Let’s start by mentioning what pastors do not want to hear a few minutes before most bringing the message God has given them and over which they have worked and prayed and planned all week….
–“Pastor, there is no tissue in the men’s room.”
–“Pastor, the personnel committee would like a word with you.”
–“Preacher, can’t you do something about that janitor? I found a leaf on the sidewalk. What are we paying him for?”
–“Brother, the temperature setting is always too cold. I hate having to bring a jacket to church.”
–“Someone got my pew again last Sunday. That’s where my mama and daddy always sat. Can’t you do something?”
–“This new music director doesn’t seem to know any of the good old songs I grew up on. Can’t you do something about him?”
–“Those teenage girls are in jeans again, preacher. And one was wearing a halter-top. Scandalous! You need to bring a sermon on that.”
–“Here is a list of sermons I’d like to hear when you get a chance.”
–“Uh, preacher, I know this is not a good time to bring this up, but….”
And finally, what pastors would like to hear before they get up to preach…
1) As little as possible. Just give them a nice handshake or a warm hug with a big smile.
2) If you must say something, try saying, “I’m praying for you, pastor.”
That’s all. Have a wonderful Sunday with the Lord’s people in His house!
Amen and Amen! Can’t tell you how many times Deacons or members can’t wait to drop a bomb on me 3 minutes before I preach. Add to that parents who will not make their children behave during the preaching so I have to stop and address the situation. Hopefully some will read this blog and have mercy on us all. God Bless!
David, I appreciate that pastors most certainly don’t want or need petty concerns pulling on their coat-tails, nor is Sunday morning the appropriate time for a Deacon to approach you with issues. But to say that the members of the Church of GOD should simply leave the “holy pastor” to his “holy thoughts” before his “holy sermon” is the reason there are more people roaming the streets on Sunday mornings than in your pews. Sunday mornings are one of the few times your members actually get to see you you. Do you know why that is? Because they work… outside their homes…. every weekday. Their weekends are vital to their family time. After your service, you likely are gone to lunch, just like they are. When are you available to them, except during the weekday? And your complaint about our children during your “holy sermon”? You do realize what it takes for us to bring our toddlers and young children to your church and train them to sit still and learn from the word, right? Oh, I see, you are obviously one of those who believe that children don’t belong in the service. We should simply send them away to the nursery and not burden you, the “holy pastor” with their presence. Let me make myself, a devoted Christian mother, perfectly clear. You, dear sir, are the problem with the Church of today. The pastor has convinced himself that he is above that of the membership and is therefore above the petty concerns of the daily functions of the Church. Go behind the scenes while you preach and watch the women caring for the children, warming dishes for the covered dish luncheon, filling your cup with ice and drinks as you pass by…. after you’ve looked down upon her children for wimpering too loudly in your sanctuary. No wonder so many families have left your membership.
Amen, “Mommy of 2”. Jesus didn’t expect the kids to be sent away, and neither should preachers.
If you cannot preach to a congregation and let a baby cry in the background, if you cannot preach the word of God whilst distractions are going on, if you cannot put your points across unless everyone is raptly intent on you, then, my friend, you haven’t prepared your sermon enough.
OK, you might not preach your best sermon if you are being constantly distracted. OK, you might not produce a fine level of oratory if there’s a child crying or mugging in your field of view. But if you can’t get the word of God across to those who are listening to you preaching then you have not put the time and effort in to make the message intelligible and understandable.
If you require a completely rapt audience to preach then how will you ever preach to nonbelievers? If you require children not to make a sound in the service then what families will ever come to your church?
It’s not only pastors who are distracted by unruly children. It was hard to keep my mind on the sermon and my heart on the Lord when my children were young and I sympathize with parents. So now, I can deal with a whimpering baby who is quickly given a bottle or carried out for a diaper change, and a rambling toddler kept quietly busy with a cloth book and firm discipline, but some parents have no control over their little ones. They should care more about the possible unbeliever sitting behind them who misses the presentation of the gospel altogether because they are being entertained by the spectacle taking place in front of them.
I LOVE the spectacle going on in front of me. When a single mother (or couple for that matter) show up with three little ones, they need some help. Quite frankly, I’d much rather hear an infant coo in my ear than most sermons I have heard or even given. So he slobbers all over my silk tie, silk ties are replaceable, slobbering babies aren’t. I remember holding a baby while I was giving a message and the baby fell asleep. She felt comfortable in God’s house and that spoke volumes. Praise God for children in church. Parents of little ones: There should be a whole room of people there to help you should they get restless. If there isn’t, you’re in the wrong church.
Spoken like one who has never preached once or pastored a church one day. I don’t know when I’ve ever seen such venom on this website.
You shouldn’t assume that those who have an opposing viewpoint to yours haven’t the experience to form that opinion. I actually happen to be the child of a pastor. I have been raised by a wonderful pair of servants, who have always, ALWAYS been available to their congregation. Who have never been distracted or annoyed by a crying child in their midst. I’m sorry that the truth rubs you the wrong way, but that’s the nature of the game with most stagnate Christians. Jesus calls us to be His hands and feet, not His head…. not only His mouthpiece.
Getting back to the topic at hand: One thing people CAN say just before church starts was actually said to me yesterday, “Pastor, we want to join this church.”
Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
How about this one? “You need to check your fly.”
So Mommy of 2, what exactly is the issue here? You seem to be arguing against a point no one is making. Neither Mr. Buffaloe nor I are saying that children shouldn’t be in church, the pastor need not be available, etc. It’s all right here in Joe’s blog (which I have come to love, and often recommend to others), so please quote for me exactly what Mr. Buffaloe or I said that set you off. And I did not detect from Mr. Buffaloe’s post that he considerers himself a “holy pastor” with “holy words.”
By the way, thanks for pointing out my spiritual deficiency. I have suspected for some time that I was not exactly who God expected me to be. I’ll work on that.
Woody and Glenn – good ones.
I meant the article to be only half serious, something of a satire (one leaf on the sidwalk, etc). You guys are exactly right, in that there are so many other good things we’d love to hear before we preach. And the mother of two (is that a rarity? Not sure why she identifies herself so) is right in that pastors can do a lot of ministry before they get up to preach. However, the best time for ministry like that is AFTER the sermon. The preacher is finished, people are relaxed, and it’s a great time for hugs and quick conversations and prayers.