Dangerous Calling: Pastoral Ministry Is War

http://global.christianpost.com/news/dangerous-calling-pastoral-ministry-is-war-74552/

Why do so many pastors report being over-burdened and over-stressed? Why do so many pastors report tension between family life and ministry life? Why does pastoral ministry often seem like more of a trial than a joy? Why is there often disharmony between the private life of the pastor and his public ministry persona? Why are there often dysfunctional relationships between the pastor and his ministry leaders or staff? Why is the ministry life of many pastors shockingly short?

Perhaps we have forgotten that pastoral ministry is war and that you will never live successfully in the pastorate if you live with a peacetime mentality. Permit me to explain. The fundamental battle of pastoral ministry is not the battle with the shifting values of the surrounding culture. It is not the struggle with resistant people who don't seem to esteem the gospel. It is not the fight for the success of the ministries of the church. And it is not the constant struggle of resources and personnel to accomplish the mission. No, the war of the pastorate is a deeply personal war. It is fought on the ground of the pastor's heart. It is a war of values, allegiances, and motivations. It is about subtle desires and foundational dreams. This war is the greatest threat to every pastor. Yet it is a war that we often naively ignore or quickly forget in the busyness of local church ministry.

Kingdom of Self and Kingdom of God

First, pastoral ministry is always shaped by a war between the kingdom of self and the kingdom of God. The reason this war is so dangerous and deceptive is that you build both kingdoms in ministry by doing ministry! Perhaps some theological background would be helpful here. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:15 that Jesus came so that those who live would no longer "live for themselves." Paul is arguing something significant here, something that every pastor should remember. He is arguing that the DNA of sin is selfishness. Sin inserts me into the middle of my universe; the one place reserved for God and God alone. Sin reduces my field of concern down to my wants, my needs, and my feelings. Sin really does make it all about me.

Because the inertia of sin leads away from God's purpose and glory toward my purpose and glory, as long as sin is inside of me there will be temptation in ministry to exchange God's glory for my own. In ways that are subtle and not so subtle, I begin to pursue the accoutrements of human glory. Things like appreciation, reputation, success, power, comfort, and control become all too important. Because they are too important to me, they begin to shape the way I think about ministry, the things I want out of my ministry, and the things I do in ministry. Remember, a pastor's ministry is not just shaped by his knowledge, gifts, skill, and experience, but also by the condition of his heart. Could it be that much of the tension and despondency that pastors experience in ministry is the result of seeking to get things out of ministry that we should not be seeking?

War for the Gospel to continue

No Labels Action Plan & Supporters

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=hGqNGgv0aUI

Pro-Gun Constitutional Amendment Up for Final Vote in Louisiana House on May 24

http://www.nraila.org/legislation/state-legislation/2012/05/pro-gun-constitutional-amendment-up-for-final-vote-in-louisiana-house-on-may-24.aspx

Posted on May 18, 2012

This Thursday, May 24, the Louisiana House will vote on Senate Bill 303, a constitutional amendment protecting the right to keep and bear arms. SB 303 has already passed in the state Senate, two House Committees and has been endorsed by Governor Bobby Jindal. This legislation, which would provide for the country’s strongest “right to keep and bear arms” constitutional amendment, still faces an uphill battle on the House floor and needs your help and support.

Please contact your state Representative TODAY and urge him or her to support SB 303 in its current form as an “iron-clad” constitutional amendment fortifying the right to keep and bear arms for all Louisianans. Contact information for your state Representative can be found here.

Introduced by state Senator Neil Riser (R-32), SB 303 would improve the current provision in the state constitution and provide Louisianans the strongest and most comprehensive constitutional language of any state, guaranteeing your right to keep and bear arms in Louisiana for future generations.

The language of SB 303 reads:

“The right of each citizen to keep and bear arms is fundamental and shall not be infringed. Any restriction on this right shall be subject to strict scrutiny.”

Ever since the Louisiana Supreme Court gutted the current right to keep and bears arms provision in 2001, Louisianans have had little protection from overreaching state-imposed gun control or in the event the landmark Heller or McDonald cases are overturned.

In fact, the current Louisiana provision has been so weakened by the state court that it would likely only prevent a complete across-the-board ban on firearms. By classifying the use of arms as a fundamental right, such as life and free speech, SB 303 would give gun owners the highest level of legal protection available, strengthening and providing a critical defense against future efforts to infringe on Louisianan’s right to keep and bear arms. In other words, SB 303 would put anti-gun extremists immediately on the defensive if and when they try to advance their gun bans.