Thirty-some years ago, I had a late-night discussion with a Christian leader outside my church office in Silicon Valley.
I don’t remember the leader’s name, but I’ve always recalled a story he told me late that evening.
This leader had a friend who was a former pastor, and his friend told him, “I served as pastors in various local churches over several decades, and looking back, it was all a waste of time.”
During a pastor’s more cynical times, he may feel that way, but the truth is that pastors do much more good than they’ll ever know.
Let me give you an example.
This past week, I read about a bill that is pending in the California legislature. The bill seeks to strip all faith-based colleges and universities in California that interweave academics with religious doctrine of their exemptions. According to World magazine, which reported on this story, this bill “would force Christian schools to relinquish their fidelity to Scripture as a distinguishing characteristic of their institutions or risk lawsuits for religious and sexual discrimination.”
If passed, only seminaries would be eligible for exemptions.
(My wife and I live in California for two primary reasons: first, our two adult children live here, along with our two grandsons; and second, we have a large network of friends here. Otherwise, we’d live somewhere else, especially with all the garbage that emanates from the capitol 500 miles to the north.)
What struck me most was not the bill, but a response from a Christian university official. Here’s the quote from World:
“We are not willing to forego our biblical and covenantal convictions regardless of what laws are passed,” William Jessup University President John Jackson told me. “Jessup continues to believe we are to submit to Scripture and operate in accordance with the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights that includes the First Amendment providing for freedom of press, association, and religion.”
That was a clear and unequivocal response from a Christian college president. Good for him!
Dr. Jackson also happened to be a kid in my youth group forty years ago.
He was only in the group less than a year, but I remember that he was smart, funny, and for a kid of fifteen, liked girls a lot!
Several years after I left that church, we had lunch, and although that time went well, I lost track of him … but later heard that he was the pastor of a megachurch in Nevada.
Didn’t surprise me one bit.
I don’t take any credit for Dr. Jackson’s ascension to the top spot in a Christian school. That was due to his parenting, his professors and mentors, his own hard work, and the blessing of God upon his life.
In his case, I’m privileged to hear that he’s been placed in a position of trust in Christ’s kingdom.
There’s another person whose exploits I do follow.
Sheri was a girl in my last youth ministry. Because we didn’t have anyone who was musically talented, Sheri secured a guitar, learned how to play, and led the youth group in singing praise songs.
I lost track of her more than thirty years ago, and wondered if she was still following the Lord, only to discover that she heads up the children’s ministry in her church, about which she shares Facebook posts several times a day.
Sheri recently wrote an article on Facebook mentioning different leaders who have influenced her life, and I was deeply touched to be included.
So often, pastoring is like watching a parade. People come … stop for a moment … and then move on.
But on occasion, you hear that someone you taught or mentored is still following Christ, and making an impact … and there’s no greater feeling than that.
Because I am no longer a pastor, I don’t have an influence upon any Christian institution.
But just by being faithful, the Lord used me to touch the lives of people like John and Sheri … and they are now doing their best to advance Christ’s kingdom.
I don’t know why it is, but God often hides the good that His servants do from them.
Back in the late 1980s, I went through a time of doubt and darkness about my role as a pastor, and I clung tenaciously to one verse in particular: Galatians 6:9, where Paul writes:
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
When you’re a pastor, you want to see lives changed instantly … you want to see your church grow steadily … and the slowness of ministry can be extremely frustrating.
In fact, that slowness can make you so weary that you’re tempted to give up … and even turn you a bit cynical.
But as J. I. Packer once wrote, spiritual work is slow work.
Instead, Paul advises, “There is a harvest of changed lives ahead, but it’s not going to happen when you want it to happen … it’s going to happen when God wants it to happen. So keep leading … keep teaching … keep loving … because you never know whose lives God is going to change … and you don’t know when or how He’s going to bless.”
For all you know, someone you’re ministering to right now may just become a church staff member … a megachurch pastor … or a Christian university president.
Even if you’re in a ministry that doesn’t seem to be going anywhere very fast.
Hi Jim,
This is great encouragement for pastors, as well as anyone in children’s or youth ministry, teachers, parents, or anyone in a position to influence another person’s life. In my volunteer work in adult literacy, we are often reminded that our success as tutors is not dependent upon the learner’s success, because it is up to the individual to get as much out of their sessions as they choose.
Packer is so right, spiritual work is slow. Pastors plant seeds, and people in turn must be open to the Holy Spirit working in their lives, and often are not.
Ce Ce
LikeLike
There is a tendency in pastoral training – and certainly in “church growth” conferences – to make pastors feel that THEY are responsible for producing the desired results. This kind of thinking causes pastors to control, dominate, and manipulate others to reach their goals … and is the source of much conflict in the local church.
I appreciate your perspective, Ce Ce!
Jim
LikeLike
Hey Jim! How fun this article was for me to read. And, you are absolutely right…I really was a bit girl crazy back then! 🙂 The great news is that I met my soon to be wife about a year later in Ventura County in 1978 and we were married in 1979…it has been an amazing journey. Thanks for your kind comments and THANK YOU for the ministry that you poured in to us way back in Orange California. I was definitely one of those crazy kids who the Lord got hold of even in the midst of my arrogance.
I am in Sacramento; would love to host you at Jessup University some time. I have not had any contact with John over the years…how is he? Blessings on you! Thanks for writing…
LikeLike
Hi, John! Glad you enjoyed the article. I’m so pleased to see that you’re the president of Jessup. Just hope that things stay that way for many years.
I didn’t know you were in Sacramento. That’s 500 miles north of us in Menifee (between Riverside and Temecula; supposed to be 114 degrees here today).
My brother John lives in Montana. He manufactures and distributes divot repair kits that are used by golfers. I haven’t seen him for a couple of years but I will pass on your good wishes.
Ah, you were 15 years old back then, but even then, I could tell you were very ambitious and intelligent. I’m glad the Lord has blessed you abundantly!
If I get up to Sacramento, I’ll let you know. And keep speaking up for the Lord and what’s right!
Jim
LikeLike