The pastor's dilemma for balancing prophetic voice with the shepherd's hand
The pastor's dilemma for balancing the prophetic voice with the shepherd's hand
by Sam Rainer.
Dear readers,
The prophetic voice of a pastor is forth-telling, speaking the truth even when it is difficult. The shepherd’s hand of a pastor is caring, gently dealing with issues in love. As a pastor, I find it challenging to balance the prophetic voice with a shepherd’s hand.
Truth alone can become dry orthodoxy. It’s painful, like scrubbing your kids with steel wool to get them clean. The dirt will be gone, but a gentler approach would accomplish the same goal. Conversely, love alone can become sappy sentimentality, which is deadly, like feeding your kids only cotton candy for sustenance. My oldest son would live off cotton candy if I let him, but he wouldn’t live well.
There are situations where a prophetic voice is needed more than a shepherd’s hand. For example, many years ago, a member criticized my wife in front of everyone for how she led worship.
“That wasn’t real worship! How terrible!” This member then added a few other choice comments about my wife.
I responded, “There are plenty of other dead churches in this town who would welcome another corpse if you don’t like it here.”
My words were more steel wool than cotton candy. Reflecting now, I was too harsh. Though response was warranted, mine was overblown. How can a pastor be assertive — prophetic even — without losing the posture of serving others in love?
Too little assertiveness and you lose your ability to inspire. The prophetic voice enables a pastor to give direction to a church. When you neglect this voice, people are no longer challenged to move. Inspiration lacks where forthrightness is absent.
Source:
(*) https://www.christianpost.com/voices/balancing-the-prophetic-voice-with-the-shepherds-hand.html
by Sam Rainer.
Dear readers,
The prophetic voice of a pastor is forth-telling, speaking the truth even when it is difficult. The shepherd’s hand of a pastor is caring, gently dealing with issues in love. As a pastor, I find it challenging to balance the prophetic voice with a shepherd’s hand.
Truth alone can become dry orthodoxy. It’s painful, like scrubbing your kids with steel wool to get them clean. The dirt will be gone, but a gentler approach would accomplish the same goal. Conversely, love alone can become sappy sentimentality, which is deadly, like feeding your kids only cotton candy for sustenance. My oldest son would live off cotton candy if I let him, but he wouldn’t live well.
There are situations where a prophetic voice is needed more than a shepherd’s hand. For example, many years ago, a member criticized my wife in front of everyone for how she led worship.
“That wasn’t real worship! How terrible!” This member then added a few other choice comments about my wife.
I responded, “There are plenty of other dead churches in this town who would welcome another corpse if you don’t like it here.”
My words were more steel wool than cotton candy. Reflecting now, I was too harsh. Though response was warranted, mine was overblown. How can a pastor be assertive — prophetic even — without losing the posture of serving others in love?
Too little assertiveness and you lose your ability to inspire. The prophetic voice enables a pastor to give direction to a church. When you neglect this voice, people are no longer challenged to move. Inspiration lacks where forthrightness is absent.
Source:
(*) https://www.christianpost.com/voices/balancing-the-prophetic-voice-with-the-shepherds-hand.html
Komentar
Posting Komentar