Hub #10 - Can A Pastor Lead While Bleeding

Can a pastor lead others while bleeding? Can these wounded warriors continue leading while at the same time suffering the pain often inflicted by the very ones they lead? The obvious answer is "yes." However, while caring for the sheep entrusted into their care, there are those times when hurts run deep and the gaping wound bleeds while the pastors silently weep awaiting someone who can offer medicine from heaven's apothecary. Often they have no one to really talk to and share their innermost thoughts with for fear of being judged wrongly. It causes one to ask these questions that would demand, at the least, analysis and, at the best, answers: "Where are the armor-bearers? Where are those on assignment sent to minister to God's servants? Where is the 21st century Elisha for the 21st century Elijah? Where is the contemporary Barnabas, "the encourager" for the modern day Apostle Paul?"

Several years ago I had the privilege of meeting a wonderful retired minister who had given his life in the service of the Lord. He was a gentle giant who unreservedly and unequivocally filled the office of pastor with dignity and distinction. Year after year he was faithful to his calling and loved those who had been entrusted into his care. He was committed to the call and to his congregation to the point that he even dipped into his retirement fund while he was pastoring when the bills of the church needed to be paid. His board had assured him that when he reached his golden years he and his wife would lack for nothing. That never happened. As a matter of fact, when his health began to fail it was as though he was forgotten by the very ones he had given the best of his years to. As I talked with him I never sensed any bitterness on his part. As a matter of fact, he was gracious and the main topic of discussion was the goodness of God.

What about those pastors who have been wounded by the toxic tongue and the vicious venom of a sheep (no, more like a wolf) that bites? I'll never forget my first encounter from one such individual. One Sunday evening I was called out of the service by one of my staff because "this woman" from our church "urgently needed to speak with me." I was a new pastor and thought perhaps there was a family crisis and she needed her pastor's prayers immediately. I hastened my pace, down through the corridor out the side door, briskly walking down the sidewalk toward this my golden opportunity to be a "super pastor." There she was with hand on her hip and a look on her face that words cannot adequately describe. I greeted her and asked just what I could do to be of assistance, thinking that she was going to ask her pastor for prayer, or wise counsel or something of great importance.

To my surprise, from the first word to the last she proceeded to tell me everything in planned order she did not like about me. It was almost like a three-point sermon without the poem and the Hammond B-3 playing. Nonetheless, it was a defining moment for me. I knew my response was critical. I had to be proactive rather than reactive. Her words, like a knife, dug deep into my heart. After the conclusion of the service I returned to the parsonage reminding God of why I did not want to be a pastor in the first place. Now, I was just having a "moment." In fact I was hosting a personal "pity-party" and I was the only one in attendance.

The Lord took that opportunity to teach me something that I live by to this day. First, He challenged me to remember that His assignment for me was a "high calling" and with "the call" He assured me that He always provides divine enablement to fulfill it . Secondly, He affirmed His undeniable love for me and my future is not defined by someone else's opinion. Thirdly, He reminded me that He "prepares a table" for me even in the presence of my enemies. God allowed this event, not to destroy me, but to develop me. At that moment, I picked myself up, dusted myself off and promised the Lord with His help to minister to His ministers, to encourage His servants and to be a pastor who, though sometimes bitten, administers the healing oil of God's grace to those in need.

For those wounded warriors allow me, if you please, to speak to you for just a moment. In my lifetime, I've known those who have grown embittered by the pain, calloused by the carnal, and isolated themselves from the people they were called to serve. It is entirely possible to begin in the Spirit and end in the flesh, to start with a passion and fire of ministry and end in the smoldering embers and a flickering flame of God's divine intention for you. All because there was no one that you allowed to minister to you when you were wounded by the very ones you loved so deeply. You are at a strategic inflection point right now. Can you still lead while you bleed? Yes. Do you need to receive healing for those wounds that may have grown infected by those deadly emotions that often follow assaults? Absolutely.

Let me share some suggestions that may be of some help.

1. Remember It Was God Who Called You

It was not by your choosing. It was not by chance or happenstance. It was much more than a profession or a vocation that you just entered into because you thought it to be glamorous. That defining moment for you came when an eternal God (divinity) reached down and touched an ordinary person (you - humanity) to do extraordinary things for Him. He called you. If He called you, He will not abandon you to the wiles of the devil or the fickleness of the carnal believer. Jesus knew the pain of betrayal and denial, yet He also knew the call of His Father and was committed to "endure the cross" for the joy that was set before Him.

