What's the Big Deal? Addendum

"Lean on me, when you're not strong
And I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long
'Til I'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on"

- Bill Withers

I met with a good friend who goes to another church here in town recently. As he recounted a story about his pastor's lack of love, I became increasingly agitated. Why would a pastor act that way toward the people he or she cares for? But as my friend continued, I slowly came to the cold realization that I am equally guilty of the very same crimes.

See, my friend does a lot for the church he attends. In the past, he used to make incredible sacrifices for the sake of the body, and for his pastor. But then he got hurt, unable to help for several weeks. During his recovery, did his pastor give him encouragement? No. Did he let my friend how much he has appreciated his willingness to step in and get things done over the years? No, unfortunately not. In fact, he did just the opposite. He called my friend up a day after his surgery and asked him when he thinks he'll be able to get back to work at the church. No empathy. No concern. No compassion... he just wanted to know when he was getting his work-horse back on the job. Hey, glad you're better... 'cause I need you!

Somewhere along the way, this pastor looked right past the person -  a person with feelings, and pride, and wounds, and desires, and faith, and deep passion for God - and (at least for a moment) saw nothing more than a tool... a means to an end... a resource to keep his ministry going smoothly. And in the process, he may have chased my friend away for good. At the very least, he has weakened their fellowship in Christ.

Sad, huh?

And way too familiar. Now, I understand: men and women are called to serve for the sake of Christ in the church, not for the recognition of men (and women). Nevertheless, it seems like a nice gesture (heck it's a no-brainer) for a pastor to take a moment to recognize the hard work  folks have done for the benefit of the church... and perhaps even show them some heartfelt appreciation.

But pastors don't always seem to get it, do they? We're in the business of crisis management... the here and now. Forget about yesterday, we got holes to plug, and roles to fill, and work to do. I'd like to say interacting with, and witnessing to people living in darkness is always our highest priority... but I'm not so sure too many of us are as concerned about reaching the lost as we are about getting through the week without a major disaster in our worship service.


So on behalf of well-intentioned pastors everywhere... or at least the one sitting here and typing this blog...

THANK YOU to all who have offered a helping hand to God's Church. Thank you for the big projects... thank you for the mundane tasks... thank you for your willingness to give of yourself, even when your gift is under-appreciated, or criticized, or changed in midstream, or just plain forgotten in the grand scheme of things. We may not remember to say it very often... but trust me, we couldn't do it without you. So thank you. And please forgive us when we flake out, okay?

We are all too human. But, just like you, we're working on this love thing. Good thing we have each other to lean on and walk with, and root for. Good thing we have the ecclesia... the community of church. 

Otherwise, we would just be isolated and alone. That would be sad... and lonely.