A Minister’s Musings

I love my job. In fact I really don’t have a job; rather, I have a calling. I consider myself blessed to stand before a congregation on Sunday morning and proclaim the Good News of the saving grace of Jesus Christ.

I consider myself blessed to be able to be a part of the fellowship of believers of the congregation that I have been appointed by my Bishop to pastor. I consider myself blessed to have the opportunity to be with people in the crisis moments of their lives and to offer a word of comfort in times of grief.

I consider myself blessed to be privileged to stand before a couple starting their life together and unite them in marriage. I consider myself blessed to have the high honor of serving the Sacrament of Holy Communion and administering the Sacrament of Baptism.

I count it a privilege for persons to come to me seeking God’s guidance in the ethical and moral decisions they face in life.

I truly feel blessed to have been called by God into this work. Yet, at the same time I am also just John. I put my pants on one leg at a time like anyone else. (I tried it another way once and ended up in the emergency room.)

I get angry when someone cuts me off in traffic or drives too slow on the highway in front of me.

I probably ride the referees and officials a little too hard at sporting events. My wife and daughter both tell me I can be a little grumpy. I say that to say this. While I am called by God, God also knew who He was calling when He called me. He knew that He was calling an imperfect vessel.

With these thoughts in mind allow me to offer a few observations. To my brothers and sisters of the clergy let me say, may we never forget that we are human. If we become so full of ourselves, if we become so convinced of our righteousness and our own piety then ultimately we have lost our ability to be in service to the Kingdom of God. Our message is never about our holiness; rather, it is about the one whose grace makes us holy.

To those who sit in our pews on Sunday morning let me say, it is not about the proclaimer, it is about the one who is proclaimed. When we gather for worship on Sundays we do not gather to worship the one who brings the message, we worship the one who stands at the center of that message.

To venerate one’s pastor is in a sense a form of idolatry. Granted over the years one will develop friendships with certain ministers.

Yet, at the core, ministers and clergy alike are all sinners in need of God’s grace. A minister is a flesh and blood human being like anyone else. Let me say it this way—if you ever say “the preacher ought not to do that,” then neither should you.

To all of us let me say, we who profess the name of Christ are all called to be in service in the Kingdom of God. Not all of us are called to fill pulpits, yet all of us are called to do whatever we do for the glory of God.

Whether we sit at a desk, punch a time clock, plow a field, teach a class, or run a household, we are called to serve God. The truth is that Christian service is not a job or an occupation; rather, it is a way of life.

I love my job. Now if I could just get this putting on my pants thing right.