What is Sabbath anyway?

-->

I must admit, until a couple of years ago, I was extremely cynical about the Sabbath, and any form of practice of it.  I thought of it as an antiquated practice of religion, rather than trying to figure out why the Lord commanded his people to do it in the first place.  But the Christian practice of Sabbath was never really explained to me, and as a minister (who works on Sunday) I just assumed that I wouldn’t be able to take Sabbath. 

And the thought of taking Saturday off seemed impossible with all the important stuff I had to do throughout the week.  (As arrogant of a statement as I have ever made…)

However, after hearing a sermon by Matt Chandler on the practice of the Sabbath, I was amazed by the implication that is made in the scripture.  The practice of the Sabbath is as much about work, as it is about relaxation.  Not that our practice of the Sabbath is as much work as the New Testament Pharisees made it out to be, but that we must prepare ourselves, or occupation, and our homes in advance if we are ever to hope to actually take rest. 

Exodus 20:8-11

⁸ “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. ⁹ Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, ¹⁰ but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. ¹¹ For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

As I read this passage, I am primarily interested in verse 9.  The command is not simply that we cant work on Sabbath, but instead, that in 6 days, we must complete all of our work.  If we are to take this passage literally, we must prepare the Sabbath, by working diligently for 6 days so that we have completed all the work that must be done.  Once that is done, we have the freedom to take the Sabbath with our family, without worrying about our job. 

It seems simple, and a little bit naïve that we can actually do this, but before you try to talk yourself out of taking Sabbath, answer this question first. 

Have you ever, worked 6 days straight, to make room for rest?

If not, maybe you should try…

For more by Jeremy A. Walker, check out www.jeremyawalker.com 

Make Me Lie Down

Psalm 23:1

²     He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.

Sometimes, the last thing I want to do is stop moving.  When I think about the time that I spent without a pastor, it was a time that was packed full of work and worry; not that work and worry should have been a part of that time, I made it that way.  At a certain point, the toll that overworking takes on a body, mind, and spirit can’t be overcome by another vacation.  I needed real rest.  Real rest is found when you stop working for things that the Lord has already provided.  

The idea that the Lord makes us to lie down in green pastures is more than simply a nice turn of phrase.  The fact of the matter is, the Lord made the pasture, grew the grass, provided the water, and created the creatures that are blessed by it.  Because the Lord is our shepherd, we don’t simply wander around hoping to find enough to live on.  We know that the Lord is able to manifest what we need from nothing, because all that is created was created at his word.  We are safe, because he guards us, and his hand sustains us.  

As a minister, it is imperative that you begin to view the Lord as the fulfillment of all you need, the source of your strength, and the director of your path.  If you attempt to bare down and work hard enough to overcome your obstacles, you will fail in one critical area.  We must find our sustenance in the Lord, not in our own hands.  You will never be able to provide your needs.  The sooner you realize that, the sooner you will be able to find rest. 

TBH

To be honest, I’d almost forgotten about this blog since I’ve been working on Checklist Jesus for the past 2 years.  However, I think it’s important to complete this work, because the Lord has done such a good job completing it for me.  

When I began this project in 2009, I was aware of the fact that I needed to have an overall outline in mind so that I wouldn’t wander all over the place in my attempt to share this message.  The final “chapter” in this project is a section called, “Allow Yourself to be Healed.”  This was were the journey stopped for me as far as this blog goes, and now that I look back on it, it stopped there for a reason.  I was not ready to be healed, nor was I aware of how healing could even take place after such a difficult time at the church where I was serving.  

Today is a different story.

The Lord has shared great mercy, kindness, and patience with me over the past two years in ministry, and has chosen to deliver me from the bitterness and anger that I harbored.  The next few posts in this blog will be about how the Holy Spirit has brought me to a place of healing.  

I am reminded of Psalm 23, and how the promise of protection and healing is nothing new for the God we serve

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
²     He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
³     He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
    for his name's sake.

⁴ Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
    I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
    your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

⁵ You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.

Sparks Start Fires

Recently, throughout the drought-ridden plains of Texas, we have been able to see the terrible effects of wild fires; many of which were started by nothing more than a spark.  When land is ready for a fire, it doesn’t take much for it to be set ablaze.  In sharp contrast to the devastation that fire lays upon our physical existence, the presence of fire in the spiritual world is an idea that compels action and attention toward a particular subject.  Such passionate attention and action spreads, much like a physical fire, to each ready person near the fire’s source.  

Being the spark that helps your church create and sustain excitement surrounding the coming of your next pastor is contagious.  We, as staff members, are in a unique place to help our church begin to become excited about the coming of a pastor.  Especially when a pastor has been hired, there is a heightened need for positive conversations that support the future work of the church under the leadership of this new pastor.  

