Readings for today: Ezekiel 1:1-3:15, Hebrews 3, Psalms 104:1-23, Proverbs 26:24-26
I remember when I was first called into gospel ministry. It happened almost at the same time I was converted from death to life. I was a student at the University of Colorado in Boulder. I had recently become a Christian and I couldn’t stop telling others about Jesus. It felt like an internal pressure I couldn’t resist. A burning passion in my heart to share the good news. I wanted everyone to know about this Jesus who had changed my life forever. I led Bible studies. Engaged in apologetic debates with classmates and friends. I served in leadership in my campus ministry. Someone along the way asked me if I had ever thought about being a pastor. From that moment on, I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.
The years have not been easy. Pastors literally battle principalities and powers and spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly ream on a daily basis. We walk with people through the most difficult times in their lives. Addiction. Abuse. Depression. Suicidal ideation. Physical and emotional trauma. We are on call twenty four hours a day and seven days a week because tragedy never takes a day off. Along the way, we preach sermons, lead ministries, disciple believers, and try to find ways to shepherd a community of people towards the Kingdom. Those we love and serve struggle with sin. They often fight the will of God. Far too many abandon the faith altogether and we feel every loss viscerally. Perhaps that’s why pastoral ministry is considered to be hazardous to one’s health!
Ezekiel understood the challenge. He knew the call was not to fortune and fame. He would not be a social media influencer or attract thousands with his preaching. Instead, he would struggle and battle and fight for the soul of his people. It would be hard and he would grow tired and be tempted to throw in the towel. Listen to how God describes it, "Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak with you." And as he spoke to me, the Spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and I heard him speaking to me. And he said to me, "Son of man, I send you to the people of Israel, to nations of rebels, who have rebelled against me. They and their fathers have transgressed against me to this very day. The descendants also are impudent and stubborn: I send you to them, and you shall say to them, 'Thus says the Lord God.' And whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house) they will know that a prophet has been among them. And you, son of man, be not afraid of them, nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions. Be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house. And you shall speak my words to them, whether they hear or refuse to hear, for they are a rebellious house.” (Ezekiel 2:1-7) Whew. You mean I won’t lead a megachurch? You mean my “brand” will suffer? You mean I won’t be comfortable and well-esteemed and make a good living? No indeed. Quite the opposite. In order for Ezekiel to fulfill his calling, God is going to have strengthen him. “Because all the house of Israel have a hard forehead and a stubborn heart. Behold, I have made your face as hard as their faces, and your forehead as hard as their foreheads. Like emery harder than flint have I made your forehead. Fear them not, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house." (Ezekiel 3:7-9) Notice there’s not talk of balance here. No talk of self-care. No talk of Ezekiel’s well-being. This isn’t about him. It’s about the call of God on his life and the sacrifice God is asking him to make.
Far too many of my friends and colleagues in ministry struggle with their calling. I don’t want to diminish their pain in any way. The suffering is real. Trust me, I know. However, I do find too many hold to unrealistic expectations. They make false assumptions that answering God’s call will not cost them personally or professionally. They make the mistake of thinking it shouldn’t impact their family life. They believe ministry can be accomplished in a forty hour work week and the church (or perhaps even God) has no right to demand more. They have a hard time with criticism. They almost can’t believe it when people leave their church. They seem shocked when sinners show their true colors. I get it. I feel the frustration myself. But then I go to God’s Word. I read about the calling God places on people like Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Deborah, David, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Elizabeth, Mary, Peter, and Paul. I pay particular attention to the calling our Father placed on His Son. And I realize my expectations are themselves sinful and self-centered. My life is not my own. I was bought at a price and God has every right to use me as He so chooses. My job is simply to trust Him come what may.
Readings for tomorrow: Ezekiel 3:16-6:14, Hebrews 4, Psalms 104:24-35, Proverbs 26:27