God-besotted lovers of Christ. How can you be drunk with Jesus professionally? Then, wonder of wonders, we were given the gospel treasure to carry in clay pots to show that the transcendent power belongs to God (2 Cor. 4:7). Is there a way to be a professional clay pot?1
Not long ago, I spent some time with a pastor who serves in a church that’s more than 100 years old. As we sat down to have lunch together, I couldn’t help but notice his slumping shoulders and frequent sighs. He seemed weary and burdened. I asked him to describe the church where he has served for many years. After a pause and another deep sigh, he looked me in the eyes: “Chuck, I can sum it up in one word—dysfunctional.” He continued, “The ruts that have been formed are so deep and so long, it’s hard to imagine I could have any influence in pulling the church out . . . and getting it back on track.” As I listened to his words, I found myself nodding in sympathy. “How tragic,” I responded. His joy was gone. His hope was fading. His exciting dreams of yesteryear had turned into boring and predictable reruns.
That conversation reminds me of Ray Stedman’s words regarding the moment he crossed the border into Alaska: “I saw a hand-painted sign on the side of the road that read, ‘Choose your rut carefully. You’ll be in it for the next 200 miles.’” The same can be said of many a church. Obviously, the preference is to avoid the ruts altogether. But what if you find yourself stuck in one, as my pastor friend did? You need to take the difficult but necessary steps to begin climbing out. Climb alone, if necessary.
But climb!
—Chuck
1 John Piper, Brothers, We Are Not Professionals: A Plea to Pastors for Radical Ministry (Nashville: B&H, 2002), 1–2.
But how can pastors "be all things to all men" if we do not act professionally in our ministry. I agree that professionalism is not the end but a means to reach this world for Christ "who wants all men (including those who prefer professionalism) to be saved."
How can I balance doing ministry in a professional manner without succumbing to too much non-spiritual metrics to measure growth and success?
I like the part on climbing out of the rut :-) God bless you,
Paul
Posted by: Paul P. Calamiong | October 28, 2009 at 01:21 AM
Paul, Let me encourage you to be all things to all men so that you may save a few. Paul does not seem to take that same approach with the church. Most that seems to make us weary and burdened is the expectations of the church, not the unbelievers. Let me add to this that when we choose a profession we tend to get focused on a job description rather than our unique calling. May we discover and live our unique callings as ministers of Jesus, not as Pastor of such and such church.
Posted by: Jonathan King | October 28, 2009 at 05:56 PM
Gentlemen, for me it seems a littlr harder than just saying, "climb out of the rut". Our church just celebrated its 179th year. I have only been a pastor there for 2 and 1/2 years. I am a by-vocational pastor and feel that the rut is slippery and there are some that keep pushing me back down into the rut. I have prayed a great deal about this and am having trouble putting sermons together. The roots are very deep and even though people say that our church has a lot going on, it is only because of the hard work of my wife and some others that have now left because they have lost control. The rest of the church is sleeping at the wheel. I know that with Gods help this can turn around, but god also gives free will and i am not sure that the people will wake up.
Posted by: John | October 29, 2009 at 10:46 PM
Chuck, this isn't designed as a comment to go on your website. I couldn't find another easy way to contact you.
I'm offering you a pre-release copy of the new Bible as Poetry New Testament if you would like to blog about it.
Send a request to the above email address and I'll send you an electronic copy by return email.
Posted by: Phil Ward | October 31, 2009 at 10:28 PM