Tuesday, 23 August 2011
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10 Keys to Being a Healthy Pastor
By David MillerGreat reminder from J.R. Briggs’ blog on the importance of pastoral health.
Todd Rhodes had some good reflections on healthy rhythms of a pastor. Simple yet wise words.
1. Let God restore your soul daily.
- Psalm 23. Matthew 11:28.
- Worship. Prayer. Solitude. Listening. Bible reading.
2. Give your marriage priority attention.
- A bad marriage ruins the rest of life. (Remember the Proverbs.)
- A good marriage fortifies you for the rest of life.
- Is your home a tunnel of chaos or an oasis of rest?
3. Work with your personal rhythms.
- For me: start early, try and leave early.
- Creative work in the mornings.
- Between 4-7 p.m.: not my best time for mental focus.
4. Keep your Sabbath rest.
- A principle of creation: rest one day in seven.
- Sabbath is a day to pray and play.
5. Do the things only you can do – and delegate the rest.
- Be ruthless in simplifying your work.
- Empower others!
- Take some time now to save much time later.
Read the next 5 at http://www.jrbriggs.com/10-keys-to-being-a-healthy-pastor/07/
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- From: davidmiller
- Name: davidmiller
- Location: Long Beach, California, United States
- About Me: Married to my best friend (@ashleywmiller). Student Ministries Pastor for @Parkcrest Christian Church. Learning how to better love Jesus and love people. http://www.davidmillerblog.com He’s passionate about inspiring The Church to stand up and become an influencing force in our culture.
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Comments (5)
Thanks for these suggestions. :)
I don't think the idea of there being a single leader/pastor of a church is biblical (versus an eldership).
I also don't think the idea of the existence of multiple church leaderships within one locality is biblical.But how to get back to one expression of the Body of Christ within a city (as practiced in the NT) does not seem to be a priority among those who claim to follow the Bible!"Sabbath is a day to pray and play".
Where is this in the Bible?
Shabbat is found in the 10 commandments - "Remember the Shabbat and keep it holy." Exodus 20:8 and in the following verses 9-11, that command is defined.
It is a time to set it apart for the Lord and to rest. Most of the Major Jewish Feasts that were commanded by G-d took place during the Shabbat or between 2 Shabbaths.
Briggs is correct, Play is possible and encouraged within the confines of the "resting/ no work" & "keep it holy" elements.
If you need more verses for this, just let me know! :)
My thoughts are along the lines of brerjohn's. These seem like reasonable pieces of advice for the believer who manages people in a business, but I don't see anything in Scripture that would advise this as rest/relief for a believer whose role is one of many operative ones in the Church. In my Bible I don't even see Jesus having to perform the duties we foist upon the average pastor.
Scripture shows and tells us that the Church is a multi-faceted, living expression of Jesus Christ plopped down in the middle of a world that does things "normally." We are aliens, to some extent. You've described relief for a role that, after much searching, I can't find in the Word. It's a role that I believe post-NT history and tradition have defined. It isn't an office or role I see named or practiced in the Bible.
I tend to think that this is why we have to teach such a balancing act. "Pastor" as we know it is a role no one person was intended to fill.
No ill will! Some of my best friends are pastors.