I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. I love John Ortberg. Everyone has their favorite commuincators. It’s the people you just connect with and learn from. John is that for me.
Last night (in a moment of ministry guilt) I read THIS fantastic article. It really ministered to me and I’ll bet it will to you.
He wrote…
I often think that guilt is a particular hazard for people involved in ministry and church leadership. I don’t mean the kind of ‘godly sorrow’ that the Spirit brings to lead us to repentance and full life. I mean the kind of chronic cloud of inadequacy and general ‘loserliness’ that chokes motivation and saps energy. So here are a few chronic guilt-inducers that you might want to consider unloading.
Not pleasing everyone.
A friend of mine left the marketplace to start working in the church. He said his biggest surprise in his new role was that it can seem like everyone in the church feels like his supervisor.
Technology makes the greatest talks in the world available to everyone. They’re free to compare and contrast with whomever happens to be the live teacher at their church. And everyone has opinions. Years ago when I spoke at a conference a total stranger came up to me and said, “I thought your voice sounded familiar. A friend of mine gets all your tapes—and sends me the good ones.”
I think pastors in particular struggle with guilt here for a few reasons. One is that the pastorate attracts a disproportionate number of people-pleasers (as opposed to other occupations like being an umpire or marine drill sergeant or wedding coordinator). Another is the nature of our work. We deal with what matters most. If we fail, then the maintenance of sacred doctrine and the eternal wellbeing of souls are on the line. But if my guilt detectors go off every time someone is not pleased with me, they will never turn off! Whom did Jesus not disappoint?
Not reading everything you should
A university faculty member I know says the biggest lie in the academic world is, “Yes, I’ve read that book.” Since I went into ministry, there has been a stack of books and journals that I have not yet gotten through. Calvin and Luther never had to deal with this information glut. Most of the wonderful stuff that keeps getting written every year you will never read. If you did nothing but read all day, you’d never absorb it all. Plus no one would pay you. Get over it.
Not remembering enough names
I have been doing church ministry 30 years. I still don’t have a good response when someone whose name I’ve forgotten says, “Do you remember who I am?” Babe Ruth used to call everyone “Kid,” because he couldn’t remember names. You could go that route. Another option is the one used by Jim Carrey in the movie Liar Liar. When he was temporarily unable to deceive, he greeted somebody with, “Hi! You’re not important enough for me to remember your name.” I wouldn’t suggest using that one.
After mentioning a few other things we shouldn’t feel guilty about he turned the corner and mentioned a few things that are worth feeling guilt about. Like…
Ignoring your spouse, blowing off the kids, hydroplaning over the state of your soul, being apathetic about hunger and suffering and injustice in the world, failing to love the real-life people God places in your church and world.
Boom. That’s what I call a game changer. Don’t just read it today, digest it, think about it, and act.
What would you add to the list of things you shouldn’t feel guilty about today?
Hope you guys have a great Monday!!
