Psychopatic Tendencies
I had coffee with a church planter today. I felt like I took more away from the meeting than he did even he wanted to ask me questions.
He has a history in psychology and he said something fascinating. He said every profession has unique psychopathic tendencies. He said ministry has two of them: paranoia and exhibitionism.
In light of the ID series, that really resonated. I think pastors tend to be paranoid--people are out to get us. We become defensive. And we dig ourselves a hole in the process because, just like Saul, we're more concerned with what people are thinking than functioning in the anointing that can only come from God. Dealing with criticism is part and parcel of ministry. People don't typically complain about food or movies or clothes. So chefs and producers and designers are somewhat protected. But pastors are called to say to what "itching ears" don't want to hear! We're called to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. Every good message should have some "friction"--iron sharpening iron. We should be saying some things that people don't want to hear, but need to hear anyway.
I think exhibitionism is another fatal tendency. We become show ponies. We do what we do for people to see. We become "professional" Christians. God becomes utilitarian. And we become a hollow shell in the process.
Every pastor needs to consistenly confess and repent of paranoia and exhibitionism.
He has a history in psychology and he said something fascinating. He said every profession has unique psychopathic tendencies. He said ministry has two of them: paranoia and exhibitionism.
In light of the ID series, that really resonated. I think pastors tend to be paranoid--people are out to get us. We become defensive. And we dig ourselves a hole in the process because, just like Saul, we're more concerned with what people are thinking than functioning in the anointing that can only come from God. Dealing with criticism is part and parcel of ministry. People don't typically complain about food or movies or clothes. So chefs and producers and designers are somewhat protected. But pastors are called to say to what "itching ears" don't want to hear! We're called to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. Every good message should have some "friction"--iron sharpening iron. We should be saying some things that people don't want to hear, but need to hear anyway.
I think exhibitionism is another fatal tendency. We become show ponies. We do what we do for people to see. We become "professional" Christians. God becomes utilitarian. And we become a hollow shell in the process.
Every pastor needs to consistenly confess and repent of paranoia and exhibitionism.
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