Interesting read here about ministers who openly admit they are atheist or agnostics yet hold on to their church staff positions because they need the money or can’t think of anything else (better) to do. One guy, Baptist, said if someone would give him $200,000 he would leave the ministry immediately. This made me think, “Do I have a price?”
Maybe I can answer the question this way, if I had a million dollars this very moment I would still continue to serve the Lord and His church. I would preach for free. I would pastor without a paycheck. I would still make midnight runs to the emergency room even if there was no line item for me in the budget. In fact, I was involved in all of the above before I was ever “called” by a congregation. I don’t do what I do because of the money or the lifestyle. To be honest, the money and the unreasonable pressures of ministry on both my personal and family life provide ample reason to not stay in the ministry.
But to say that I don’t have a price is not to say that I don’t have limits. I do. Sixteen years of church staff experience have hammered them into me. My first ministry in this world is to my family. If I have to make a choice I will take my family over my congregation anytime. The day after I resign from a church that congregation will be looking through resumes for the next “God called” leader. But there are no mulligans with my family. And while I seek to maintain a harmonious balance between family life and church life, sometimes the two worlds collide, forcing a choice. In those rare moments I trust the Lord to give me courage and conviction to side with my family. I have never chosen family over church and regretted it.
One of the greatest challenges for any minister is to balance the personal with the professional. Life just doesn’t happen in such neat categories. Professional salaries blend with personal family finances. Children’s ball games seem to be scheduled on purpose during committee meetings. Major church events just happen to fall during the best vacation weeks on the calendar. There is no end to the pressure of shorting one side or the other of the minister’s life.
This is not a good verses bad discussion. That would make things easier. I am talking about choices between good and better. Perhaps it’s worth noting that choosing between two good things is something for which to give thanks, but in reality each choice means something good will go undone. Which brings me to the crux of the matter.
For what am I indispensable? Ask my wife and children. Ask my congregation. I have no doubt the former will differ greatly from the latter. And this reality clarifies my limits.
1 comment:
I enjoyed this post. I agree with you entirely. It has always been my desire to preach without a paycheck from any congregation. Perhaps I will get to do that someday. Also, I have never regreted choosing family over congregation, and I don't believe I ever will.
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