5/20/21 By Larry Barker
Pastor and blogger Carey Nieuwhof says that 29% of pastors want to quit. He states that they have given serious consideration to quitting full-time ministry in the last year. Thom Rainer reports, “Please hear me clearly. The vast majority of pastors with whom our team communicates are saying they are considering quitting their churches. It’s a trend I have not
seen in my lifetime. Some are just weeks away from making an announcement.” Chuck Lawless adds, “Our pastors are in the middle of a battle that most believe they cannot win. Leading a church has always been difficult, just read the New Testament.”
The apostle Paul knew what difficulty was like and after stating all the suffering he endured for the gospel he states in I Corinthians 11:28, “Not to mention other things, there is the daily pressure on me: my care for all the churches.” It is a weight that in our own strength is unbearable. One sociologist has stated that this last year has created the “Perfect Storm!” Western culture experienced an industrial revolution from the late 1700s into the 1900s where because of advancements in manufacturing, through mass production, our identity became what we could acquire. We became a consumer economy.
Then the next storm, the sexual revolution, began in the 1960s and man’s identity became how much pleasure he could enjoy. Casual relational sex became in vogue and the divorce rate began to skyrocket. Birth control and pornography appeared to be the norm in our society. The 1980s brought us the technological revolution where instant gratification was just one click away. People began to relate through a screen and a keyboard. Then with a pandemic, social unrest, and a highly charged election the perfect storm occurred that has left many burned out, frustrated, and with more questions than answers.
Now is not the time to quit! Even when you are weary from the pandemic or the news about the pandemic. Even when your members are arguing amongst one another over politics, the vaccination, and a myriad of other issues. It was reported that a church in Canada asked a pastor to step down after he stated he believed it was their moral obligation to be vaccinated. Even when criticism has increased exponentially and no one seems to be in agreement on almost any issue. Even when your workload has elevated to a new level and there are less people to help. Allow me to repeat, now is not the time to quit.
First, go back to your beliefs and values. What do you know to be true? Did Jesus call you and place you where you are? Did He know that these difficult times were coming and desire you to be there to help your church navigate this perfect storm? In Ezekiel 1:3 it says, “And the Lord’s hand was on him there.” Where was “there?” He was one of the first exiles in Babylonian captivity. Ezekiel could have given multiple excuses and reasons to check out and stop serving the Lord but instead he reminds us that God is present even when it feels like He is absent. Know that God is still on His throne and He is “there.”
Second, develop skill sets that will help you to weather the storms. Are you paying attention to the lessons God is striving to teach you during these challenging times? If you are not careful you will waste too much time preoccupied, distracted, and multi-tasking. Slow down, get still, and be silent before the Lord. Consider how you can develop skills that better enable you to relax in Jesus, detach for Jesus, and listen to Jesus. It is not easy but it is well worth the effort. You need habits, patterns and daily rhythms that promote spiritual health. How is your prayer life?
Third, follow through with a lifestyle that is able to say as Paul did in I Corinthians 11:1. “Imitate me as I imitate Christ.” Do others see Godly practices in you that they can learn from and imitate that will bring glory to God? Nehemiah was able to see the finish line in Nehemiah chapter 6 but the enemy was convinced they could still get him to stop and not finish. They made one final attempt to divert him from the goal God had given him. The enemy sent a request to meet with Nehemiah but he said, “Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?” Let me repeat it, now is not the time to quit!
The great prophets of God remained faithful to their calling and they finished strong. They made mistakes, they got tired and weary, and they were far from perfect but they stayed in the game. They did not quit because they were able to see the presence and power of God in situations and circumstances where it seemed He had forsaken and forgotten them. Paul instructed Timothy to continue in what he had learned and believed.
Please know that help is available. There are people who will walk with you through these tumultuous times. You do not have to make this journey alone. Who is there that you can reach out to? Who can give you the encouragement that you need to continue? Everyone needs friends, coaches, mentors, pastors, and friends who will help you to navigate this perfect storm. If I can help you in any way please reach out to me at larry@bmaam.com.