{"id":23151,"date":"2021-12-13T10:01:40","date_gmt":"2021-12-13T15:01:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/joemckeever.com\/wp\/?p=23151"},"modified":"2021-12-13T10:02:05","modified_gmt":"2021-12-13T15:02:05","slug":"blindsided-by-opposition-welcome-to-the-ministry-young-pastor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/joemckeever.com\/wp\/blindsided-by-opposition-welcome-to-the-ministry-young-pastor\/","title":{"rendered":"Blindsided by opposition: Welcome to the ministry, young pastor."},"content":{"rendered":"

(In our experience, most of the Lord\u2019s people are wonderful and most of His churches are filled with sincere and godly workers. But once in a while, pastors come upon sick churches led by difficult people who seem to delight in controlling their ministers. When they find themselves unable to do this, they attack. Pity the poor unsuspecting preacher and his family. What follows is written just for them.)<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cBut beware of men, for they will deliver you up to the courts, and scourge you in their synagogues\u2026.\u201d (Matthew 10:17)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

You and your wife\u2013please adjust gender references herein as your situation demands\u2013went into the ministry with heads high, hearts aglow, and eyes wide open, idealism firmly tucked under your arm, vision clear and focus solid.<\/p>\n

As newly minted ambassadors for Christ, the two of you were ready to do battle with the world, eager to serve the saints, and glad to impart the joyful news of the gospel.<\/p>\n

Ministry was going to be great and noble and even blessed.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s what you thought.<\/p>\n

You expected the work to be hard, the hours long, and the needs great.<\/p>\n

What you did not expect was to be blindsided by members of your own church leadership\u2013to be slandered by people you counted on as friends when you took a courageous position, criticized for something you did well, even lied about.<\/p>\n

You knew there would be vicious people \u201cin the world,\u201d outsiders who do not believe in God, who cannot discern spiritual things, and who refuse to subject themselves to moral absolutes.<\/p>\n

You were ready for that.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

What caught you completely off guard was when members of that sweet pastor search committee which brought you to this town with glowing recommendations and high hopes now turned on you, accusing you of misrepresenting yourself to them, blaming you for the ills inside their church family that were present long before you became their shepherd.<\/p>\n

Some you loved best are now leaving your church, saying unkind things about you and your family.<\/p>\n

You are stunned, puzzled, frightened, and more than a little angry.<\/p>\n

Questions bombard you and rob you of sleep.<\/p>\n

Why are they doing this? What is going on here? Why didn’t they ask me what I had said\/done, but just believed the worst about me?<\/p>\n

You made mistakes, sure. Everyone does.<\/p>\n

Didn\u2019t they know we were human? Were they expecting us to be perfect?<\/p>\n

Your wife doesn\u2019t want to come to church any more, and if you had a choice about it, pastor, you wouldn\u2019t either.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not fun any more.<\/p>\n

Welcome to the ministry in the 21st century.<\/p>\n

I can say to you categorically, my friend, that you are now situated to do your very best work for the Lord. I know it doesn\u2019t feel like it, but take my word. This may well be your shining hour.\u00a0 You are now \u201cwalking on your high places,\u201d that scary height where the standing is slippery and no one is there to catch you (see Habakkuk 3:19, among other places).<\/p>\n

1) These harsh conditions you are facing are not new, but have been with us from the beginning.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Some of the First Century Christians loved the Apostle Paul and treasured his teachings, but others despised him, made cruel jokes about him, and used every opportunity to run him down. Read the last few chapters of II Corinthians and see if you don\u2019t find a friend in your sufferings.<\/p>\n

The First Epistle of Peter is almost a handbook for the Lord\u2019s workers going through what you are enduring (and worse, of course). Many of them were driven away from their homes, robbed of everything they owned, beaten, and even killed. The fact that nothing like this has happened to you (we assume) does not diminish the wonderful way these scriptures speak to the Lord\u2019s servants suffering for His sake.<\/p>\n

2) Not all churches are like this\u2013you will be relieved to know\u2013but sooner or later, most pastors are going to get hold of one.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

