LEADERS NEED A ‘FRIEND OF GOD!’

One of the big problems in church leadership over the past 20 years or so has been pastors ‘burning out.’

Oh there’s still controversy over what really is burnout, breakdown, overwork exhaustion, depression and such.

That’s just the technical side and one for the experts to decide on. Definitions such as found in SM-5 type manuals can fluctuate and be updated as further research and case studies arise.

In truth, many times a person is labelled as depressed or bipolar 1 and given appropriate medication simply because the medical professions (Thank you for them, Lord!) can’t fully pin down the problem. But thankfully what is prescribed does help stabilise troubled people and get them going again.

Resultant in-house problems
A built-in problem has been/is certain leaders being afraid to acknowledge their health problems to their church and especially their executives. 

There’s been a wrong fear of being labelled a failure and that their faith isn’t strong enough, that they’re not trusting their Lord enough.

But, if such criticisms arise, they’re usually being expressed by insensitive people, by those who simply don’t understand leadership pressures, the fragility of the human mind and the need for leaders to be supported.

Result? Many leaders - in the business world, the general work force, the entertainment industry and politics too as well as in the church - have suffered terribly.
Anyone who has gone through burnout, or whatever the problem has been named, will quickly understand what we’re talking about without us having to itemise every aspect or category.

Both women and men are affected but men can be hit hardest – especially if their wife doesn’t understand what is going on and, as can happen, doesn’t even try. 

A man’s physical, mental, emotional, and even spiritual side is tortured, particularly if she closes the door to deeper intimate closeness and criticises, demoralises and, worse still, doesn’t forgive unresolved matters from the past.

A church leader’s ministry can even be lost or at the least depleted, devalued and badly hindered!

Genuinely concerned church members
Then there’s another side to this as well.

We hear from some concerned church members that they recognise that their pastor is acting irrationally and is potentially heading for a breakdown. They’ve been observing that he insists on doing everything himself! He leads the worship (and not always in key), shares the church news, insists on praying for everyone himself and even runs every midweek meeting. 

And that he won’t take friendly wise advice and good counsel on board; take breaks, share responsibility, let others preach – especially the upcoming younger generation with great potential – or allow his eldership to share their thoughts and cautions.

The result is threefold –
1) People, especially good people, leave the church and he can’t work out why. 
2) The younger generation and other talented church members feel unused and unworthy. 
3) And more especially he’s going to come a cropper, or fail badly!

Such leaders urgently need ‘a friend of God!’ But they need to listen to him (or her) and act responsibly! Interestingly many times someone from outside proves the perfect fountain of wisdom here.

Moses and Jethro
The Old Testament gives a very clear example of this - without getting hung up on medical terms and defining it as an impending breakdown, depression, burnout or some new SM-5 category waiting to happen! Read Exodus 18 about the incident of Moses, the original workaholic and Jethro, the observant, wise ‘senior minister, wise counsellor.’

Not having seen his son-in-law for a long time he went visiting. Jethro was horrified when he discovered Moses’ heavy daily workload which he was carrying alone!

Workaholics always justify themselves and Moses was no exception! Read all about it in verses 13-16 and note the wisdom of this insightful ‘senior minister and advisor’ – The Message Bible puts verse 17 this way: ‘This is no way to go about it. You’ll burn out, and the people along with you. This is way too much for you – you can’t do this alone. Now listen to me. Let me tell you how to do this so that God will be in it with you.’

The NLT reads similarly – ‘This is no good!’ his father-in-law exclaimed. ‘You’re going to wear yourself out – and the people too. This job is too heavy for you to handle all by yourself. Now let me give you a word of advice…’

Verses 19b to 22 are princely godly counsel. Jethro adds in verse 23 (NLT): ‘If you follow this advice… you will be able to endure the pressures, and all these people will go home in peace.’

Listening and following through
The good news is that Moses listened to his father-in-law and things worked out for him and the people. A new generation of leaders was released to learn from Moses and to serve him, their nation Israel and their God.

