Sunday, October 14, 2007

They Don't Get It

Well, I'm back, I think. I vowed that I wouldn't let my blog go dormant. But, frankly, blogging has been the last thing on my mind since May. My Summer mission trips to NYC and France, vacation, youth pastor search, personal angst, etc., really got me out of sync. And, even more frankly, I've been really dry. So, here goes...


In our search for my ministry “replacement” I’m reminded of something I’ve been aware of for some time. There are those youth pastors who just don’t “get it”. Or else they don’t want to get it. In other words, they don’t understand why they’re failing; whether in their pastor’s eyes or in their board’s or parent’s or student’s eyes. They’re oblivious. I probe and ask these befuddled youth workers who feel victimized by their churches, “What have you done, or not done, to contribute to your church’s lack of confidence in your leadership?”

This is when I hear the one-sided tales of authoritarian pastors, unreasonable parents, unspiritual kids, yada, yada, yada.

Don’t get me wrong. I know ugly church environments exist. And I do give a burdened youth leader the best listening ear that I can. But cluelessness means death in a shepherding ministry.

Though well-intentioned, a blind shepherd can hurt the flock.