Why Your Pastor Does Not Have Time To Babysit You

The constant demand of American adults who expect their pastor to magically keep up with their every need, visit them if they missed a Sunday worship gathering, and personally make them feel good through all issues of life is pathetic. This is NOT want Jesus did when He walked the earth, nor is it what He taught His followers to do. Jesus only healed those who came and asked, he did not chase everyone down. He did not beg the rich young ruler to come back, he let him go. He allowed his friend to die which made Mary and Martha angry. He focused on the lost sheep of Israel and while he proclaimed truth he gave His disciples on the job training. In fact, most of His followers left him because He did not focus on their desires [John 6:66]. While the spiritual leaders of America are pushed by the wimpy saints inside the church the country is spiritually unraveling. Today we need to stand up and call the nation to repentance and restoration to the ways of God. But, so many pastors have their hands full pleasing their people fiddling like Nero that they cannot see the nation is burning down, let alone do much about it.

It really is time for a CHANGEinside the church! Your pastor has bigger things to do. “Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastorsand teachers.12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s peopleto do his workand build up the church, the body of Christ.” [Eph 4:11-12 (NLT)] My friend, stop being a spiritual fan, and take on the responsibility of God’s work. The pastor is the coach, not the player. You are. You must do all the work; he is there to train you. The coach never plays in the game, but oversees the players. But instead of working the ministrywe have most believers demanding the professional pastor work while they watch and cheer,or even worse, not even pay attention. As long as he rushes around and pleases them, helps them in their troubles and personal delights, they are happy.

The vast majority sees God as happy with them and He is here to fulfill their dreams and visions.And they think the pastor should be there as God’s representative in this great outpouring of blessing for themselves. This false premise comes from Hollywood, not the Holy Land! Their movies tell everyone to believe in themselves, and follow their dreams. Not God!

"You prophets who do nothing but dream— go ahead and tell your silly dreams.But you prophets who have a message from me— tell it truly and faithfully. What does straw have in common with wheat? Nothing else is like GOD's Decree. 29 Isn't my Message like fire?"GOD's Decree. "Isn't it like a sledgehammer busting a rock?[Jer 23:28-29 (MSG)] This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They are making you worthless. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the LORD’s mouth. 17 They keep on saying to those who despise Me, ‘The LORD has said: You will have peace.’ They have said to everyone who follows the stubbornness of his heart, ‘No harm will come to you.’” [Jer 23:16-17 (HCSB)] Your prophets have said so many foolish things, falseto the core. They did not save you from exile by pointing out your sins. Instead, they painted false pictures, filling you with false hope. [Lam 2:14 (NLT)]

“Silly dreams”, “worthless” life, dreams of your “own minds”, “false hope”, and God will not require you to do what He commands are some of the lifestyle and crazy ideas American Christians live by. But, the world is sinking into eternal judgment, not my words but the Bible. God is focused on saving the world, and He demands His people, the church, to join Him in this work. God has always demanded people to turn from sin. The fog must be lifted from the minds of Christ’s followers. What are you focused on? Honestly what do you spend most of your thoughts, money, and time on? Are you totally locked into your career and pleasure?

Well God has a narrow way of life for us. His mission for us is world changing for people and nations. “He went on to open their understanding of the Word of God, showing them how to read their Bibles this way. 46 He said, ‘You can see now how it is written that the Messiah suffers, rises from the dead on the third day, 47 and then a total life-change through the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed in his name to all nations—starting from here, from Jerusalem!48 You're the first to hear and see it. You're the witnesses. 49 What comes next is very important: I am sending what my Father promised to you, so stay here in the city until he arrives, until you're equipped with power from on high.’" [Luke 24:45-49 (MSG)]

