The Weight of Ministry

Last updated on: January 18, 2012 at 9:01 am by Andy Gill

The Weight of Ministry 2012-01-18T09:01:00-05:00 Andy Gill

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Since stepping out of ministry i’ve questioned whether or not I want to go back…

I’m not gonna lie. It’s been nice being out from underneath the weight of ministry. I feel normal, healthy… free. When people ask me what I do for a living, our conversations no longer come to a screeching halt.

Those who are in ministry know exactly what I’m talking about when I say “weight”…

For those who don’t let me quickly explain: There’s no other job like ministry. It’s the most rewarding, joy filled, draining, tiring, and emotional job i’ve ever had… Students and parents, dealing and struggling through depression, anxiety, thoughts of suicide, divorce, infidelity, abuse… these seem to be the norm in our local churches.

Though, I say this sensitively, those issues at times felt like the easier side of ministry.

The weight of preaching/teaching God’s word, reaching out to lost, speaking to, long time church goers, that luke warm christianity was not what God has intended for us… this was probably one of the hardest parts of ministry. The weight at times would be almost unbearable.

Willow Creek reports that “over 70% of pastors, struggle with depression on a consistent basis.”

Mark Driscol defines the responsibility of teaching as, “Terrifying”

Anson McMahon (pastor in Georgia), says, “having the title as pastor, elder, or overseer, is an incredibly big deal, and taking it lightly is incredibly foolish…”

Paul says, “Keep a close watch on yourself and your teaching, by so doing you’ll save both yourself and your hearers…“

I mean if I believe that those who don’t believe in Christ as their Lord and Saviour will enter into eternal punishment, and I genuinely love them, am I not going to say whatever God commands? However the spirit leads? Will one not feel such a burden?

**Point being, ministry is a weighty, heavy responsibility. (**This might shine clarity on why Jonah ran, Jeremiah questioned, and Moses stated, I will not go unless you go before me…”)

Since i’ve been out of doing church work and slowed down in my speaking. I’ve had a ton of down time, and the only way I can explain it is, “It feels like a 500 pound weight has been lifted off of my shoulders.”

It’s really no secret as C.S. Lewis puts is simply, “Christianity is both hard and easy…” In the same way so is being a pastor. So is following Jesus.

Self mortification is both hard and easy.

I’m gonna end the post here, mainly because this is where my thought process has ended. Things are still in the air for me. I’m not sure if I”m going to return to ministry. I’m not sure if I”m going to continue speaking…

“Picking up your cross and following Jesus… it’s simply a better life, than anything else you’ll strive after.”

Have you ever had a break from ministry and questioned whether or not to go back? Pastors, church goers, lay pastors, what’re you thoughts, what’re your experiences?

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