The Tent: A safe place for shepherds to reflect together
RegisterRegister   Log inLog in 

Vigilance or overly busy?

 
Post new topic   Reply to topic
ShepherdLeader.com Forum Index -> While Shepherds Watch Their Flocks -> Day 27: My Sleepless Shepherd
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
Jamie



Joined: 11 Dec 2007
Posts: 35

PostPosted: Tue Dec 11, 2007 7:53 pm    Post subject: Vigilance or overly busy? Reply with quote

I am probably starting to sound like a broken record here, but how much of this “vigilance” and “busyness” is normal and expected and part of doing our jobs well and how much of it is an unhealthy belief that nothing spiritually significant will happen without our presence, a fear that others won’t be able to accomplish a certain task as well as ourselves, etc. Again, I am coming from the perspective of having witnessed one too many pastors sacrifice his and his family’s well-being for the sake of “shepherding the flock.” Simply put, many congregations expect the pastor to be present for every church function. Eugene Peterson has a wonderful autobiographical story about this in Under the Unpredictable Plant – one night his daughter asked him to read her a bedtime story and he said he couldn’t because he had to go to a church meeting. Her reply left him speechless: “This is the thirty-seventh night in a row you’ve had to go to a church meeting.” It almost goes without saying that this was a major turning point in his vocation and the beginning of his journey toward contemplative ministry. He stopped attending finance meetings, building committee meetings, etc. and devoted himself to the spiritual direction of the flock. When are the occasions the senior pastor’s presence is absolutely critical and when is it just another darn meeting? And what about people who take advantage of pastors’ natural tendency to care and help?
And what does it look like for me to be the shepherd of my family first and the church second? I think most (hopefully all) would say they agree to “family first,” but…(you know the rest). How does shepherding my family first realistically play out in the crucible of vocational ministry? Usually not too well – at least in my own experience – I’m afraid.
I have heard that Andy Stanley, pastor of NorthPoint Community Church in Atlanta (a super-mega-church, around 20,000 attendees, I think) does not work more than 40 hours per week (and expects the same for all of his staff). I haven’t verified this from the horse’s mouth, but it’s something I’ve heard repeated in church circles more than once. If it’s true, it’s pretty incredible.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
corinthpastorbob



Joined: 17 Dec 2007
Posts: 42
Location: Hickory, NC

PostPosted: Sun Jan 27, 2008 7:57 am    Post subject: Balancing Life's Demands Reply with quote

I did a quick Internet search on Andy Stanley's work week, and I think the number is 45. But that's still impressive for a megachurch senior pastor. My sense is that from the beginning Andy had a staff to work with - his name and background probably means that he never started "from scratch." But I still respect his boundaries.

I have to say, though, that I don't think Scripture lifts up either "family first" or "church first." Both approaches to life can be driven by self rather than kingdom motivations.

Many years ago I read "Balancing Life's Demands" by J. Grant Howard. It was a freeing book for me. Howard argues that the attempt to sequence our "priorities" 1-2-3 and so on is not a biblical focus. Rather the goal is "balance." A better analogy than a list is a wheel. God is at the center, and everything else flows from the center like spokes, always connected to him.

Frankly, there are times that the church must come before family. But if that becomes "thirty-seven nights in a row," then I do, indeed, need to examine my Messiah complex and my need to be needed. The Lord also called me to be a husband and father, and he does, indeed, give sleep to those he loves as a reminder that he doesn't need a 24/7 hand from me to keep his world or his work going.
_________________
Bob Thompson
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Display posts from previous:   
ShepherdLeader.com Forum Index -> While Shepherds Watch Their Flocks -> Day 27: My Sleepless Shepherd
Post new topic   Reply to topic All times are GMT - 5 Hours
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   ProfileProfile   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 


Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group