Pastor, It’s What’s For Dinner
I promise you, this will not be as “woe is me” as it sounds.
Quick background, I am helping to re-plant a church. It has to be one of the hardest jobs on the planet outside of S.W.A.T. Team member. Once you decide to start planting any church that worships Jesus as Lord, you can expect a big target painted on your back. Not only do you get a free target, others get objects to throw, shoot, and lob at your target.
Church planting is not for people who cannot bounce back over and over again. Think about it, when you get tired of being at a church, when another person in leadership makes you mad at a church, you can just leave. You do not have to tough it out. You do not have to continually work with people who would rather see you dead, blame you for all the bad that happens in their world, or who wish they had your job because they know they can do it better (and they probably can).
Yesterday was one of “those” days, until I started driving home from a meeting.
I had a meeting with a guy who was incredibly humble and helpful. I originally went in the meeting hoping to apologize and mend some fences I may have torn down in favor of constructing walls. I not only got my opportunity, I got to obtain some information that was immensely helpful. One completely unrelated piece of information I received was that I was barking up the wrong tree in 
terms of getting help. Live and learn, right?
Back on topic.
One thing he inadvertently made me aware of was the way the dogs, or more accurately “hell hounds” were starting to eat me. They were slowly gnawing away at me and I did not even know it. The funny part is, I often gave the advice of “shooting the dogs” to others, but never really took that advice for myself. So the question is; How do you recognize the dog bites? The only ways I can tell you are by showing you my injuries. Coincidently, over the last week I have decided to step up my game as pastor only to get bitten more. I hope I can help others who are currently being used as bate in a dog fight. Here is what I have come up against in the last week :
- Misconceptions. Some people are actually in it to help you, but you get so defensive you do not know it. Others are in it to hurt you, but will act as helpers.
- Religion. Trust me, it never ends. People will pull bologna out of anywhere to give a reason you should or not do something (alter calls, outreaches, social events, communion, etc.)
- Lies. Some people will purposefully misguide your or withhold information because of their own pride.
- Discouragement. This was my biggest wound this week. Everything in the world seemed against planting an effective, Gospel-centered church in the Monroe and Middletown area. Thankfully, I have some great friends who called or texted me to offer encouragement. Stop reading this blog now, call or email your pastor, encourage them, and come back. Go on now, do it.
- Laziness. The arch-enemy of the church. Writing support letters takes time, and you are tired. Praying for people zaps energy. Writing talks and doing research kills you. Throwing a social event or outreach is time consuming. Why do any of it at all? Why not just curl up and read a good book or rot your brain on Hulu? Oh wait, Jesus. That’s why.
- Pride and confidence in oneself. When we try and be the super-hero, we lose. I keep trying to take the place of Jesus (as does everyone) and it makes things harder. It is His church, not ours.
- Money. I hate the fact money is involved in ministry, but it is a necessary evil. To minister to others, sometimes you need tangible resources.
- Remember, no matter what, if you are planting a church or spreading the Gospel in anyway, shape, or form, the dogs will be there. You may be asked to kill a couple of them. Some you may have to let the Good Shepherd kill for you. But you will have to fight. You can and you will break through by the empowerment of the Holy Spirit and the will of God in Christ Jesus.
- Amen.
- -Don Dudley-
Scary dog photo from Jesse757 via Flickr.