Exodus 18:24... ‘[Moses] did everything he said’... should be a wake-up call today to every leader wearied by ministry pressures but still insisting on carrying heavy loads!

A further thought…Jethro is usually regarded as not only Moses’ father-in-law but the priest of Midian who deeply respected God and his miraculous delivering power. After Moses shared what the Lord had done for Israel, he immediately praised God in respect of Israel’s deliverance and proclaimed: ‘I know now that the Lord is greater than all other gods’ (V10).

In respect of our theme, let’s note that the word ‘Jethro’ was only one name associated with him. Indeed Jethro is mainly regarded as merely a title (meaning - as he was probably also a prince – ‘His Excellence’). Exodus 2:18 gives his major actual name - Reuel, meaning ‘friend of God.’

Responsible mutual accountability
Moses was a great leader heading for disaster but he listened to the wise counsel of a ‘senior counsellor’, a friend in contact with God, one who knew the Lord’s mind on leadership pressures.  A valuable lesson for today in respect of responsible mutual accountability!

Many times we don’t need lots of prayer, a prophetic word or a word of knowledge (although praise God for these supernatural operations), just some good balanced counsel, and to heed it and make every change necessary.

And ... guys... a fully appreciated good, godly Proverbs 31 wife of course who honours you and cares deeply! Remember, too, the promise in Proverbs 18:22: ‘He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favour from the Lord.’

Connecting - out there!

When Argentinian Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio became ‘the new pope’ he immediately hit the headlines…Google, newspapers, radio, TV, blogs, even inclusion in a new book on the ancient St Malachy papal prophecies.

 

Not only is this pontiff the first Latin American and Jesuit in modern times to lead the world's 1.2 billion Catholics but many highlights quickly circulated about him. For example, he…

+ Declines $10,000 a night hotel rooms/ popemobile usage, wanting freedom to get out and meet ‘the people’
+ Broke tradition, asking some 150,000 people to pray for him
+ Faces controversy; opposes same-sex marriage and abortion
+ Wanting to honour that great servant to the poor and destitute, he chose ‘Francis’ (but without number 2 tacked on!). 

   

Blending with ordinary people
Here’s a pope who Is humble, authentic, credible and appears, in some ways, to be just a normal guy. Watching the news regarding this new pope, immediately brought to mind two things. One was that delightful underrated, overlooked 1985 Tom Conti movie, Saving Grace. 

It’s a classic that asks the question, ‘Have you seen the pope lately?’ Why? Because he’s hit the streets and disappeared!

A fictional, reluctant ‘Pope Leo XIV’ grows tired of the politics and insularity of his new position. Taking a few quiet moments in the open air, he puts his head back to feel the raindrops on his face: But he’s promptly ushered inside to bankers, politicians, and back-to-back blessings of politicos. But one day, Leo slips out a back gate and blends in with soccer crowds.

He ends up in a troubled Italian village and, incognito, sets out to make a difference. Asked his name, Leo says ‘Francesco.’ And indeed there is something of St Francis in the way this gentle man sets aside the trappings of wealth and power to join the townspeople in their poverty and toil.

More importantly…Jesus who came from heaven
But the other thing that struck me at the same time was this: The reality of Jesus Christ! 

Although the Son of God he willingly allowed himself to be made lower than angels (Heb. 2:9), left the splendour of the heavenly throne room, not the Holy See, to become the humble servant of this world’s troubled, poor, destitute, fearful and sick. 

Why? He wanted to move ‘out there’ and meet ordinary people, bringing blessings and become our Saviour and greatest friend.  And the head of the newfound church.

Matthew 20:28 Mge spells out this aspect of Jesus’ humility and people’s servant heart: ‘That is what the Son of Man has done: He came to serve, not be served - and then to give away his life in exchange for the many who are held hostage.’

‘Serve’ is diakononeo, sometimes translated ‘minister’ but with the thought of waiting on menially. No wonder his ministry on earth is considered that of the servant king. He didn’t take on the name Joseph, his respected and supposed father, but that of ‘Jesus’ for he would ‘save his people from their sins’ (Matt. 1:21). Verse 23 recognises the Isaiah 7:14 prophecy about his supernatural birth: ‘Call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.’