2. Remember You Are Not Alone

I know sometimes it may feel like you are the only one facing a crisis of the soul. The nights may be long and the weight of the ministry seems so heavy that you don't know how much longer you can bear it. But, remember, with the weight, there is His glory. When Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness and he had a personal encounter with satan, being tempted in all points as we are, angels were dispatched from the sapphires sills of heaven's gate and ministered to Him. You are not alone, because Your Heavenly Father has not abandoned you. You are not alone, because others have been where you are and have overcome. You are not alone, because the angels of the Lord are encamping round about you. You are not alone, because God has assigned someone, somewhere to be your armor bearer, to help to carry the weight. You are not alone, because the Holy Spirit is also on assignment to comfort you. What could be better than this?

3. Remember Your Mission

You've been called to be the "under-shepherd" of the "Great Shepherd" representing Him to sheep who, yes, sometimes, bite. You are the messenger. He is the message. You are the pipe. He is the water. You are vessel. He is the Potter. Your mission is to reach and reap the ripened harvest that is waiting for you. To allow His love to flow through you and His Word to be on your lips. To exude His grace and mercy as your constant companions. Your mission field is the world. Your mandate is to "preach the gospel" empowered by His Spirit.

4. Remember To Rest

When confronted by Jezebel, a tired prophet Elijah, you know the one who called down fire from heaven, found himself under the juniper tree of discouragement. When a man or woman of God grow weary and do not take time to rest, it is more difficult to deal with people. God sent ravens catering service to refresh His servant and then after he had rested awhile Elijah was reassigned back into service. I've heard it said, "I'd rather burn-out for Jesus than rust-out for the devil." I don't want to do either.  Frankly, burn-out needs not to be an option if we will follow Jesus' model of ministry. He served, He rested. He ministered, He rested. He came apart from the crowds to pray and to replenish. The servants are no greater than their Master. If He felt it necessary to rest, it seems to me we need to do the same. Learn the art of taking minute-vacations. Take sometime off to refuel and replenish. Get your sleep. Everything is not an emergency even though there are some who think it is. Rest. Rest. Rest.

5. Remember To Practice What You Preach

When you're wounded sometimes this is a tough one. As pastor's we preach forgiveness. We preach the unconditional love of God. We preach that He is the mender of broken hearts. We preach that He is the answer to every question, the solution to every problem. We preach that He can pour the healing, soothing oil of His Spirit that is potent enough to heal every hurt. Easy to preach. Sometimes it's hard to live, especially when we are at the other end of someone's heartless words angrily spewed out and we are the target. But if we are ever going to heal and successfully minister to the broken, we must readily practice all those principles we so aptly preach. We have an opportunity to model it out, to demonstrate that it really works. It does really work, you know. Do you remember when David had to "encourage himself in the Lord?" Sometimes we just have to do that. Sometimes we have to encourage ourselves. Sometimes we have to lay our hand on our own head. Sometimes we have to prophecy life over those dead things that have the potential to live again, if only we open our mouths and speak.

6. Remember Your Rewards Are Out Of This World

Whether you have a great salary with a lot of wonderful benefits or not, you have to realize your rewards are eternal. Our Chief Executive Officer, Jesus Christ, is "daily" loading us up with benefits. Some to be received here and others reserved for that glorious day when we hear, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant. Enter now into the joys of the Lord." True, a "servant is worthy of their hire" and and an "elder" deserves "double honor." However, one of the greatest joys we will have is when we stand before the Judge of all eternity and those to whom we have ministered say, "Pastor, thank you for giving us the good news of the gospel. We're here because of the Word you preached, the life you lived and the message you shared."

I've been to heaven's apothecary. I know what it is to have the healing balm of Gilead, the oil of the Spirit, pour over and through those deep wounds that had been thoughtlessly inflicted by those to whom I have ministered.

I've learned that forgiveness is not an emotion. It is an act of the will that demonstrates the love of God like nothing else can. It's a strength borne out of pain that produces a delightful fruit that brings increase. I, also, know what it is to "let go." You cannot control what other people choose to do. Sometimes you just have to release people and things into the hand of God. He's far more capable of dealing with it than we are.

If you are bleeding profusely and need to, take some time to heal. It's O.K. Don't allow the hurt to bring the deadly emotion of bitterness. Do not allow the wound to become infected. Cleanse it by the "washing of the Word" and let time be on your side. However, don't allow the grief and pain of that event or those events to linger too long. There is much yet to be done. If God hadn't needed you for this time and for this season He never would have called you in the first place. You may be a wounded warrior but never forget, you are a valuable vessel.

Someday the bleeding will stop. Someday the gaping wound will be closed. Perhaps, the only thing left to see will be the scars. But after all, Jesus wore His scars - those nail-prints - well. They are a powerful testimony of a victorious Christ who has come to strengthen you for your finest hour of ministry.

Pastor, I pray that every enemy will be brought low, every wound be healed, and every pain will become a place of power and a place of praise. Don't forget. You may have been broken by that situation but you are also blessed and highly favored by God. There's too much Word in you for to stop now. I've got your back. Enjoy the journey.