What do Pastor's Talk About?

Every other Thursday I have the great privilege of meeting together with a group of fellow Pastor's. From 11:00 until about 12:15 we discuss a book we are reading and then we enjoy lunch together. Today, ten of us discussed chapter 6 of PREPARE: Living Your Faith in an Increasingly Hostile Culture by Dr. Paul Nyquist. Our discussions are encouraging, challenging, thought provoking and above all helpful to each of us.

The thrust of chapter 6 is that "God calls us to respond to our persecutors with compassion, not anger." Well, that is easier said than done. But it CAN be done through the power of the Spirit.

The persecutors we will encounter are of a religious nature and of a cultural or political nature. Sadly we in ministry encounter persecution from "religious" people; it is heartbreaking to deal with church members who seem intent on being "out to get" the Pastor. And yet that is the experience of every man who is serving or who has served as a Pastor. It was the religious crowd that stoned Stephen (Acts 6-7). It is Stephen who models for us how to respond with compassion instead of anger.

We also appear to be headed toward an increase in persecution from a cultural / political perspective. There are people who do not like those of us who believe in the absolutes of God's Word. Thankfully, Jesus, Stephen, Paul and Peter all show us how to respond when persecution comes our way.

The Apostle Peter shows us we are to...
1. Be Strong (1 Peter 3:14)
God is in control and there is no need to live in fear or be troubled by the persecution that comes our way.

2. Be Ready (1 Peter 3:15)
We need to be READY to give an answer for the hope that we have. Dr. Nyquist points out that peole may question us because they are either "curious or furious" and that we should be ready to give them an answer. Actually persecution can open the door to share the Gospel. "God wants us to be His witnesses - not His prosecuting attorney."

3. Be Faithful (1 Peter 3:16-17)
By being faithful to the Lord we are ultimately able to "put our opponent to shame."

Romans 12:14 tells us in no uncertain terms how we are to live in the face of persecution; we are to "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them."

Near the end of the chapter, Dr. Nyquist writes: "The natural inclination to react with anger and defensiveness contradicts God's call to respond with love and compassion. If we can obey this call, we'll have opportunity to share the good news of Christ with those outside His grace."

So now you know what a group of Pastor's talked about today. We are seeking to prepare ourselves to lead well in the coming days. We would be grateful for your prayers on our behalf as we continue to learn and grow so as to serve our churches well.

Preparing to lead and serve well in increasingly difficult days,

Pastor Mike