Confessing and Confronting
Just had an email dialogue with a pastor who is battling some internal challenges. From the sound of it, he's under significant emotional and spiritual attack. Sort of reminds me when Moses had to endure the grumbling of the Israelites.
Sometimes I feel totally spoiled because we've had so few internal issues at NCC. I really feel like God has protected us. And in some ways, I feel like the more vision you have the less problems you'll have because you don't have time for petty problems! I think most church problems are vision problems. Sure, every church has sin problems. But if we had more vision we'd have less time for problems. I think some churches need problems to keep them busy because they don't have enough vision to keep them busy. I hope that doesn't come across as harsh or judgmental. It's just my imperfect opinion.
Can I speak up for pastors? I wish more people took Hebrews 13:17 seriously.
Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.
Here is what Paul is saying: spiritual leadership is tough enough! Don't make it tougher than it already is. Pastors carry a heavy burden, but it's double trouble if the people you lead don't have confidence in you or submit to your spiritual authority. So here's a challenge: try to make leadership a joy for the spiritual authorities you follow.
Here is the advice I gave my pastor friend: confess when you're wrong and confront when you're right.
Pastors need to fess up when they mess up. And I'm not just talking about moral failure. I'm talking about the ability to say I was wrong. But don't be afraid to confront when you're right. Leaders need to say "I'm right" when they are right. We aren't doing anybody any favors if we let them think they're right when they are wrong.
Not confronting when you're right is just as weak as not confessing when you're wrong.
Leaders need to be held accountable for the way they lead and followers need to be held accountable for the way they follow. And I'm going to say something that is easy for a leader to say, but it needs to be said: I think followers will be judged by how much of a burden or how much of a joy they were to lead.
Probably should take this opportunity to thank NCC for making ministry such a joy!
Sometimes I feel totally spoiled because we've had so few internal issues at NCC. I really feel like God has protected us. And in some ways, I feel like the more vision you have the less problems you'll have because you don't have time for petty problems! I think most church problems are vision problems. Sure, every church has sin problems. But if we had more vision we'd have less time for problems. I think some churches need problems to keep them busy because they don't have enough vision to keep them busy. I hope that doesn't come across as harsh or judgmental. It's just my imperfect opinion.
Can I speak up for pastors? I wish more people took Hebrews 13:17 seriously.
Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.
Here is what Paul is saying: spiritual leadership is tough enough! Don't make it tougher than it already is. Pastors carry a heavy burden, but it's double trouble if the people you lead don't have confidence in you or submit to your spiritual authority. So here's a challenge: try to make leadership a joy for the spiritual authorities you follow.
Here is the advice I gave my pastor friend: confess when you're wrong and confront when you're right.
Pastors need to fess up when they mess up. And I'm not just talking about moral failure. I'm talking about the ability to say I was wrong. But don't be afraid to confront when you're right. Leaders need to say "I'm right" when they are right. We aren't doing anybody any favors if we let them think they're right when they are wrong.
Not confronting when you're right is just as weak as not confessing when you're wrong.
Leaders need to be held accountable for the way they lead and followers need to be held accountable for the way they follow. And I'm going to say something that is easy for a leader to say, but it needs to be said: I think followers will be judged by how much of a burden or how much of a joy they were to lead.
Probably should take this opportunity to thank NCC for making ministry such a joy!
4 Comments:
This is a great post, not just for spiritual leaders, but for all leaders.
One issue that many leaders sometimes have a problem with is listening. Good leaders will listen to all that is going on around them to make sound judgments to further the vision. Those that don't will alienate the good followers and they will fall away. And a leader with nobody behind them is no longer a leader.
This is in line with what you posted regarding admitting when you are wrong. It is the qualified comments of followers that will point this out. This is always a challenge, to decipher the burdens from the assistance. This is not an easy thing. That is why there are more followers than leaders. :)
Thanks for the post and staying true to your vision. Keep it up...
Pastor Mark!
Thank you and all the other leaders for making it easy to follow by being open, honest, authentic, and true!
I've said it before, but I'll say it again, Man! I love my church!
David wrote in the Psalms, "when they said, let's go up to the house of the Lord, my heart lept with joy." That's how I feel when I get to go to my church. Rock on NCC.
Thanks Mark for this post. We recently had a few internal issues arise on our worship arts team that challenged my authority and leadership. To say the least for me, it was heartbreaking. But you called it as being a 'vision' issue. I appreciate you wise words on confessing and confronting.
-chad
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