Out there - among the people
Scripture depicts Jesus as the people’s friend. He was a marketplace minister who spent about a third of his ministry ‘out there’ not locked within the walls of some worship centre. 

In doing so he moved where the rubber hits the road. He felt people’s heartaches, hurts, burdensome governmental oppression, religious confusion, their wondering if God had forgotten them.  He touched their lives with good news, hope, healings, much comfort and wise, balanced advice and shared truths from God’s word.

Mark 6:56 Mge reads, ‘Wherever he went, village or town or countryside crossroads, they brought their sick to the marketplace and begged him to let them touch the edge of his coat – that’s all. And whoever touched him became well.’

‘Marketplace’ is the Greek word agorah, a town square. It comes from a base meaning to gather, to waken from disease, death, ruin. If you like…where people came together expecting something good - blessings just as in this Mark scripture.

Be an influencer
An important theme that blogs such as ours  stress again and again, is that all Christians carry the responsibility of reaching the unreached. That it’s not enough to attend church, tithe, worship God, individually experience the Holy Spirit and be personally blessed every week.

The church we attend when not ministering around, has a sign over an exit door which dramatically states, ‘You are now entering the mission field!’ How true. The mission field is wherever we go in the marketplace of life…school, college, uni, supermarket, café, restaurant, sports ground, hospital. Wherever we meet people.

Acts 17:12 describes some new Christians as ‘women and men of influence.’ This is what Jesus was – an influencer, one who liked to be among God’s creation encouraging them when opportunities arose…such as simply requesting a drink, a meal or miraculously instigating healings or sharing an uplifting word.

Personal example
Easter Saturday is regarded by Christians as a spiritually wasted day. Good Friday is over, Resurrection Sunday awaits and only a secular Saturday lies between. 

I (Robert) visited my local library to return DVDs and discovered only the emergency chute was open and it was over-full! As I endeavoured to push further in the several books, CDs and DVDs that other borrowers had jammed into the blocked opening, an out-of-town stranger arrived with the same errand. 

We chatted, became friends and I had the joy of influencing him, not in Sunday church, but ‘out there’ in the street and leading him to Christ. And praying over him for a healing. Then another lady needing help came along – another God-given opportunity. It was not a wasted Saturday after all! 

May we all be marketplace Christians, not missing opportunities to share the good news.

Giftedness and Guileness

Recently a friend was talking about his ministry in the worship team. A professional highly skilled musician, he delights to please God when playing at church services. 

He’s aware that his music knowledge, flowing with the team and his beautiful playing will bless church attendees and set the platform for speakers at each service. But his priority is that his musical skill and anointed God-given giftedness will firstly honour and please his Lord. His greatest desire is that God alone gets the glory.

Very quietly, and meaningfully, he shared this: ‘God spoke to my heart and reminded me how precious this gift is. That ownership is his, not mine, that I must never abuse it in any way. I’m aware my playing touches peoples’ hearts and souls but I would never exploit this God-given ministry gift.’

Our hearts were touched by his insight and wisdom in accepting God’s direction. It was obvious he knew that what is from God, is God’s alone and should be dedicated to him.

God is a giver
God is the giver of good gifts to his children (Matt. 7:11). Salvation through Christ’s finished Calvary work is, of course, the greatest gift anyone can accept. 

But God also delights to generously give us many gifts to enjoy as we journey through life. A good local church is one such gift, where we can be encouraged, cared for, prayed for, and blessed.

And if led to serve in that local church and allow a ministry to develop, God desires to provide giftedness equal to that ministry. Many have natural gifts from birth that develop in growing into adulthood. Then there are other skills we pick up as time goes by.

But no matter how our talent comes about, if we want to ensure God is honoured in our ministry, we’ll desire the Holy Spirit’s rich anointing on whatever gift we have. Then their usage will bless others and please God. We will also guard that giftedness and use it primarily for his glory. 

