So I learned some unexpected ministry lessons yesterday ... and I am becoming ever-more aware of how vital the Holy Spirit is to life-giving ministry. People and situations are too complicated for formulas or theologies or cookie-cutter responses.
Anson spent some time with me in the morning, relating the craziness of his weekend. He told me that, as a minister, it is not enough to just teach well, to invest in people, to give all of yourself to compassion -- in addition, we are to call sin out when we see it. Nobody talks about that responsibility and being abrasive is not usually a part of the pastoral job description. But Jesus was in the business of calling people out on their crap ... and it usually wasn't doctored up to seem nice. I mean, come on ... "Woe to you, Pharisees"? Not nice. But apparently necessary. As it says in 2 Timothy 2:4, "correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction." So two-thirds of a pastor's job description isn't necessarily super fun. Just something to think about. I want the Lord to show me how to do this rightly ... with great patience and careful instruction.
And then, in the afternoon, Anson sat Paul and I down to tell us about what it looks like to minister to families who have just lost loved ones. That is something that I hope to never do, but seeing as the majority of the population is going to pass away at some point, I assume that this will (in some capacity) be a part of my life. Anson, a man of many words (all of which are wise ... or funny) told us that the best thing to say is nothing. Literally, nothing. He said there are absolutely no words that are appropriate, and that you are just going to do damage if you try to use words. He said that you love them by being there. Something to dwell on.
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