Hold firm!

Titus 1: 9  ESV

⁹ He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

After 13 years, I think I have a pretty good idea of the joys and struggles of what it takes to be a Shepherd of Christ’s church today.

I’ve never been shy of preaching the whole counsel of God, even if that bent a few beaks over the years.

Today, will live in an anti-authority culture. It is one where people have lost respect for the position and authority of the Pastor.

I know that all too well.

We also live in the sound bite world, where the words of the most popular guy on TV, drowns out the words of the no name, local church preacher.

Generally, when  a Pastor is run out of town, it’s not because of a bad sermon per say, but by a small, motivated group of people, trying to grab authority that isn’t theirs in the first place.

I find it amazing, that the same people who flock to the TV celebrity Preacher, expect the same results from their insignificant local Shepherd.

The man who encouraged me to consider the ministry once told me… “The first one’s who turn toward you in support, can also be the first ones who want to hang you from the chandelier.”

There’s one problem with the guy whose on TV, reading a scripted sermon, written by his staff of writers.

He’s probably not going to jump on a jet, willing to fly hundreds of miles in the middle of the night, to visit you in the hospital.

The job of the Pastor is to faithfully feed the flock.

The job of the flock, is to faithfully support the role of God’s man.

I’m amazed at how many people who claim to be experts in the field of the Pastorate, who have never ever been one.

Maybe the church, really needs to stop getting it’s roles reversed…