pastoring subversively

did i mention that i am loving “the pastor” by eugene peterson?  here’s another little nugget:

In the secularizing times in which I am living, God is not taken seriously.  God is peripheral. God is nice (or maybe not so nice) but not at the center.  When people want help with their parents or children or emotions, they ordinarily do not see themselves as wanting help with God.  But if I am going to stay true to my vocation as a pastor, I can’t let the “market” determine what I do.  I will find ways to pray with and for people and teach them to pray, usually quietly and often subversively when they don’t know I am doing it.  But I’m not going to wait to be asked.  I am a pastor.

we have a crisis threatening the fabric of the american church and peterson nails it: “When people want help…they ordinarily do not see themselves as wanting help with God.“

you see, we get god.  we’ve heard a million sermons.  we went to sunday school when we were kids (“my teacher explained it all to me on the flannelgraph”).  we follow tim keller on twitter.  the consequence of all this god environment is that all the mystery has been wrung out.  we’re no longer stunned by the miracle of grace.  the gospel has been rendered void of power by regular exposure.  worship is more about our mood than god’s majesty.  knowledge of god is more important than faith in god.

so when people come to me–their pastor–for help with their issues, they’re usually looking for a spiritual shortcut.  they don’t want to persevere, they want to be delivered.  they don’t want to talk about the benefits of wrestling/struggling, they just want to be fixed.

paul shares some sage advice on the subject:

Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.  (philippians 4:6-7)

peter says it this way:

So if you find life difficult because you’re doing what God said, take it in stride. Trust him. He knows what he’s doing, and he’ll keep on doing it.  (1 peter 4:19)

So be content with who you are, and don’t put on airs. God’s strong hand is on you; he’ll promote you at the right time. Live carefree before God; he is most careful with you.  (1 peter 5:6-7)

here is james’ take:

Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way. (james 1:2-4)

but all that good advice is useless if your god is a small god.

i think that’s what peterson is trying to say.

 

 

 

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