THANK YOU PASTOR

When we are making decisions within the church councils of our collective Christian faith, intelligent and responsible people should have within their midst, someone to point out the defects in the evidence upon which our pleas and desires for those things that seems to please our senses, our minds and our hearts, along with the rules and laws governing the body of the faithful. These people are known as the devil’s advocate.

The devil’s advocate never speaks in favor of the devil or argues for his cause. He or she is, more or less, a constant reminder that the road to hell and bankruptcy is paved with good intentions. It is his job to point to and make us aware that the devil always takes advantage of a Christian’s mistake. Always!

You seldom see this term used any more because our Christian faith has been infiltrated by secular and cultural ideas of political correctness, postmodernism and their so called experts seeking personal gain. It is simply not politically correct to question the authority of these experts that have permeated our families, our churches and our government.

In today’s paper was an article in which Focus on the Family wants us to change and is eager to help congregations show pastors that they are appreciated. And since October is designated as Clergy Appreciation Month (by whom – Focus on the Family?), the Colorado Springs organization says their guides will help congregations better understand the need for special recognition of the clergy and how to honor their pastoral staff and their families.

A thought just struck me. How much focus and money does James Dobson’s Focus on the Family, his syndicated radio programs and his expert guides take from your local community church? Did you ever get a picture in your mind that James Dobson, Oprah Winfrey, Rosie O’Donnell and Martha Stewart have their merriest moments on a joint venture excursion to the same bank? These are exceptional and talented people but the super star status gives them far too much influence on our lives. We must start thinking for ourselves.

The report continues.

Recent surveys show the effects of the never-ending stress on pastors and their families.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that almost 20 percent of full-time clergy worked 60 hours or more a week, three times that of all workers in professional/specialty occupations.

We still must ask – when you were called to preach, were you expecting a life of Riley in the ministry of the Christian faith?

The report goes on.

Also, the Fuller Institute on Church Growth (apparently at the request of Focus on the Family) reports that:

Fifty percent of pastors feel unable to meet the needs of their job.

No wonder! I would think it would be more than fifty percent as most "professional" clergymen have no idea what the needs of their job really are. If they do know they seem to have no idea how to prioritize their primary mission. In his book Who Are We, Bishop Kenneth L. Carder of the UMC of Mississippi gets it right when he says "The mission of the Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ. Local churches provide the most significant arena through which disciple-making occurs." Yet, this same Bishop advised us through articles in The Clarion-Ledger that it was central to our Christian faith that we vote for a new flag and later that the primary purpose of the Methodist church was to reconcile racial relations. No wonder the clergy is confused.

Eighty percent believe pastoral ministry has affected their family negatively.

I have been a Christian for over sixty years and the lay ministry with which I have been involved is the most positive and responsible experiences of my family in every respect. This surprises me, as it is contrary to my faith. It is hard for me to believe that so many members of the clergy, even the "professionals" feel this way. Is this the reason for the current shortage of clergymen? Could the word negative be a misnomer and are they comparing their families with the families of other professions? Is our secular culture more effective than we realized?

Thirty-three percent say that being in the ministry is a hazard to their family.

This is too much. We must look at the purpose of the survey and the institution behind it to give this serious consideration. It sounds to me like someone is using "spin" in lieu of facts to enhance their own agenda.

Forty percent report a serious conflict with a parishioner at least once.

It should be one hundred percent. Are clergymen today expecting to go through life without a serious conflict with a parishioner? In my ministry as a lay witness I have serious conflicts with my fellow Christians almost on a daily basis.

Seventy percent say they have lower self-esteem than when they started in the ministry.

This is really hard to believe. With God, all things are possible. Self-respect is synonymous with the Christian faith.

Seventy percent do not have someone they consider a close friend.

This is probably true. Clergymen are the most opinionated people that I know. They want their own way in almost every instance that I have experienced with them. They seldom personally share their Christian faith and they are the worlds worse when it comes to one on one communications. They refuse to listen, especially to the laity. A friendly relationship is usually strictly on their terms. It took my own brother, a member of the clergy, years to understand there was no such thing as a better Christian!

"Pastors desperately needs a day just for them as a reminder that their sacrifices are worthwhile," says H. B. London Jr. vice president of ministry outreach/pastoral ministries at Focus on the Family. "Even more, they need you teaming with them."

Please note there is nothing in the survey that is critical of the salary of the clergy!

Focus on the Family reports ministers say they feel more appreciated when parishioners give of themselves.

Cards, letters and special recognition services are a good way to start, but congregations also want to show their appreciation by sending the pastor’s family on a special vacation or by giving gifts certificates to favorite stores.

But don’t give to the minister and his family only at appreciation time. It is honorable to hold a special appreciation event, but it is even more honorable to make your expressions of thanksgiving year round.

James C. Dobson is a licensed psychologist in the state of California. In my opinion an egotist, author and entertainer. He is founder and president of Focus on the Family, a non-profit organization that produces his internationally syndicated radio programs heard daily on more than 3,000 radio facilities in North America and in nine languages on approximately 2,300 facilities in over 98 other countries. Or so he says.

Where have we heard this before? Remember Orel Roberts? How about Jerry Falwell?

Or Tammy Bakker and her husband, what’s his name?

But they were preachers! Dr. James C. Dobson has a Ph.D and is a noted psychologist.

I use the word egotist simply because in my opinion I cannot read the three pages of self- righteous accolades on www.family.org web site that tells me he is not. He collected fifteen doctorate degrees from 1983 until 1999 all from institutions of which I am totally unfamiliar. He is, however, an accomplished and talented writer.

My opinions and comments on the ambiguous results of what I consider to be an apparent bogus survey was necessary to point out the planning, the spin and the half truths necessary within the murky world of television, radio and the written press to maintain super star status. Truth by the media and the press is getting harder and harder to determine due to the spin of the moment.

In essence, it is my opinion that Dobson has set up his own private church without the benefit of the clergy. He hires them! It is all legal and is stamped with the desirable "nonprofit organization."

The selfish and misplaced usage of the evangelical movement prevalent within the Protestant churches had its inception during the early 1930’s at the start of the great depression. It is surprising to me even until today, that so many able bodied men were suddenly struck down on the road to Damacus and were then and there called to preach. The new converts quickly spread throughout the land with a Bible in one hand and a collection hat in the other. They carried a message of condemnation and began telling a frightened people that the wrath of God would surly bring more pestilence and plague unless they repented and followed their own brand of religion.

This selfish use of evangelism has been refined, honed and has been given a reasonable amount of respectability, but it can always be identified with the collection hat or a market place for their wares within our churches.

The beauty of the Christian faith is that it is individually so simple and so private. Yet, it must be shared openly and selflessly.

In our joint venture with our God we must try our best to keep it that way!