Jesus followers - mystic revolutionaries who believe that changing the human heart and changing human society are not separate tasks, but are as interconnected as the two beams of the cross.
Generally speaking, pastors/shepherds in our time have become unfamiliar with, and even somewhat afraid of, the deep and significant movements of the Spirit.
Preaching must be the careful and sensitive articulation of what is happening in the community so that those who listen can say, "You say what I only suspected, you clearly express what I vaguely felt, you bring to the fore what I fearfully kept in the back of my mind. Yes, yes -- you say who we are, you recognize our condition."
Maybe it is past time for the "priesthood of all believers" to step up and be those Christ has called and is calling to "Go" into His inbreaking Kingdom?!
If there is any posture that disturbs a suffering man or woman, it is aloofness. The tragedy of Christian ministry is that many who are in great need, many who seek and attentive ear, a word of support, a forgiving embrace, a firm hand, a tender smile, or even a stuttering confession of inability to do more, often find their ministers distant people who do not want to "burn their fingers."
The beginning and the end of Christian leadership is to give your life for others. Are you prepared to do that? It is requires your all . . . is it your "season" in the LORD?!
Are any of you prepared to accept your role as, to be, "wounded ministers", and hence, "healing ministers"?!
[inspired by Henri Nouwen in Wounded Healer and other works . . .]
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