Abilene, TX
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| Mercy Street Church of Christ Abilene, TX |
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REFLECTIONS by Al Maxey Issue #412 ------- September 13, 2009 ************************** He preaches well that lives well, quoth Sancho; that's all the divinity I understand. Miguel de Cervantes {1547-1616} Don Quixote de la Mancha ************************** Pondering Pastoral Perfectionism Human Expectation Versus Divine Reality "I preached as never sure to preach again, and as a dying man to dying men." So wrote the English Puritan theologian Richard Baxter (1615-1691), called by many "the Chief of English Protestant Schoolmen," in his noted work "Love Breathing Thanks and Praise." Richard Baxter was quite unashamedly a nonconformist and a reformer who, although he remained within his own religious association, sought to bring about much greater unity among the pastors of other denominations. As one biographer observed, "He formed the ministers in the country around him into an association, uniting them irrespective of their many differences as Presbyterians, Episcopalians and Independents. 'The Reformed Pastor' was a book that Baxter published in relation to the general ministerial efforts that he promoted." His preaching and writings (which were quite voluminous) were not always well-received by those determined to protect their party interests and dogmas, and as a result he was often criticized publicly and even spent some time in prison. Richard Baxter is a good example (and there are countless such examples throughout history, just as there are many today) of a devoted preacher of the Word of God who didn't always live up to the varied expectations of his fellow believers. Our Lord Jesus certainly was a disappointment to many of the Jews of His day. He just didn't measure up to their expectations of the Coming One. His pedigree wasn't dignified enough, His preaching was controversial, and the "pack of misfits" He surrounded Himself with ... well, let's just say that some people were less than impressed. He ate with sinners, and even welcomed their company on occasion. He was a glutton and a wine-bibber! He violated their traditions ... repeatedly ... and on purpose! Nope, Jesus just didn't "fit the bill." The apostle Paul? Well, he was probably a pretty good writer, but he sure wasn't much to look at or listen to. And that Timothy was just too young; people looked down on him for it. Plus, he had a nervous stomach and drank a little. Let's face it: if you are in any position of leadership, whether secular or spiritual, you have felt the sting of the harsh criticisms from those who are convinced you are not the right person for the position!! You just aren't what they expected at all. You're too big, too small; too tall, too short; too loud, too quiet; too out-going, too introverted; too scholarly, too shallow; too conservative, too liberal; too controversial, too theologically timid; etc. When I first began preaching back in 1976, I was visiting the hospital and got to talking with one of the nurses (whose parents attended where I preached, although she did not). After a few minutes she commented, "You sure don't look or act like a preacher!" I was tempted to ask her what a preacher was supposed to look or act like, but instead just thanked her! I think that caught her by surprise. In her mind, I simply didn't "fit the bill" with respect to "preacher expectations" ... and I was okay with that. Hmmmm. You mean a preacher can just be himself? Just be who and what God made him to be? Wow! What a concept. In the early days of my ministry I really struggled with this. I truly wanted to please everybody; to live up to the expectations of each person in the congregation. It didn't take me too long to realize that (1) it was an impossibility, and (2) it was destroying me physically, emotionally and spiritually. I actually quit preaching for four years (1978-1982), after having preached for only two years, because I honestly felt that if this was what being a minister was all about, then I wanted no part of it. During those four years I served as the Executive Director of a large child care facility (which dealt with abused and neglected children and families in crisis). It was a rewarding work, and for a couple of those years I also served as a deacon at the University Church of Christ in Albuquerque, NM. I had some super mentors during that time, and I matured quite a bit. I began to perceive preaching in a different light. In 1982, Shelly and my three young sons and I moved to Kaiserslautern, Germany, where I was the minister for the American congregation in that city (one of the largest American military congregations outside the continental US). It was there that I truly began developing my love for local ministry, and it was there that Shelly and I discovered that we could just be ourselves, rather than what others expected us to be. If I was just the best ME that I could be, then that was all GOD expected! There are things I do well, and there are things I do not do well. I used to think that I had to do everything well. In fact, I used to think I had to do everything. If something was happening at the building, I had to be there. If some group within the congregation met for some reason, I was expected to show up. If someone had a birthday party, the preacher needed to go. If someone was in the hospital, he had better come by for a visit. If there was a work day, God help that preacher who didn't take part. I was to "have coffee with the boys," door-knock with those who felt "called" to that form of outreach (it didn't matter if I felt called to that work; if they did, then I had better come along), hang out with the teens, spend time at the nursing homes, etc. Good speaker, good teacher, good song leader, good games player, good counselor, with a graduate degree from a university and willing to work for minimum wage with no benefits. Congregational Expectation ... Whew!! It's a killer! They tell you how to raise your kids, how to dress, how to spend your money, what foods to eat. As one aged preacher once told me, "When you enter the ministry, you become the property of the members of the congregation; you are bought and paid for; they own you ... and they don't mind telling you so!" Here's a news flash -- I refuse to play those games!! Oh yes, I tried to ... at first. Then I woke up to the fact that the One who owns me is my GOD, not my fellow brothers and sisters. He made me just the way He wanted me. He has given me specific gifts, and He has given me specific opportunities. If I am faithful to Him, it is enough! Thus, wherever I am, and with whatever group of disciples I may be serving, I will simply strive to be the very best Al Maxey that God would have me to be. I have learned that I can be a good team player without having to be the whole team. I don't have to play every position (I don't have the time, ability or desire anyway), but the position I am called to play on the team, I will play to the very best of my ability. If every other player on the team does the same, then we'll have a great season for our Coach! Preachers and elders especially (although this applies at times to other positions of leadership) are too frequently placed upon a pedestal. This is dangerous, not only for the leader placed there, but also for those who elevated him to that position. It puts unrealistic expectations upon such men, and these men will invariably, each of them, at some point, plummet from that lofty perch. They are simply human, after all; beset by the same weaknesses as any other member of the Body of Christ. Yes, they have certain strengths that make them fit for spiritual leadership, but to expect perfection of such men is to expect the impossible. Those who place their trust in men are doomed to disappointment, for those men will at times fail you; they simply will not live up to your expectations. I have personally witnessed a good many church members turn back to the world because their preacher, or their favorite shepherd, fell or failed them!! This great tragedy is in large part because they had placed their trust in a mere man; their faith was linked to his. When he fell, so did they. Our faith must be in HIM, not in men, for HE will never fail us. HE will always live and act above our expectations, never below them!  |
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