So what does God require His pastors to do?
Acts gives a clear and historical illustration of God’s will. “During this time, as the disciples were increasing in numbers by leaps and bounds, hard feelings developed among the Greek-speaking believers—‘Hellenists’—toward the Hebrew-speaking believers because their widows were being discriminated against in the daily food lines. 2 So the Twelve called a meeting of the disciples. They said, ‘It wouldn't be right for us to abandon our responsibilities for preaching and teaching the Word of God to help with the care of the poor.3 So, friends, choose seven men from among you whom everyone trusts, men full of the Holy Spirit and good sense, and we'll assign them this task. 4 Meanwhile, we'll stick to our assigned tasks of prayer and speaking God's Word.’[Acts 6:1-4 (MSG)]

So the “congregation” was required to take on the work, while the pastors kept their responsibilities for preaching, teaching, and prayer. Today pastors give up their responsibility and instead care for the widows, poor, sick and the rest of the congregation. The war for the souls of men and the training and equipping of the saints is forced into the background by a pathetic congregation demanding to be cared for by the pastors. Hell is full of Americans and filling at an alarming rate! When the church pleases God by doing things His way, the world is changed radically as explained in Acts. “Then they presented them to the apostles. Praying, the apostles laid on hands and commissioned them for their task. 7 The Word of God prospered. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased dramatically. Not least, a great many priests submitted themselves to the faith.”[Acts 6:6-7 (MSG)]

The first century pastors concentrated on winning their city to Jesus. Even the hard core Jewish priests of Jerusalem left their duties under the relentless proclamation of Christ’s resurrection and followed Jesus. The people most unlikely to believe met Christ through repentance and salvation. The church stayed on track, allowing the preachers to preach, teach, and pray for the advancement of God’s Word, while the congregation had their backs. The prayers focused on the lost, not Joe needing a job. Read their group prayers at [Acts 10, 12].

Well does this mean widows are not important? Or if you are sick, it’s to bad, get over it? NO! But compared to people dying and going to eternal damnation in hell, my sickness, or even dying is insignificant. I am going to heaven! Our utmost priority is sharing the message to our community. This is our mission! But next in line the ministry stands in importance.

Who is the minister at your local church? You didn’t just say “Pastor Bob” did you? This is the BIG problem. The God of heaven says it is you! Pastor Bob teaches the Word “for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry…”[Eph 4:12 (NKJV)] Well saint you are called by God to the ministry. No secret feeling, voice, or ceremony needed. If you are born again, you are the ministerof your church. Take your responsibility. “Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.”[James 1:27 (NLT)] “I APPEAL to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies[presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy(devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable(rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship. [Romans 12:1 (AMP)] Dude God is not talking to preachers, He is talking to you.

Final note
Release your pastor from the condemnation and judgment you give when his focus is not on you. If he is faithful to God he is busy! Stop demanding that he notices every move you make. “He didn’t even check to see why I was not there Sunday.” “The last pastor was more loving.” “He never visits Mr. Smith in the nursing home.” “Mildred went to the hospital but pastor never even showed up!” Jesus said, “Out of the mind come evil thoughts,murder, adultery, sexual sins, stealing, lying, and speaking evil of others.20 These things make people unclean; eating with unwashed hands does not make them unclean.” [Matt 15:19-20 (NCV)] Please go and minister to those people and give the pastor the credit.

“REMIND PEOPLE to be submissive to[their] magistrates and authorities, to be obedient, to be prepared and willing to do any upright and honorable work,2 To slander or abuse or speak evil of no one,to avoid being contentious, to be forbearing (yielding, gentle, and conciliatory), and to show unqualified courtesy toward everybody.” [Titus 3:1-2 (AMP)] And while you fulfill your duty to be a minister of your church, “...see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out…” [Heb 10:24 (MSG)] “Show family affection to one another with brotherly love. Outdo one another in showing honor.”[Romans 12:10 (HCSB)] that’s right show honor to your pastor and give him the credit for why you are visiting them, helping them, and caring for them. Tell them you are helping him because the work is too large for one person and you are his assistant minister. And even REMIND PEOPLE the pastor cannot read their minds and if they are really sick pick up the phone and “Call the church leaders together to pray and anoint you with oil in the name of the Master.” [James 5:13-14 (MSG)] Remember they are required to focus on preaching, equipping, and praying. They will gladly come and pray for you.

Created 8 months ago