Many Christian leaders experience major issues in their ministries, often from the very ones they’re looking to genuinely love and shepherd. Don’t get me wrong. Being a Christian pastor/leader is the best job in the world. What could top showing people the answers to life, death and the universe. But sadly sometimes serving in leadership in a church can result in deep cuts that take a long time to heal.
A few years ago a book turned up on my door step with nothing but the amazon packaging to identify it’s sender. I must confess, as I read the title, “Shattered Shepherds”, I found myself thinking, “what crackpot has sent me another crazy book”. A few days later I received a text from a wise old pastor who had walked the road a lot longer than me, “If you get a book in the mail it’s from me. I hope it helps”. And it sure did.
Shattered Shepherds by Steve Swartz weaves the gospel into the results of ministry trauma with clarity and power. As I read it (on my own and then with my wife) the deep cuts I had received from serving Jesus in His church were surprisingly healed by the much deeper and profound power of the gospel.
Swartz identifies 5 things to you need to stop doing and 5 things you need to start doing.
- Stop blaming others
- Stop defending yourself
- Stop worrying constantly
- Stop submitting to your anger
- Stop viewing yourself as the tragic hero
- Start genuinely trusting the sovereignty of God
- Start accepting the loving discipline of the Lord
- Start forgiving
- Start asking for grace from the Lord
- Star prayerfully looking ahead
Here’s a brief snapshot of the sweet gospel implications of these 10 points. (words I speak to myself often)
You are not blameless in all this, so don’t try to defend your actions. There’s only one who’s blameless and his name is Jesus. He is the hero of the story not you. He is the Lord and Saviour not you. So forgive just like He has forgiven you. Bring your anxiety to Him because He is the one who has everything in His hands. He has given you this very season to refine and grow you. He will use it all for your good and His glory, so trust Him and move forward.
If you’ve been shattered or even cracked a little in service of our good and gracious God, remember there is a Chief Shepherd who was completely shattered for you. Jesus not only walked the road before you and died for absolutely all your sin, very soon he’ll come and take you home. Keep serving Him, keep trusting Him, keep proclaiming His words of eternal life. One day he will look you in the eye and say, “Well done good and faithful servant”.
The One Who Leads 