Pastor Art Rogers, with wife Bonnie, Jimmy and Hannah. Photo: twelvewitnesses.com
This is Pastor Appreciation Month, rightfully observed by Christians everywhere. As a pastor for more than 20 years, having been pastored by many before and during that time and having a goodly number of friends who are pastors, here are some thoughts as to why I personally appreciate pastors and hope that each of them has blessed times this month.
First, I appreciate you for the burdens you carry. Most of your congregation will never know, not in a million years or lifetimes, how frequently and willingly you bear the burdens of others. They never see you up in the middle of the night, staring at nothing in particular, robbed of sleep by the pressing needs of a hurting family. I know the numbers of conversations between you and your spouse that have to do with church life, concerns about the flock and uncertainty about your own effectiveness. I know that even on vacation you cannot completely empty your mind of those over whom God has made you overseer or from the next message that you will give.
Second, I know that you are trying to do your best. This is not to say, of course, that you are "perfect or have already attained." No realistic person should expect that every decision you make is going to be on the money. I also know that you take more criticism than is warranted, mostly from people are not called to do what you do and could not do it as well with a five year head start. But it is clear that you are doing the best you can with the with gifts and abilities that God has given you. Do it all through Him and for Him, letting Him determine your validity and effectiveness. He's easier to please anyway. Church members lend an ear: Your pastor already knows he's not perfect; reinforcement brings neither encouragement nor enlightenment.
Third, I know you are not in it for the money. There is not a single pastor that I know that is just collecting a paycheck. While I suspect that these exist and that some, perhaps many, are in large churches or ministries simply for an income, I do not know any of these. The pastors and ministry leaders I know are trying to be faithful to a call that God has placed on their life-to lead, feed and protect the people of God. Many do so without the "luxuries" that those in the flock enjoy and many give more money, by a wide margin, than most in the churches they lead.
Fourth, many of you have been pastors to me through good times and bad. Joe Brown and Malone Cochran (both deceased), Todd Wright, Turk Holt, Larry Wynn, Billy Britt, Steve Parr, Thomas Hammond, Steve Cohoon, John Williams, Danny Ashworth, Dan Brothers, Brandan Lail, Ronnie Cansler, Joey Jernigan, Dean Garrett and perhaps a few I have missed. The list of friends who have pastored me (apart from my actual pastors) would surely cause an EPIC FAIL for Google it would be so lengthy.
Fifth, the proverbial "thankless task" doubtless arose from the office of pastor. It amazes me how many church folks are quiet with their praise and loud with their criticism. The old adage, "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all," is often taken to unimaginable extremes. In fact, some pastors serve people who find it so difficult to think of something nice to say that a fair examination would lead an impartial observer to wonder whether the members of such a church have any thoughts at all!
I do thank you. For sleepless nights, tireless days, endless study, powerful teaching, exemplary lives, immeasurable effort, thankless toil, heartfelt love, biblical fidelity, consistent discipleship, lifelong followship, meaningful fellowship, determined leadership, joyful giving, passionate shepherding, vigilant protection, and Christ-like devotion. Until you receive the crown of glory (1 Peter 5:1-4) please receive this encouragement because you are genuinely appreciated!
Related: Believers everywhere observe Pastor Appreciation Month as will Southern Baptists
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Comments
Good words, Marty. Some never really realize just what pastors go through and the life of sacrifice they really give.
Nice looking family... I particularly enjoy the fact that the picture is embedded in a paragraph that describes sleepless nights and questioning [my] own effectiveness. ;)
Good article.
Thank you Marty. In my five years in the pastorate only once did I hear kind words closely resembling these and it was at a good bye reception in leaving my first church. Why do we wait for folks to leave before telling them what they mean to us? I admit that I may print off your article and save it pretending that you are a church member of mine writing it to me.
Excellent article Marty. Keep up the good work. You are reaching a lot more people for good than you may realize.
Great article. I have never had the privilege of pastoring a church, but I was trained for the ministry and have worked closely with some great pastors over the years. I will be sure to pass this article on!
Can Women be pastors?
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There are a number of churches around the world that have women pastors and, likely, even more people who believe that women can (or should) be pastors.
The way that I understand scripture, the office of pastor is to be filled by a qualified man (Titus and 1 Timothy both address this), but this does not preclude women from teaching effectively in other settings (ie, Beth Moore, Anne Graham Lotz and others).
Thanks for the "questions."
Yes, but the bible also makes several other sexist remarks. However, i believe it has to do with how and who translated and the time in which it was written. So, in my opinion the whole wives submit to husbands, and women taking the back seat role in the church is null and void. I can not agree with something that would put women as second class citizens to men. I dont believe Gods wants things to be that way, and there is no reason why in todays anyone should take those verses seriously if they truly believe God created human kind equal.
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I'm curious to the Bible's other sexist remarks. Can you point me to a few of them? Thx.
BTW, sexism is the assertion that one gender is inherently inferior to the other. Sexism is NOT the assertion that the genders are different and may have different roles and responsibilities.
Marty Duren: no offense but surely you can not be so oblivious, but since it seem you ar go and google "sexism in the bible" and see for yourself. I am a feminist chritian, so dont try and tell me i am wrong or dont believe in God. I am well aware of the definition of sexism, but thank you. Please tell me though, by roles and responibilities you mean women's place is at home bearing children and raising them, while also taking care (submissing) to her husband as head of the house hold? AND please tell how that is in any was fair to women, and please tell me how that is not seen as sexism even by your definition. I can understand how a man may not see this as unfair or sexist because he simply has the upper hand and BETTER role in all aspects of life based on what the bible holds as your role. I simply do not think GOD intended for things to be this way. I believe the people who tanslated the bible and the time in which it was written has everything to do with the subjegation of women.
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If I was concerned about the Bible begin sexist (I am not) then I might google it, but just because google has responses does not mean that the Bible is sexist. Surely, since this is such a big issue for you, you can point directly to two or three such instances without resorting to google yourself.
Uhm, I never questioned your Christianity and really do not see how that plays into our discussion.
BTW, the Bible teaches mutual submission between husband and wife as well as submission of wife to husband. Do you consider it sexist that the Bible commands your husband to be subject to you?
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