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How those Christians love one another

I have been touched by a comment made to me after my last editorial when a pastor said, "I know I am depressed sometimes as I engage in my ministry, but I am also touched by the Spirit of God that embraces me in the hard times." Another pastor said, "There are times I feel like quitting and doing something else besides ministry, but I know I can’t do anything else because this is what God wants me to do even when I don’t want to do it."

What a gift is God’s grace to sustain us through the hard times and bless us with the good times. I don’t believe for a minute that any person is happy with her or his life’s work all the time. All persons wonder at times in their lives if we are doing the job that we are called to do. Yet we try to take a long view and seek a balance between the "highs" and the "lows." Pastors are human beings who have the same feelings and struggles as do other persons with different vocations. Yet we expect our pastors to be "on top of the situation" even when others feel negative about what is taking place. I do know that at times we pastors are unwilling to share our feelings of doubt because we don’t want to give an impression that we have a weak faith in God or that we are not competent enough to manage every circumstance that confronts us.

The church is a community where all persons share fellowship with Jesus Christ, not just with other human beings. If we can envision every time we gather that Jesus is in the midst of the gathering with us, I have the feeling that many of our church meetings would be different. Rather than being energy draining, they would be life giving. I have heard pastors say that one of the reasons they find church leadership so difficult in these days is that they are never sure who is going to surprise them at a meeting with a negative comment. The remark may be about any one of a number of different subjects, and the pastor is expected to offer an argument for or against an issue. The church ought to be a place where we can talk about difficult topics, but those conversations should not be moments where we attack one another personally because we happen to disagree about some topic or interpretation of scripture.

The fact is that some people do not find their church communities a safe place to have a fair and open dialogue about deep concerns that touch their lives. They feel that if they mention certain opinions, they will be seen as less than a "true believer." Youth see adults acting out hateful behaviors towards one another, and they wonder why should they be involved in the church.

Of course, I have heard of pastors who also have been guilty of behaviors that could not be called very Christ-like. We have a lot to learn about how we live together seeking to be faithful to God. The first century church struggled with how to be loving communities, and so do we today.

I believe that God is calling us to be people who love God and one another even in the hard times. When pastors and the people of their parish find a common ground of support and love, they will find new ways to be the church as a sign to those who seek peace in the world. It is hard work to be a Christian pastor and a Christian layperson in these times, but it is what God calls us to be as disciples. This next Sunday, share with your pastor that you are offering prayers for her or him, and pastors will want to continue the prayers for their people. We are all ministers of Jesus Christ, and it is a glorious calling.