There are many dangers that Tripp
describes in regard to pastoral culture but I think the one thing he said that
zapped me was when he stated how different he was at home and what people saw during times of ministry. It was like having “spiritual schizophrenia.”[1] I
can relate to that as a Pastor myself. Do I allow people to see the real me, or
I’m I just acting until I can get home and be myself? It’s like wearing two
different hats. The book of James talks about the man who looks into a mirror
and immediately forgets what he sees and deceives his own heart (James 1:23-26). There is no more important ministry than the
one I leave everyday and go to work.
In chapter 5, Tripp talks about joints
and ligaments referring to the body of Christ. He asks the question, does it
seem best that most pastors are allowed to live outside of or up above the body
of Christ?[2] I
see this being lived out in my own church. At times I feel isolated not able to
be close with other members of our church for fear of rejection of what they
might see and hear instead of receiving the encouragement and sometimes the
necessary correction from other members of the body of Christ. If we let our
pastors, deacons, elders live in isolation how does one grow in the body?
Years ago I taught my two sons the
importance of serving others first. One son is a West Point graduate, the other
a Tech Sergeant in the Air Force. “For even the son of man did not come to be
served, but to serve and give his life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). Humility
and serving is a mark of a true leader. Following the example of Christ and how
He served others will always cause us to take our eyes off self and put the
interests of others before our needs. We will recognize God’s grace and
compassion on us, and pour it out on others.
Pastors who do not function within the
biblical community by thinking they don’t need help are simply deceiving
themselves. As the author points out, there are pastors who consistently crank
it out day after day helping others and don’t see a need for help from the
community of believers. Colossians 3:15-17 speaks of teaching and admonishing
one another. Without the help of others how can we truly see who we are without
someone helping us to see ourselves God’s way. If the only preacher I hear is
myself, I live in danger of voiding myself of that protective circle of
grace-motivated admonishers.[3]
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