Pastors are People, Too…

Reflections on Clergy Appreciation Month

Oct 21, 2024

“If you can do anything else, do it. If you can stay out of the ministry, stay out of the ministry.”

This blunt, sobering advice from Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892) in Lectures to My Students reflects the gravity of the pastoral calling. Spurgeon, one of the most influential preachers of the 19th century, emphasized that ministry is not just a career choice; it’s a divine calling that chooses you.

Pastoral ministry is not something to experiment with or test out. Spurgeon’s warning suggests that unless God has unmistakably called you to it, you should avoid it altogether.

The weight of shepherding souls, carrying the burdens of others, and living out a public faith requires a depth of commitment that goes far beyond personal ambition or preference.

Pastors do not serve because it’s convenient or because it fits their interests—they serve because they cannot imagine doing anything else.

This is not to suggest that pastoring is the most difficult job in the world. I do not contend that other professions aren’t just as demanding in their own right. However, what sets pastoral ministry apart is the nature of its focus—dealing simultaneously with the spiritual and the physical aspects of people’s lives.

Uniqueness of Pastoral Vocation

Few vocations grant such profound access to the human experience. Pastors stand beside couples as they vow their lives to God and to each other, witness the birth of children, and walk families through the pain of divorce and death. They are present in moments of profound joy and overwhelming sorrow, helping people make sense of God’s presence in life’s transitions.

They counsel those seeking to reconcile with their spouses, offering spiritual and emotional guidance while pointing them toward Jesus and healing.

Pastors also serve as community advocates, connecting people in need with social services, ensuring their physical and financial well-being is addressed alongside their spiritual growth.

The scope of pastoral ministry is vast—grieving with the grieving, celebrating with the joyful, and sitting with the confused or lost, all while helping them discern God’s will for their lives. It’s a sacred privilege and a weighty responsibility, as pastors are called to meet people where they are, often in their most vulnerable and intimate moments. All the while, caring for their own health and souls as well as caring for their families and loved ones, too.

The most remarkable part about being a pastor is how we manage to cram everything into one day—since, you know, we only work on Sundays! 😉

Who (or What) is a Pastor?

As a young pastor, I’ve found myself grappling with a fundamental question: Is being a pastor who I am, or is it simply what I do?

This tension has surfaced repeatedly in my reflections, and I find no easy resolution. Reducing the role of pastor to just something I do feels transactional—like it’s a task that can be clocked in and out of, a mere job. But we know that pastoral ministry doesn’t fit into the confines of a 9-to-5 structure.

The pastoral vocation permeates your day, your life, and your relationships. It is deeply connected to how God has shaped you, how you serve others, how you pray, and how you witness life unfolding in the community. If it’s only what I do, then the sacredness of the role risks becoming just another set of responsibilities.

Yet, reducing being a pastor to who I am feels limiting. While being a pastor is a significant part of my identity, I am more than my vocation. I am a son, a brother, a friend, a (wanna-be) writer—so many dimensions shape my humanity beyond the pulpit and the confidences of ministerial responsibilities.

If I define myself exclusively as a pastor, what happens when my pastoral ministry shifts or if God calls me into a different season? How do I maintain a healthy sense of self when the lines between work and life blur?

I think the tension between who I am and what I do is where the beauty of pastoring lies.

The pastorate isn’t something that can be compartmentalized easily—it flows in and out of my identity, informing how I live and engage with the world. But I also can’t let the role consume me.

Like any vocation, it’s part of my calling, but not the totality of my being. The challenge is in holding these two realities together in tension—understanding that pastoring shapes much of my identity, but also guarding space for other parts of who God has made me to be.

In wrestling with this question, I’m reminded that pastors themselves need grace, too. We aren’t defined solely by our service or our title. We are called to pour into others, but we also need to let God and community pour into us, recognizing that while the pastoral calling is sacred, it’s still only part of the broader journey of faith in walking with God.

Pastors are People, too…

Contrary to popular belief, pastors are not superhuman or spiritual superheroes; they are ordinary people with a God-ordained calling.

While they are entrusted with the immense responsibility of shepherding their congregations, they experience the same struggles, doubts, and vulnerabilities as anyone else. They juggle personal challenges, family responsibilities, and the demands of ministry, often working tirelessly behind the scenes to support their communities.

Understanding this reality is essential for appreciating the pastoral role (hence, Pastor Appreciation Month). It reminds us that pastors are not exempt from the complexities of life; rather, they navigate these challenges with the guidance of God and the support of their congregation, communities and loved ones.

They are called to serve, not because they are perfect, but because they are willing vessels, dedicated to the work of the Lord. Recognizing their humanity allows us to approach them with empathy and grace, fostering a healthier church culture where they can thrive in their calling.

I heard a pastor recently on a podcast reflect on how the highs of ministry he has experienced are as deep as the lows. He said, “my failures are always the same size of my success. Because that is the way God has to keep me humble”

I think there is great wisdom and truth to this as well strong scriptural warrant:

Noah was a blameless man whom God sought to re-create the world with, yet on the eve of reconstruction got drunk (Genesis 9:20-21).
Abraham had the faith to leave his hometown, but sought to do God’s will his way on several occasions (Genesis 12:10-13; Genesis 16:1-4).
Sarah had faith to trust God for provision, but laughed at God’s plan for her life (Genesis 18:12-14).
Moses delivered the people from Egypt but also murdered a man (Exodus 2:11-12; Exodus 3:10).
David slayed a giant, was anointed king and described as a man after God’s own heart, yet committed adultery and murder to cover up his doing (1 Samuel 16:11-13; 2 Samuel 11:2-4).

Anyone whom God uses are humans, too. Their lives are complex like everyone else. God does not require perfection or superhuman to be used by Him. All he requires of you and me are to be willing vessels.

Pastors are human, and you are, too. And, that is good news for all of us.

Advice on How to Appreciate Pastors and Ministers Around You:

Pray for them. Attacks from the enemy heighten the more you desire to honor God with your life and committing yourself to serving God’s people.
Offer words of encouragement and support. For some odd reason, people feel the unmitigated need to tell pastors and ministers how to do their jobs. There is always a critique to make, comment to share and disappointment to wallow in, at every turn. I am not suggesting we are without critique. (It is similar to people watching a football game while sitting on a couch with potato chips yelling and critiquing a professional coach and athlete for running a route wrong or selecting a wrong play. As if, we could do a better job than them on the field). A simple e-mail, text, note, comment of appreciation with no demand of a response is a helpful action step.
Don’t only talk about Church stuff with them. Your pastor and the ministers around you are human, too. We like TV shows, we enjoy music and sport and politics. We do not work a traditional 9-5, where we are able to “clock-out” of work. Transparently, it is sometimes hard to disengage from work responsibilities or the struggles of those they care about.
Support the Vision they Cast. If you do not trust your pastor, you should find a new church. If you can entrust your soul to the preaching of God’s Word, you can entrust yourself to the vision God has given them to lead the congregation. (Petty side note: it is always interesting how it is those who rarely admittedly read their Bibles, participate in the life of the Chruch find themselves most equip to lead a congregation than the Pastor. Okay, I am done….)
Be an active Church Member. Nothing satisfies the soul better than to see members serving in ministry, growing in discipleship, building relationships with people in the congregation. Actively participating in the life of the Church enriches the life of the believer and encourages the soul of the pastor.

I hope this helps.

-SH

Samuel Hagos's Substack

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