You're Crazy. When was the last time someone said that to you?
(Now hear me - this is in no way trying to be insensitive to those who have mental illness, or struggle with the pain and frustration that it brings.) But this is an expression that we use isn't it? I have a feeling that we don't regularly hear this word because we are not doing anything that would justify its usage. We are a safe people. From my perspective (as a pastor) this is something that I wish people would say more often to me. Trust me - they have said it, and if they haven't said it, then they have felt it. But I wonder if I (like many of us) have reached a place of safety in our decision making and leadership?
Similar to this - what was the last thing that you failed at? If you can't easily think of something, you are not trying enough new or creative ideas in your work/home/job/ministry/community. Sentimental Contentment leads to Apathy. We have to keep trying or we will become trapped in the same places of which we know. The safety of our decisions and our actions will lead us to a place where we are liked by all, but the mission of the church may not advance. This is a major issue in our church today. We are creating priests but we have lost the prophetic voice.
A pastor is seen as one who just takes care of the sheep... the problem is that we have forgotten that in taking care of the sheep they have to be led somewhere. Remember the whole "he leadeth me beside still waters" thing? The Good Shepherd is taking us somewhere, and as Pastors our calling is not to take care of the status quo to ensure another year of appointed ministry. We have to lead our people. In my opinion, our leading requires some decisions that will make our people feel sometimes uncomfortable, scared, and even for them to doubt our sanity. I know that there are a lot of pastors that are great caregivers and their gifts vary much like the body of Christ. I am not saying that all pastors need to fit into the same mold or box of leadership, my point is that they have to be people who are willing to take their people somewhere. We can become so busy taking care of where we are right now that we forget to move our people to a place of still (and I would add) living waters. If you doubt this - then see General Conference 2012. In my humble opinion: Too much time was taken trying to figure out what we are doing now that they forgot to make decisions that will help our future.
So - where are you taking the people under your care? My hope is that the following would be an epitaphic summary of my ministry.
"And his wife told his kids he was crazy, and his friends said he'd fail if he tried." John Mayer (Walt Grace's Submarine Test, January 1967)