Staff is the leadership of the church while the pastor’s office is vacant.  It is critical for us to be the spark of positive conversations about the future. 

Be the Spark of Excitement and Anticipation for the Coming of the Pastor

Whatever the process is in your church that selects, interviews, and invites a pastor, there will inevitably be conversation and interest in that process. Small conversations will irrupt around you and will be opportunities for encouragement and investment into the church’s support of the incoming pastor and the process that is bringing them here. Investment is the best word to use here because the statements that you make in these circumstances are critical for the development of the necessary energy needed to equip your new pastor for the task of learning, leading, and loving the heart of your church. There is nothing more beneficial for the pastor than the support of the ENTIRE church, and that is the goal that you must have as you attempt to interject support and energy toward the future.

Supporting the process that brings the pastor is just as important as supporting the pastor. Committee members, Deacons, or Elders that work toward bringing the best pastor possible need to be supported individually. Each of these workers must be encouraged and supported throughout the process through words of affirmation, cards, or even treating them to lunch. Make whatever efforts are necessary to ensure that the energy of each of these individuals does not fade will begin to sap you of energy yourself. If and when this happens, don’t forget to take time to be supported as much as you are supporting others. If you can get the church leadership to be a part of this encouragement process, there will no doubt be encouragement for you throughout this process as well.

Don’t Fight the Pastor’s Battles – Future 2

The future is an idea that is as open as the sky. It has no direction, and has no limitations as to what to do and where to go. Before you get angry and say something like, “Stay in the will of the Lord;” I think you need to understand that the future is not dependent on our obedience to the Lord. He has allowed us (his people) to go astray countless times before, and has been faithful to redeem us when we run back to Him. However, He allows us to make decisions and reap the consequences of those decisions.

The decisions that we make today will lead us down a specific path, and from time to time the path we choose is not easily exchanged for another.

There are times when a lay leader or staff member assumes far too much of the pastor’s duties that the path that is being trod by their church is so unique and focused that the next pastor is unable to fit the mold supplied for them. In cases like these, the pastor is either going to have to make a noticeable break with the goals and focus of the church or make a noticeable break with the church itself.

Pastors who only survive 12-18 months in a new position are seen as worthless or lazy when more often than not, the goals of the church are so specific that there is no pastor who is able to fulfill the position requirements. And, if a pastor is willing to stick it out long enough to make a change, the community begins to see factions form within the church and even church splitting due to the rise of alternative leadership within the congregation.

Members of the church are forced to choose sides. They are forced to weigh the value of serving the pastor or the lay leader or staff member. They are often cornered in the back of some room and asked where their loyalties lie. This sort of conduct will only cause members to seek a place of peace, which will not be among your own fellowship.

Do not be the instrument of division within your church, nor should you be willing to stand by and watch others hack away at the unity that should exist within the church.

Your paycheck is not worth the loss of even one of the flock!

Don’t Fight the Pastor’s Battles – Future 1

The primary mission for the church wile without a pastor is to find one. However, a lot of what goes on in searching for a pastor and persevering in ministry without a pastor doesn’t take in consideration what will need to take place after a pastor is found. We, as humans, tend to fix problems with the easiest and most available solution. This is a process most apply described by the term Occam’s Razor which, at its most basic definition, indicates that the simplest explanation for a particular result or hypothesis is the most probable. The same type of mentality is used in churches when presented with a problem, especially when there is no pastor.

Vision is the fundamental element of the role of the pastor. The pastor is the one who searches the word, spirit, and hearts of the people for ministry that is effective both inside and outside the church. The role of focusing a church on a particular ministry, activity, or issue is something that is the unique duty of the pastor; as is preparation of the church for the future. Many programs, ministries, and other aspects of the church tend to be cyclical and contain many steps prior to completion. With this in mind, it is understandable that the pastor must be capable and willing to address future issues now to ensure the survival of their particular church.

When other individuals, namely you, are attempting to provide leadership to a church throughout the searching process, it is critical that you understand that a pastor will be found and that what you do now will have to be overcome when the new pastor takes office.

I say overcome for a reason. It is likely that some of the things that are needed as a group while the pastor is out will not be necessary after a pastor is found. Search Committees, Interim Pastors, Some Lay Leadership, and other programs may not survive the natural transition from pastor to pastor.

However, if your plan for the future supersedes that of your new pastor, you rob pastoral leadership and impede his vision for the future of your church.

We must remember that the solution for a particular situation without a pastor is most likely not the same solution with the pastor.

One of the most detrimental activities that can happen before the pastor takes office is that the future will be so constricted by the actions of the church that the pastor’s vision is rendered useless.