Words of Truth

I saw the guy from my “Always Ready” post today again. He asked me why I became a nurse. I told him, “The short version: I needed a job.” I then proceeded to tell him the long version, including the need to support my family while looking for a church to pastor, while pastoring a church too small to pay a living wage, and while attempting to pay off our debts. Through this he learned that I was trained for the ministry, and was indeed a pastor for a time.

His first reaction: he apologized for using foul language earlier in the day. I told him not to worry about it. I come from a Navy family, and I’ve heard that language my whole life. It doesn’t really bother me to hear it (unless God’s name is involved), I just choose not to talk that way.

But why do people start acting differently as soon as they find out that I used to be “a man of the cloth?” Pastors are people too. We aren’t perfect. We aren’t even close to perfect. So why do laymen act like we are?

In Paul’s first epistle to Timothy he states that a pastor must first of all be “blameless.” This is a matter of debate throughout history. What exactly did he mean by “blameless?” I discussed this with my classmates in Bible college. One classmate went so far as to say he would say someone guilty of a felony is not qualified to be a pastor. I said, “So if I was convicted of murder, I wouldn’t be qualified to be a pastor in your eyes?” He agreed with this statement. I told him, “You just disqualified the Apostle Paul.” (for those of you not familiar with Paul, he persecuted Christians, and stood by collecting the coats for those stoning Stephen. This is, at the very least, conspiracy to commit murder.

The extreme view seems to be that pastors must be a type of “super-Christian” with no “major” sins in their past. This is how most people view the office of pastor (the reader will understand that the terms “pastor” “bishop” and “elder” are used interchangeably for the same office). The Greek word used is anepilempton, which means “above criticism.” the New American Standard version translates the word “above reproach.” This is the only place the word is used in the Bible. The Bible Knowledge Commentary says, “it means to have nothing in one’s conduct on which someone could ground a charge or accusation.” That’s not exactly helpful.

Here’s what I think. I think the word means that the man desiring the office of a pastor has such character that, if someone said, “Hey did you hear that Pastor Steve did such and such?” the first reaction of the hearer would be, “I don’t believe it.” It’s like if someone said, “Hey, did you hear Steve is shaving his head and moving to Tibet?” People who know me would say, “That’s ridiculous. He wouldn’t do that.”

So the word is vague, but I know one thing for sure: it doesn’t mean sinless. We make mistakes too. We ask for forgiveness just like you. And we receive it.

“Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound…”

I had an interesting conversation with an older patient today.  He told me that I need to “enjoy life while I can, because it goes fast.”  I told him I totally understood this, and said that this is probably why grandparents are more apt to overlook the faults of their grandchildren than their parents are (to which he replied, “my grandchildren don’t have any faults!).  I told him that when I was a kid, I remember thinking that 80 years is a long time, and if I lived to be that old, I had a huge amount of time left.  It looks slightly different now that I am on final approach to the runway marked 4-0, and even more so for him, who is about twice my age.

He told me that life is short. He says he has read the Bible, but he doesn’t understand everything in it.  I didn’t bring up the topic, but I pursued it.  I told him, “Well, I have read the Bible too, and I think the most important thing to understand about it is that none of us can live up to what God expects, but that Jesus Christ died so that we could be forgiven, and we need to humble ourselves before God and ask Him to forgive us.”  I told him that the Bible agrees with him, for it says that we are but a vapor that appears for a while and then vanishes away (James 4:14). It also says we are as the grass of the field (Isaiah 40:6-7). Our time on earth is short, and we need to use it to get ready for what comes next.

The conversation ended there, but I am praying for him, that God will help this seed to grow and blossom into saving faith.

I Peter 3:15 “but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;”

Ugh. That’s the only word for it. I spent the first few weeks of August getting ready for camp, driving to Iowa, and enjoying family camp. I learned more about God’s sovereignty that week (He is always in control!) After camp we went to the Iowa State Fair and visited with family and friends.

Last week we drove home from Iowa, returning home at around 8pm Wednesday night. I worked 12-13 hour days Thursday, Friday and Saturday. We enjoyed church Sunday, and then it was back to the grind at work for Monday and today. I have one more day of work before I get a “day off.” What will I do on that day? I have a doctor’s appointment that morning to get a physical so I can start school next week at the University of Indianapolis. Then I have to take a drug test, and go to UofI orientation all afternoon. Then it’s back to work on Friday.

Ugh.

The point is that I have had close to no free time at home since the beginning of the month.  My family got home last Wednesday and have been home ever since. Not so me.  But guess what: Saturday looms. I don’t work Saturday. I don’t have any school things scheduled Saturday. I don’t have ANYTHING scheduled Saturday. It’s only 3.5 days away!

In closing, and apropos of nothing, here’s a joke I read recently:  My personal favorite defense gun has always been a Beretta Jetfire 22 caliber. I remember one time hiking with my brother-in-law in northern Alberta. Out of nowhere came this huge, angry brown bear. We must have been near one of her cubs. If I hadn’t had my little Jetfire I wouldn’t be here today. Just one shot to my brother-in-law’s knee cap and I was able to escape by just walking at a brisk pace.