If you are fortunate, this difficult congregation will come as your second or third church, following sweet experiences where the work flourished and you blossomed for the Lord. If, however, the first pastorate is this mean-spirited one, there is a good chance you and your spouse may decide something like, \u201cWe didn\u2019t sign on for this; if all the churches are like this, we\u2019re out of here,\u201d and your first pastorate is your last one.<\/p>\n

They\u2019re not all like this one, you\u2019ll be glad to know. But plenty are. So, when dealing with pastor search committees, do your homework and go in with your eyes wide open. Those people need a pastor too, and if the Lord sends you there, you\u2019re willing to go. However, you would rather not become their latest victim if you can help it.<\/p>\n

3) You would not have been caught off guard and blind-sided if you had paid closer attention to something our Lord Jesus said.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Again and again, He said things like \u201cBlessed are you when men cast insults at you and persecute you\u2026\u201d (Matthew 5:11), \u201cYou will be hated of all on account of My name\u201d (Matthew 10:22), and \u201cIf they persecuted me, they will persecute you also\u201d (John 15:20).<\/p>\n

Jesus told Peter, \u201cThere is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for my sake and the gospel\u2019s, but that he shall receive a hundred times as much now in this present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms\u2013along with persecutions<\/em>\u2013and in the age to come, eternal life\u201d (Mark 10:29-30).<\/p>\n

No one can accuse the Lord for not preparing His followers for the tough road they were choosing.<\/p>\n

At the extreme end of their first missionary journey, Paul and Barnabas decided to retrace their steps and make followup visits to the congregations they had recently established. They encouraged \u201cthem to continue in the faith, and (said to them) \u2018Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.’\u201d (Acts 14:22)<\/p>\n

They wanted these new converts to know that between here and Heaven they should expect a lot of trouble. In Acts 20:29-30, Paul prepares the elders of Ephesus for future attacks, both from outside and inside. He says, \u201cFrom among your own selves men will arise speaking perverse things\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Lord told you. Were you not listening?<\/p>\n

4) This suffering has an expiration date.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Perhaps the Lord will heal this church. Perhaps He will move you to another field.\u00a0 Perhaps you will conduct some strategically scheduled funerals. Perhaps He has something else entirely in mind.<\/p>\n

Perhaps He will come again for you. Or, take you to be with Him in Heaven.<\/p>\n

One thing we know is He will not let this harassment and persecution go on indefinitely. \u201cThis momentary light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison\u2026.\u201d (II Corinthians 4:17).<\/p>\n

President John F. Kennedy, who had severe back problems, used to say he could endure any pain so long as he knew it was temporary and would soon be going away.<\/p>\n

5) The Lord is never more with you than when you are suffering for His sake.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Paul said, \u201cAt my first appearance (before Caesar), no man stood with me. Everyone forsook me. Nevertheless, the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, that by me the Message might be fully known and that all the Gentiles might hear. I was delivered out of the lion\u2019s mouth.\u201d<\/p>\n

He continued, \u201cThe Lord will deliver me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.\u201d (II Timothy 4:17-18)<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you pass through the waters, I will be with you\u2026. When you walk through the fire\u2026.\u201d (Isaiah 43:2)<\/p>\n

\u201cThey will fight against you, but they will not overcome you, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord\u201d (Jeremiah 1:19).<\/p>\n

Hold onto Hebrews 13:5-6.\u00a0\u201cI will never leave thee nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say \u2018the Lord is my Helper and I will not be afraid.\u2019 What can man do to me?\u201d\u00a0<\/em>What indeed? (For His partial answer to what man can do to you, see Matthew 10:28.)<\/p>\n

6) Remember that the Lord\u2019s \u201ccrash course for developing spiritual maturity\u201d is persecution.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Peter told the sufferers throughout Asia Minor, \u201cThe trying of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ\u201d (I Peter 1:7).<\/p>\n

He said, \u201cAfter you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.\u201d (5:10)<\/p>\n

7) You have been given an opportunity to display the character of the Lord Jesus Christ before the watching world and the family of Christ. Don\u2019t miss it.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

We in America have so few opportunities to \u201csuffer for righteousness sake.\u201d We have freedoms which believers in other lands only dream about. We can stand on street corners and preach to our heart\u2019s content. We can buy all the Bibles we want and go up and down streets handing them out. We have almost no restrictions whatsoever on ministry. In fact, many of our elected leaders are outspoken followers of Jesus Christ as well.<\/p>\n

