In my last post, I suggested ministry is like driving down a dirt road or unpaved driveway, having to watch out for potholes. We explored some of the pitfalls in ministry in that post, and I want to look at a few more here.
Failing to Care for Self and Family – A person who is not willing to serve sacrificially does not need to be in the ministry, but responsible self-care is a matter of stewardship and a means of maintaining our ability to minister. Similarly, our families are paramount areas of stewardship as the smaller flock we shepherd.
Setting, Accepting, and Striving to Meet Unreasonable Demands – Ministry done well is very demanding, and it deserves our all. However, we and / or our churches sometimes place unrealistic demands on us. Therefore, we have to know how to set, clarify, and manage expectations constructively in order to serve well.
Failing to Set and Maintain Boundaries – We have to maintain healthy boundaries with work, time, and other people, because boundaries guard our well-being, our work, our witness, and those we care about.
Inappropriate Relationships – The most common type of inappropriate relationships I hear about among pastors are sexual relationships. However, there are other types of inappropriate relationships. There include inappropriate emotional relationships, as well as friendships and business relationships that compromise your integrity, the church’s wellbeing, and the work of the Kingdom.
Allowing Personal Weakness to Undermine You – Each of us has weaknesses, and we do well to know those, address them, and make sure they don’t undermine us, our work, and our witness. Weaknesses include addictive tendencies, insecurity, immaturity, impatience, impulsiveness, fear, tentativeness, inappropriate anger, being easily offended or short-tempered, etc. Any weakness can present an opening for temptation; become an opportunity to hurt self, others, and the Kingdom; and lead us to lose credibility and influence.
Failing to Hold the Natural and the Supernatural – The Lord expects us to acquire and apply wisdom, knowledge, and skill in the ministry, but there is a supernatural aspect to Kingdom work. Some neglect the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit in favor of human effort alone, while others fail to develop and apply potentially helpful insights. Serving in God’s power can work hand-in-hand with learning and practical wisdom, and we need to hold these aspects of Kingdom work in a right relationship to each other.
Failing to Communicate Adequately – People may hear what they expect or want to hear; get information from those they know, rather than those who have the correct information; and sometimes don’t listen to pastors very well. People forget; people are bombarded with information; people may not listen when you speak and may not read what you write. We have a lot of communication barriers to overcome, so we have to communicate clearly, consistently, often, and in multiple ways.
Not Using or Misusing the Bible in Ministry – Biblical truths ought to guide our work and churches. But, for various reasons, we may fail to rely on the Word in appropriate ways. On the other hand, some misuse the Bible in ministry by taking things out of context, neglecting the whole council of Scripture, proof-texting, etc. We need to work through all of these issues of understanding and proper application of the Bible in ministry and church, faithfully following the counsel of Scripture.
Losing People’s Respect – Not only does the Bible lay out certain expectations for you, but your church members have their own expectations as well. Some are written, and many are unwritten. When you fail to meet those expectations, particularly expectations of punctuality, professionalism, integrity, sincerity, honesty, and doing the job well, you lose their respect and forfeit your influence, if not your job.
Misunderstanding Your Position – Where do you get your understanding of your position? Where does your church get its understanding of your position? Was your earlier church experience in a church of a different size, denomination, or governance or leadership structure than your current church? You have to navigate the intersection of the Bible as you and the church understand it, your expectations and the church’s expectations, and written and unwritten policies dictated by church culture.
Becoming Jaded – Ministry can be very rewarding, but it also can be very hurtful, tiring, lonely, and discouraging. You will encounter God’s people acting as you never thought they could, and you may wonder why God does not do some things you want Him to do. Some lose their faith; some quit the ministry outright or simply resign themselves to going through the motions; some stay in the ministry but become jaded. There is sarcasm, a negative spirit, resignation, and a hardness about them. I believe we have to guard against this, nurturing our walk with the Lord and our love for the people.
As I mentioned before, local church ministry includes pitfalls along the way, and we need to know what these are and how to avoid and handle them in order to glorify God and advance His Kingdom. May the Lord give you wisdom and direction as you navigate your service to Him and His church.