Wearing Out A Pastor

I never understood it.

Years and years ago I knew a guy who pastored a small church in rural Bibb County GA. The church I attended to play softball played his church in the Lizella league. Seemed like a nice enough guy. Looked like the team liked each other.

Couple of years later, I saw him again. He was working at Sears, selling washing machines.

At the time, I had no frame of reference for that. Pastors were in it for life, I thought. Unless they disqualified themselves because of a moral failure, or they checked out of this life for the next, they were always pastors. Frankly, I thought anyone who didn't pastor after being called, must not have been called to begin with. Wouldn't say I questioned their salvation, but let's just say I was grateful for God's mercy when it came to people like that.

My epiphany has come. In fact there are times when I wonder how anyone can pastor a church and remain there for any period of time.

A friend of mine has feared for his life and that of his family. Another pastor I know has bodyguards. Those are extremes, I know. Most pastors just wear out.

How do you wear out a pastor?

Constantly carp about "being fed."

Remind him who "pays the bills."

Take every opportunity to blunt any good news - for example if you see the Holy Spirit move and someone come to Christ, complain about the music and remind him of those people who left.

If you have a lot of young people coming, complain that all the old people have been run off.

If you have a predominately older congregation, complain that the church isn't reaching any young people.

Find a way, any way to remind him who he isn't. (This could be the pastor before him, the guy down the street, or some TV preacher who'll never be there when they call at 3AM)

Never, ever recognize either his or his family's sacrifices for the work of Christ there. (I have one friend who left a law career to enter the ministry. I left a marketing and sales career. I don't know about him, but I haven't caught up to what I made in 1990 yet)

Never acknowledge their anniversaries in service.

Never insist they take vacation - in fact complain if they ever do.

Don't ever think about their health (or make sure they have insurance), and put as little as you can into a retirement fund, just so you can say that you did your part.

Carp about any efforts they make to improve via education or in purchasing books or going to conferences - after all, you know they are just using your church as a stepping stone.

Make sure their wife is miserable - this may be the single most effective thing you can do.

Agree with them on subjects like worship music in public, but talk a completely different tune among other people inside the church.

Find some way to postpone or if possible derail any new idea they bring to the table. You can use the "we've never done that before" card, the "I'm not sure we can pay for it card" or anything you think will cool anything that might cause the church to see greater impact for Christ.

Right before worship, as they are preparing their heart and mind to deliver the message God has given them, ask them to make an announcement, or question them about something. Anything you can do to make them less effective helps.

Oh and never, ever stop pushing them to do things your way. It may take years, but constant pressure pays huge dividends - ever see the Grand Canyon?

In time, you will wear them out.

They may continue doing what they are doing, but the joy of serving God and seeing Him glorified will diminish. You'll have converted them to the functional equivalent of the Japanese "salaryman" who expects nothing from his work except a paycheck, and has to wonder in many cases if that will come.

Each year, thousands of men and women turn away from the call God gave them and enter life after the ministry. Not because they have lost their calling, or their gifts, but because over time, like water on rock, they wear away.

Shame.