Are you killing your pastor without even knowing it?
Let’s just focus on the most visible side of the pastor’s job we are most vocal about: public speaking. Do you understand how hard public speaking is? Many people are afraid of public speaking. Just thinking back to when we were in high school, knowing we were the next ones up to present still brings us anxiety.
Even though public speaking is “normal” for a pastor, don’t lose sight of how hard it is to do that week in and week out. In addition to this, most pastors right now find speaking to a camera in an empty room even more challenging and unnatural.
For some pastors, the challenging part isn’t actually speaking – It’s the judgmental, critical, negative comments and feedback that await them afterwards.
For some pastors, the challenging part isn’t actually speaking – It’s the judgmental, critical, negative comments and feedback that await them afterwards.
That kills them more than you think…
5 Things to Know:
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You Are Probably Not an Expert
I would never go to a mechanic and tell them how to fix a car, despite the fact I have been driving since I was 17. However, since we have been in church our whole life, we feel that gives us the credibility to tell the pastor how they should preach. Understand that they have education, training, certification and much more experience than you have. On top of that, they most likely spent more time studying that particular scripture than you did that week. -
Great Messages are Difficult to Write
Did you know most of the “big” pastors you listen to online have research teams that prepare their messages and series for them? They have tons of resources and help to hit home runs every week. Your pastor probably doesn’t have that. Understand it’s not fair to compare them to popular pastors if you didn’t think the message hit that high standard. They are trying their best with the little bit of time they have. -
They Don’t Have Time
Many people actually feel all the pastor does is just work on Sundays. With everything that goes into their typical week of being a CEO, marketer, entrepreneur, manager, social worker, counsellor, trainer, arbitrator, event planner, fundraiser, they probably don’t have the 20 hours it takes to develop a talk to that gold standard every single week.Understand that speaking isn’t the only thing on their to-do list.
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You Are Not a Consumer
Just because you show up and put a few dollars in the offering plate doesn’t mean you are now owed something. Like any product that doesn’t meet our needs or standards, society teaches us to complain and let our feelings be known until we get our way. How did that find its way into the church? Understand that church is bigger than just yourself and shouldn’t solely be about what you can get. That sermon last week may not have done anything for you, but it might have changed the life of the person sitting behind you. -
They are Human
They hurt and bleed the same way you do. Believe it or not, your critical emails are not considered a spiritual gift. Nor are your words of “wisdom” you give them after they preach. Your negative words and what you say can be very discouraging and damaging to them. Understand that’s someone’s husband, wife, father, mother, friend you’re killing with your words.
Proverbs 18:21 tells us that “the tongue has the power of life and death.” Watch your pastor when they step off the stage after they speak. There’s a good chance they don’t look at anyone, as those are the most vulnerable moments to any pastor. Can we focus on speaking life rather than death after they preach?
I encourage you to get into the habit of messaging your pastor after every sermon they give. I promise your encouragement would mean the world to them.
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