Pastor’s Guilt Trip

First, there are the comparisons:

• Jerry Falwell knocked on 100 doors a day, six days a week—I can’t do that.


• John MacArthur is masterfully fluent in New Testament Greek—I have a hard enough time with English.


• Evangelist Angel Martinez memorized the entire New Testament and large portions of the Old Testament—I have a hard time remembering our weekly memory verse.


• Martin Luther spent three hours each day in prayer—Three HOURS?!?


• Adrian Rogers led a denomination back to the infallible written Word—I can’t get people to read it.


• Billy Graham led millions to the incomparable living Word—The water in our baptistery is beginning to turn green.


• Frank Cox preaches like his hair is on fire—I need a haircut.


• John Piper preaches like his heart is on fire—I buy Rolaids from Sam’s Club.


• Charles Spurgeon preached like the world was on fire—sometimes I can’t see beyond the people in front of me every week.

Then there are the questions:

• Preacher, why didn’t you visit so-and-so this week?
• Preacher, why don’t you preach with more fire?
• Preacher, how could you miss the point of that text?
• Preacher, how could you forget to pray for that person?
• Preacher, how could you treat your family like that?

I am blessed that the comparisons and questions don’t come from the people of Brushfork. I thank God for them because they’re far too kind, loving and understanding for that. The comparisons and questions come from my own mind—usually on a Monday.

When the comparisons and questions come, I know it’s time to step back and see what I’m really supposed to be doing here. I need to remind myself of my pastoral priorities by listing Paul’s commands to Timothy. While it’s good to scour the entirety of both letters and reflect on each command, this is a Monday so I need a nugget. I want to move straight to the heart of the first letter. In 1 Timothy 4:11-16, Paul summed up his exhortation:

Prescribe and teach these things. Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe. Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching. Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery. Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all. Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.

As I repeatedly read and meditate on that text, I begin to see where the real comparison needs to be made and where the real questions need to be asked.

What is my primary focus? What absorbs me? How can I be the best example to the people of Brushfork Baptist Church? What do I need to pay the most attention to in my ministry? What must I overcome all obstacles to persevere in doing above all else? What will assure my salvation and ensure the salvation of those with whom I’m charged?

The answer to all those questions doesn’t involve keeping up with Falwell’s door-knocking precedent. It doesn’t require a full-knowledge of the Greek and Hebrew languages. Memorizing thousands of verses isn’t a prerequisite. Neither does it require brilliant leadership or passionate oratory skills. The answer is much simpler than that. It is a threefold answer that is much simpler, yet much more profound.

1. Give attention to the public reading of Scripture. I can do that!

2. Give attention to exhorting the people from the text of Scripture. I can do that, too!

3. Give attention to teaching the Scripture. That’s what I love to do!

Do you know what that means? It means that it was a wonderful thing for Jerry Falwell to knock on all those doors. But I’m not Jerry Falwell and just because I’m not doing what he did doesn’t mean I’m failing my calling. Just because I have to rely on my Logos Software to do original language word studies doesn’t mean I’m letting the Lord down. I will never be able to preach like Piper or Spurgeon and that’s okay. It’s okay as long as I faithfully honor my calling by persevering in the main thing I’m supposed to do—preach the Word.

Thank you Lord! Your Word got me through another Monday.

2 Timothy 4:1-2