If it so happens we receive some blessing in the process, financial or a gift, such as a ministerial stipend or ministry support gift, this is acceptable. But an incident of finance-over-giftedness shared with me recently is unsettling. A little background…

Gullible Christians
It’s an oft-quoted comment that Christians without balanced Bible knowledge, who don’t understand scripture and don’t look to sound leadership, are gullible. They fall for new scams and wrong doctrines that come along. 

Even this year certain ‘so-called Bible teachers’ and ‘big name prophets’ predicted with seeming absolute certainty that Australia will soon be finished, that the world would end earlier this year. The latest ‘prophecy’ is that Jesus will return in 2017!

Erroneous date-quoting about the end of the world and Christ’s return we can handle when we recall Jesus himself said that no one knows, only the Father (Mark 13:32. See also our January blog The Real The End?)

It’s other deceitful things creeping into churches and befuddling Christians who don’t know their Bibles, getting them spiritually conned, that concern me. Especially where unwise ministers aren’t protecting their people, particularly their young people!

Unwise wandering
Recently one minister shared this with me. He’d discovered that some of his young people had gone to ‘another church’ to hear a ‘great visiting overseas prophet who spoke seemingly accurate prophecies.’

To his horror he learned this ‘prophet’ was demanding money from Christians for prophetic words. Because his giftedness was a blessing he would demand finance and was obtaining email addresses. Then he emailed unsuspecting, gullible followers who yearned to hear his ‘gift from God’ and tell them to stand in the prayer line and give him $200 for a prophecy!

This is nothing new – abusing spiritual giftedness, wrong teachings and deceptions re-arise every so often. And some people never learn. So many Christians over many years have wandered around different churches and after ministries to hear prophetic words that will tickle their ears. They’ve been called ‘spiritual gypsies.’

We’re glad to write that even though they’re young in their faith, this minister’s youth knew instantly that something wasn’t right and refused to go back. They chose to be spiritual mini-shepherds and warned friends.

Warnings
Pastors are called to be guardians of their flocks. Paul’s 2 Timothy 4:2-4 end days warning to young Timothy regarding people who would run around needs to be noted by every churchgoer, not just ministers: ‘Proclaim the message with intensity; keep on your watch. Challenge, warn, and urge your people. Don't ever quit. Just keep it simple. You're going to find that there will be times when people will have no stomach for solid teaching, but will fill up on spiritual junk food - catchy opinions that tickle their fancy. They'll turn their backs on truth and chase mirages.’

Jesus warned: ‘False prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect’ (Mat. 24:24).

Yes, we should expect the supernatural in our churches. In fact Jesus commanded his first disciples to ‘Heal those who are sick. Bring those who are dead back to life. Make those who have skin diseases “clean” again. Drive out demons’ (Matt. 10:8).

But he carefully warned (v9), ‘You have received freely, so give freely’ and then made it clear that such Spirit-filled ministries are to be carefree regarding finance: ‘Don't think you have to put on a fund-raising campaign before you start. You are the equipment, and all you need to keep that going is three meals a day. Travel light.’ 

Biblical principles
• Church shepherds need to wisely guard their flock, especially their unsuspecting young people. Christians need to know what scripture teaches

• Even if prophecies appear accurate, the character of the ministry may be open to question.  In ministry, finance is not the name of the game

• Pleasing God must be foremost, followed by blessing his people

• Elisha was a prophet who refused to accept finance to move in the miraculous (2 Kings 5:16). God was not pleased with Elisha’s servant who sneaked away and lied to get such rewards (v27)

Elisha’s challenge to Gehazi is very relevant to everyone: ‘Tell me, is this a time to look after yourself, lining your pockets with gifts?’ This prophet – and God – considered finance-hunting an abuse.

One’s attitude should be like our friend’s awareness of his musical gift. We should want to ‘freely give’ as we’ve received and ensure that God alone is glorified. That we are so careful how we handle our God-given giftedness.