That may be one reason we get caught unaware when opposition and ugliness do erupt and we find ourselves caught in the cross-hairs of harassment. Nothing had prepared us for this. Seminary had not prepared us for deacons meetings as contests between those who know the Word and a few who wanted to rule. We had not expected the sweet little old ladies who resemble our grandmothers to be gossips who pass along every cruel rumor they hear.<\/p>\n

When this happens, when they target you and your family, pastor, as painful as it is, remember these things\u2026.<\/p>\n

\u2013The Lord is there with you.<\/p>\n

\u2013The Lord is up to something in the middle of this.<\/p>\n

\u2013You do not know what He is planning to do or how He will use this (only that He will).<\/p>\n

\u2013Your job is to be faithful and do the four basic acts of love He speaks of in Luke 6:27-35: Do good, bless, pray, and give.\u00a0<\/em> That is, do good deeds<\/em> toward these who are making life miserable for you and robbing ministry of its joy; bless them<\/em> (say Christ-honoring things to them); pray for them<\/em> (asking God to do His transforming work in them); and give to them<\/em> (notes, a cake you baked, tangible evidence of the love of Christ in you.<\/p>\n

You knew this was a testing time. What you may not have known is that the test is for you, to see who you are and what you truly believe.<\/em><\/p>\n

8) Don\u2019t waste this opportunity; you might not get another like it.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Later, you will look back and wonder how you endured it, rejoice that it\u2019s over, and be so glad you were faithful.<\/p>\n

As one who endured three years of this mess in one church and seven in another, I look back and say something my wonderful dad used to say about his six children: \u201cI wouldn\u2019t take a million dollars for one; I wouldn\u2019t give you a dime for another.\u201d<\/p>\n

9) Some day you will be rewarded, and overwhelmed at what God did through you during this tough time.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

No one said it better than Peter: \u201cBeloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory (that is, at His return) you may rejoice with exultation.\u201d (I Peter 4:12-13)<\/p>\n

How good is that?<\/p>\n

You will be so glad you got it right, that you hung tough, and were faithful.<\/p>\n

In fact, I\u2019ll make a prediction. Remember, you heard it here. At the Lord\u2019s return, some believers who were never called on to suffer for Jesus\u2019 sake will be envious (in a sort of righteous way, you understand) of you who did. They will wish they had had the opportunity to honor Him in such a strategic way that made such a difference.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s when you will rejoice that you were counted worthy to suffer for His name\u2019s sake. And you will remember Acts 5:41.<\/p>\n

10) One final caution, my friend: There is no premium on suffering as a result of your own stupidity, self-centeredness, immaturity, or wickedness.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Peter said, \u201cIf you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But by no means let any of you suffer as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler, but if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not feel ashamed; but in that name let him glorify God.\u201d (I Peter 4:14-16)<\/p>\n

If I am rude, angry, and stubborn with the Lord\u2019s people and they resist my leadership, I cannot very well run to Jesus and point the finger at them for being mean to me.<\/p>\n

Let the pastors and their spouses stay in the Word and on their knees, let them grow in Christlikeness and maturity, let them learn to serve and give and lead. But let them also learn to take a licking and keep on ticking, to suffer as the Lord did. \u201cWhen He was reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to the One who judges righteously\u201d (I Peter 2:23).<\/p>\n

God bless you, servant of the Savior. Give Him your best. Hang in there. It won\u2019t be long and you will be glad you were faithful.<\/p>\n

\u201cTherefore my beloved brethren, be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord\u201d (I Corinthians 15:58).<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(In our experience, most of the Lord\u2019s people are wonderful and most of His churches are filled with sincere and godly workers. But once in a while, pastors come upon sick churches led by difficult people who seem to delight … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30,5,35,38],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23151","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-conflict","category-pastors","category-pastors-wives","category-suffering"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/joemckeever.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23151","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/joemckeever.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/joemckeever.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joemckeever.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joemckeever.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23151"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/joemckeever.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23151\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23172,"href":"https:\/\/joemckeever.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23151\/revisions\/23172"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/joemckeever.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23151"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joemckeever.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23151"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joemckeever.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23151"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}