I think that some people assume pastors don’t have to be bold with their faith because of their profession. However, I learned that being a pastor requires that I’m just as bold (if not more so) with my faith than perhaps if I had some other kind of job. In some ways this is a blessing, but at times it can feel like a curse.
Just this last week I was having a conversation with my neighbor across the street. His words were laced with cuss words, religious slurs, and many derogatory comments. At some point in the conversation he started down the political and religious track and after ranting for some time he turned and asked me what I did. I calmly replied,”I am a pastor.” I usually hate confessing my profession when I know it’s going to make the other person feel instantly uncomfortable. The man quickly apologized for all of his cuss words, for using God’s name in vain, and for anything else he might’ve said that offended me. To be honest, I wasn’t super offended by this man. In fact I appreciated his honesty. If you are a pastor, church staff member, missionary or the like, and have had to declare what you do to someone who didn’t know, then you know exactly this kind of awkward moment that I am talking about.
Let’s never allow our profession to muffle our passion
I think sometimes pastors tend to hide behind the title as a way to escape conversation quickly. It would’ve been easy for me to let the conversation go at that, and never really express my deep belief in Christ and his salvific power for our lives. To be honest, because of the awkwardness of the moment, I wanted to leave conversation about Christ in the past. Everything in me wanted to change the topic to something like how beautiful his lawn looked, or what a great day it was outside. More times than I’d like to admit, I think I hide behind title of pastor and don’t stop long enough to simply live in obedience to Christ and share my faith boldly.
Pastors, don’t forget the high calling of sharing your faith. Have a missional mindset to reach those in your neighborhood, in line with you at the coffee shop, on the other end of the customer service phone call or even the people in your own home that need to hear the gospel preached regularly. Let’s never allow our profession to muffle our passion to see souls reached for Christ.
