Rate Your Pastor

Let’s just say Jesus is the ultimate pastor. And, let’s get crazy and say He left an example while on earth of what the ultimate pastor should look like. Now, let’s rate your pastor.

1. Jesus was Present. Emmanuel, God Incarnate, God with us. Is your pastor present? Is he with you? Can he engage in your world, or is he always separated by a stage and status? Can you tell he likes you because he wants to hang out with you?

2. Jesus was in Proximity to the people. He ate with them, slept near them, cared for their families (e.g. Pete’s mom-in-law), he grieved with them—He knew them. This is a tough one for pastors. Hard to maintain their ‘position’ and ‘authority’ if they are down in the trenches.

3. Jesus was Powerless. Ouch. He gave up His power to feed His sheep. He served. Always. I can’t help but hear the old refrain “He could have called ten thousand angels. . . “ Yet, he simply put others’ needs before His own. Is your pastor powerless or power hungry?

4. Jesus Proclaimed the Kingdom of His Father. And, He mostly did it with actions. He used thought provoking stories to challenge people to search their hearts. He refrained from 4 point sermons that would soon be forgotten, and touched on the very heartbeat of their lives. He ‘knew’ His people; thereby, earning entrance into their souls with knowledge of their plight and ways of thinking.

So, how did he do? Your pastor, I mean. Feeling pretty good about your ability to rate him, aren’t you? Possibly feeling a little smug that you can now clarify some of the things you never really liked about him. Hold up, Trigger. Hasn’t God called us all to be pastors? I mean, yes, if they are so bold to take on the title, then, by all means, they are calling themselves to a much higher standard; but. . . what about us? Who are we, the ‘general public’ supposed to model? Gotcha, didn’t I? Nailed my ass to the wall, anyway.

(Thank you—and serious acknowledgement—to Alan Hirsch for the 4 P’s.)