There is something very sad about pastoring
too hard. Life can fall apart.
Candace and I are constantly broken by the friends and partners in ministry that we know who come flying down a steep hill of pastoring too hard and, when they go to negotiate the corner at the bottom of the hill, the brake pads blow right off the car and they plunge over the cliff into a burning wreck. It wrecks them. It wrecks us. It wrecks Jesus’ church.
Earlier today as I was doing some study and listening to one of my currently favorite bands, The Arcade Fire, I was absolutely broken by a song about the life of pastors. I do not know the spiritual state of the band but I am pretty sure you are not going to find it at your local Christian book store. They do, however, have some very moving songs. Here are some lyrics from the song “Intervention”:
“Working for the church while your families dies…
…Every spark of friendship and love will die without a home…
…Who is going to re-set the bone when you’re walking with you’re heart in a sling…
…Working for the church while my family dies…
…Your little sister is going to lose her mind…
…Every spark of friendship and love will die without a home…
…Working for the church while your life falls apart…
…Singing Hallelujah when you’re failing at home…
…Every spark of friendship and love will die without a home…”
What a strong call to the pastor! As I have been praying for our pastors in BC today I couldn’t help but to really feel the title of this song: Intervention. The opening line of this song simply states: The King has taken back the thrown. To my friends and colleagues who pastor – please remember that Jesus said that it is his church that he is building – it is Jesus’ church. I feel a great burden for each of us today as I pray and think of you.
Grace and Peace,
-Jeremy and Candace.
