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From The Archives: Great Expectations
A post from a couple of years ago
At the time that I am writing this, I have just finished reading a guest blog over at Stuff Christians Like. My reaction to this is not what I thought it would be. I sat there thinking to myself, “Why can’t I write like that? Why can’t I be that funny? I want to write that kind of humorous blog.” I sat there for a while thinking back over the past few weeks of writing Deuceology. Several of my posts have been my attempt at humor. Others have been serious. Some have simply been about whatever I have on my mind at the time. A good number are doing my usual rant about what should change in our churches.
The point of this is basically something Popeye said a few years back. I am what I am. I just can’t force what I write about. I write what I write, even if I’m writing about my writing. Did that just make any sense to anyone but me? I mean, today I’m writing about my writing. Tomorrow may be a humorous take on something. The next day it may be about twenty-five things I love about my church and twenty-five things I don’t like about my church (thanks for letting me put that preview of an upcoming Twofer Tuesday in here). Basically, what I realize is that I’m just going to be me in this blog. And guess what?
We all need to do that. Quit trying to be like someone else. Quit expecting others to be someone else. Manage your expectations of
others. I read another blog the other day where a Christian couple tried to share their faith, unsuccessfully, to a waiter. He didn’t want to hear any of it. They couldn’t understand why he didn’t jump at the opportunity once he was told the truth. Their expectation was that he would jump at the opportunity to be saved and Christian like them. They don’t realize that the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing (see 1 Corinthians 1:18 for the biblical reference). Their expectation is that it isn’t foolishness to them.
The great thing is that for those of us who know Christ, the opposite is true. For us, the word of the cross is the power of God. Our expectation should be that we would live according to this power. The expectation that I have of myself should be that I would live according to this power. What kind of should that be for us? A Great Expectation. Unfortunately, we have misplaced expectations.
My expectation should not be that I am a funny blogger like Jon Acuff all of the time. My expectation should not be that I live like the word of the cross is foolishness. My expectation should be that I live as though that word of the cross is the power of God. And that is transforming.
With what kind of expectations do you live your life? As thought the word of the cross is foolishness? Or as though it’s the power of God? Is your life full of a great expectation?
Why Does Your Pastor Pastor?
I read a blog post recently about when a pastor changes his theology. It really shouldn’t surprise any of us when the theology of a pastor shifts. Do you believe exactly the way you did when you were 22 or 32? I don’t. John Piper’s doctoral dissertation is being re-released and in the preface he says that he would write it differently now.
Pastors are human and they change and they grow. But why do they pastor?
I think many pastors out there pastor for all the right reasons. Actually, I think most pastors pastor for the right reasons. They are called by God to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to their churches and to those that do not know Christ as savior. They love their congregations and shepherd them.
However, there are also many that do not pastor for the right reasons. Here are some of those wrong reasons:
Career
Some see the ministry as a profession. They may start out in a small church, but their next move is to a bigger church. Then their next move is to an even bigger church. At some point they reach the church they will finish up at. What you don’t see as often is a pastor moving to smaller churches. I suppose that happens, but you don’t see it as often.
Expectation
Somewhere in their life, some people had the expectation put on them that they should be a pastor. Perhaps their mother or grandmother told them they would make a great preacher. Perhaps their father or grandfather was a pastor and the expectation is that they will follow in their footsteps. They are put on the path early in life and begin preparation early.
Skillset
Along with both of these is the fact that at some point in their lives, some pastors have not developed skills that would allow them to do anything else. I happen to know of one pastor who went to school to prepare for a lucrative, professional career. After a short time in this field, he moved into ministry. Following a few decades in ministry, scandal and divorce drove him out of the pastorate. Now he works in sales just scraping by.
Retirement Ready
Finally there is the pastor who is done. They have had a good run, but they are older. They aren’t putting in the effort any longer. They go to the pastors conferences. They make a few visits here and there. However, you can tell they’re coasting. They are just waiting for the one thing to happen so they can retire. It may be for their retirement to hit a certain point. It may be for them to reach the age for Medicare. They are tired and want out, but the time just isn’t right yet.
Let me re-emphasize that I don’t think that most pastors are like this. However, I think there are enough to cause us some concern.
Have you run into any pastors who are in the ministry for the wrong reasons?
Great Expectations
At the time that I am writing this, I have just finished reading a guest blog over at Stuff Christians Like. My reaction to this is not what I thought it would be. I sat there thinking to myself, “Why can’t I write like that? Why can’t I be that funny? I want to write that kind of humorous blog.” I sat there for a while thinking back over the past few weeks of writing Deuceology. Several of my posts have been my attempt at humor. Others have been serious. Some have simply been about whatever I have on my mind at the time. A good number are doing my usual rant about what should change in our churches.
The point of this is basically something Popeye said a few years back. I am what I am. I just can’t force what I write about. I write what I write, even if I’m writing about my writing. Did that just make any sense to anyone but me? I mean, today I’m writing about my writing. Tomorrow may be a humorous take on something. The next day it may be about twenty-five things I love about my church and twenty-five things I don’t like about my church (thanks for letting me put that preview of an upcoming Twofer Tuesday in here). Basically, what I realize is that I’m just going to be me in this blog. And guess what?
We all need to do that. Quit trying to be like someone else. Quit expecting others to be someone else. Manage your expectations of
others. I read another blog the other day where a Christian couple tried to share their faith, unsuccessfully, to a waiter. He didn’t want to hear any of it. They couldn’t understand why he didn’t jump at the opportunity once he was told the truth. Their expectation was that he would jump at the opportunity to be saved and Christian like them. They don’t realize that the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing (see 1 Corinthians 1:18 for the biblical reference). Their expectation is that it isn’t foolishness to them.
The great thing is that for those of us who know Christ, the opposite is true. For us, the word of the cross is the power of God. Our expectation should be that we would live according to this power. The expectation that I have of myself should be that I would live according to this power. What kind of should that be for us? A Great Expectation. Unfortunately, we have misplaced expectations.
My expectation should not be that I am a funny blogger like Jon Acuff all of the time. My expectation should not be that I live like the word of the cross is foolishness. My expectation should be that I live as though that word of the cross is the power of God. And that is transforming.
With what kind of expectations do you live your life? As thought the word of the cross is foolishness? Or as though it’s the power of God? Is your life full of a great expectation?
