In the following video, John Ortberg and Richard Foster discuss the importance of living what we teach. How I live in relationship with others will do more to shape them than my words do, even though my words are also important. This dynamic is true as a pastor, but not just as a pastor. It is true as a father, a husband, and a friend. The critique of Christians being hypocrites is simply the identification that our lives do not match our words. So, as you watch this video, ask yourself - will those around me be shaped by my actions in the way of Jesus?
Click the following link to watch the video.
10 comments:
After watching this I am left with the question "What now?"
Is the advice that is given anything that people who have fallen from ministry didn't already know?"
I imagine that they may have even taught it themselves. Knowing that your actions and words need to line up doesn't make them line up.
What does? Trying harder? Telling people to follow my actions?
What do we do with this information?
Hi Troy,
Good questions! Being told that we should be doing something different than we are currently doing doesn't necessarily lead to change. However, there are times when we need someone to come along and say "Hey, perhaps you need to see if your actions match your words." I remember hearing a well known TV preacher say that the person that she is in the pulpit is different than the person she is in her everyday life. This was in line with her understanding of how God 'anoints' his preacher/ teacher/ prophets for ministry. This was her 'good' understanding of the necessary correlation between speaking and living. It seems to me that she needs someone to come along, like this video does, and say 'Hey, the pursuit of your everyday life shouldn't be any different than what you preach in the pulpit.'
So, once we realize that there is a disconnect between our words and actions what should next step be?
Would like to propose a step(s)?
Transparent accountability is one piece of this puzzle.
Bakker, Haggard, Swaggert, and others have fallen in part because of a lack of transparent accountability. When we feel the need to hide temptations we face and allow those temptations to give birth to sin, then we are on the path of death (including death of a ministry).
Here - of course - is the contradiction built into the system. Those courageous leaders who do choose to be transparent are then punished for being sinners. They aren't given amazing grace and accountability, they are removed and rejected for not being "above reproach." And so - naturally - a Ted Haggard type individual may strongly feel the need to hide temptations to preserve the outward facade of being "above reproach" so that the noble mission of conversions, discipleship, transformation, whatever may continue among the people.
What we need is communities that reward transparent leadership by applauding their honest confession of temptations and following up that gracious response with accountability and help so that the temptation does not produce sin. We ought not shun a pastor who is tempted by internet pornography, rather we ought to embrace such a leader and then pray for that leader and stand in the gap and say "I'm here for you" to prevent the sin.
Sadly, many laity seem to expect pastors to be perfect (not even being tempted). And though we might object that Jesus was "tempted in every way" somehow pastors should be above even Jesus and not even be tempted in anyway.
So whats needed is perhaps first a reformation of the heart that will produce a reformation in the church in attitudes toward leaders.
REV
I agree that transparent accountability is an important piece of the puzzle. The context of our relationships - cultivated in authenticity and love - provide an opportunity for this to happen. I'm not sure, however, if this happens in the context of our current church structures for a pastor. Should a church know the variety of temptations that their pastor faces? How will this serve to transfrom the pastor and transform those in the congregation?
For myself, this kind of accountability is not found in my congregation as a whole. I do have a few in leadership who significantly know my stuff, but more so I look outside of my church others with whom I am in relationship to provide this kind of accountability. Perhaps this is counterproductive?
Jeff,
One of the things you've been sharing on this blog site (and I applaud you) is authentic community and genuine loving relationships. If we are to create church communities of grace, then to a large extent I would say (if we are to be consistent with the heart you are sharing on this blog) that yes, its counterproductive to keep your accountability outside your own community.
Not that that's bad. Such accountability is needed for support, encouragement, and an "objective" view at things. But that said, how does such an outside approach gel with what you've been sharing about authenticity, community, and relationship?
Again, I return to the ideal (which is not easy to swallow in the real). It would seem to me that pastoral staff ought to be fully transparent and authentic with their flocks, not only as a matter of relationship but also as a matter of modeling Jesus and humility and the path of a new-creation-in-process.
Again, however, thats the rub. The minute leaders open up in public is often the very minute they are shot down. And so many clergy seek accountability outside their community.
MAN THIS IS TOUGH! There are just no easy answers here, Jeff. My apologies for not being answer guy, instead I feel like I'm just fellow pilgrim guy.
REV
P.S. is there any way to shut off the Ortberg clip? Every time I go to the Disciple Road home page the clip starts playing again. I've almost got his first couple sentences memorized. :)
This seems to be an obvious answer. Jesus did not hide the fact that He did not want to do His Father's will. He tried to wake up His followers to get them to pray with Him throught this temptation.
The problem is that few people in ministry feel this freedom. Does this change what is right?
This seems to be an obvious answer. Jesus did not hide the fact that He did not want to do His Father's will. He tried to wake up His followers to get them to pray with Him throught this temptation.
The problem is that few people in ministry feel this freedom. Does this change what is right?
Troy,
Jesus was also the rabbi of the group. They didn't get a vote or a say. They didn't have boards, committees, councils and by-laws.
I'm really questioning right now our whole conception of "church" in America. Hmmm....
REV
Jeff-
I just noticed the title "Emotionally Healthy Church" on your current reading list. GREAT BOOK!!! I read it this year and the content addresses this issue of sharing our weaknesses. I would love to hear your thoughts on it.
Rev-
Have you had a chance to look at it?
Good idea Troy! Perhaps that would be a good topic for a new posting. I'll work on that.
REV,if you haven't read it perhaps you could and join us in this conversation?
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