A pastor's job is a noble call, but we cannot deny that there are some instances where pastors aren't perfect at what they do.
There's no such thing as a perfect person, and definitely no such thing as a perfect pastor. Pastors make mistakes too. One of the biggest revelations I had about the call to being a pastor was when a pastor who was the biggest influence on me admitted that he made mistakes on a daily basis.
While many pastors do their best to be a blessing to their congregation, there are times when they can also be less than a blessing and even sometimes a headache to the people they are called to shepherd. Here are four ways that pastors stress their members out and what they can do instead.
1. Not encouraging people
A pastor's job is multi-faceted. Pastors are called to lead, guide and sometimes correct their flock, but not at the expense of edifying and encouraging their members. A pastor is called to be a cheerleader and speak words that motivate others.
2. Preaching moralistic sermons
Pastors are called to preach nothing else except Christ and the good news of what He has done. However, many pastors find themselves falling into the trap of preaching good advice and what we are to do. That's not to say we shouldn't teach good conduct, but we must always preach it in the light of Jesus and His finished work, not our good works.
3. Complaining about their work
The last thing many people want to hear on Sundays is how hard a pastor's life can be. People face challenges by the dozen on a weekly basis. They want rest and comfort, not to leave with the feeling that pastoring them has in itself made their pastor's life hard. We shouldn't put on a fake facade, but the pulpit is not always the best place for the pastor to tell people about their personal financial struggles, relationship problems, work dilemmas and strains of full-time ministry.
4. Not getting people involved
The church is called to be a community of believers, not a one-man show. We may often think that leaving members out of the work of the Lord makes them more comfortable, but many of people actually want to get involved and feel like a part of things. The last thing that congregations want to see is a pastor who is burnt out because he is doing all the work. God is calling churches to be a place of empowerment and passing the baton. A pastor has the great privilege of training and empowering others for the works of ministry.
