I preached on hypocrisy this last Sunday from Luke 11:37-54. Like almost never before the sermon really got ahold of me while I was preaching. I did not expect those emotions to come up like that for me, and I think I learned something. One of the application points I made was that as a church and as individuals within the church we need to be honest about our failings and struggles. We also need to be gentle with others, for we are not perfect either. The church should be a safe place, and all too often because of hypocrisy the church is dangerous. With that said, I realized that I need the church to be a safe place for me also. Becoming a pastor did not mean that I left all my struggles behind. The pressure I feel to not let people know just how broken and sinful I am and how God is still working on me in so many ways is enormous. So, without going into any detail, please know that I am a real person, I have real struggles, and I am as broken and sinful as you are, if not more. Thanks be to God for Jesus, who for our sake made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
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Very Well said. As a fellow pastor we need to be able to “be real” just because we are called to shepherd the flock, people need to remember that we are also sheep that need to be tended to as well. If we cannot enter the sanctuary of our fellowships and be able to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Chief Shepherd then what hope do any of us have? Thank you again for honesty and that through Christ Jesus we are able to shepherd the flock and at the same time be cared for by him -Our Chief Shepherd
Yeah, what if pastors where just ordinary people called out to perform an extraordinary task that is only accomplished by grace of God and so should only point to his glory?