Lazy Preachers

In the case of the preacher at my last church, I couldn't disagree more, TC. In that church, he was the problem, including the fact that he was lazy. I won't go into the details, but it was a real eye-opener to me when my wife was hired as a church secretary and she started telling me about things she saw first-hand.

However, at my current church, anybody who would say the pastor and his staff are lazy are completely clueless. I don't know the half of it, and I know those guys work hard.

 

Reminds me of a joke I heard once--I hope I get it right. The person I heard it from was a Master of integrating humor in his sermons at just the right moment. He is home with the Lord now.

A Pastor mentioned in one of his sermons how he is able to prepare his sermons on the walk from the parsonage to the church every service. The church took a vote and moved him about 10 miles down the road.

Seriously, though. I have a hard-working pastor, and I even feel for him at times. It is the Pastor's job to take care of the flock, and if they are doing it right, then that is more than a full-time job. By the way, if the congregation is doing their job, they will keep the Pastor pretty busy. Ever heard the adage--A shepherd does not make sheep. Sheep make sheep. One of the other posters mentioned the lack of activity on the part of the congregation and I agree.

 

I have met many church members who are lazy, and it's also a shame. The best we can do is make sure that we are not in that category ourselves first. I have seen where pastors and about 5 percent of the church members do almost 99 percent of the work while the other 95 percent stand by doing nothing but complaining that enough was not being done. </font>[/QUOTE]Well, I know for a fact in our church that nearly 35% of the membership was there last night for Vision meeting, and between 35% and 50% show up for most church functions related to working in or for the church. Our church is far from a lazy church. Our pastor is far from a lazy pastor. We have disabled people such as myself and nearly ALL of them come out for visitation, VBS, etc. Our church isn't the norm, though. I've been in many churches where members were indeed the problem. I'm thankful that I'm in a church that works and shares the load of the church with the pastor.

 

Maybe it is just me....but shouldn't we expect more than 50% of church members, those who profess to know Jesus Christ as the Lord and Savior, to be at most church functions?

If the pastor only shows up for 50% of the church functions or only does 50% of his needed work then his church members call him lazy, etc (and rightly so!) But if only 50% of church members show up and support the church, that is ok? There is some fuzzy math going on somewhere.

I guess that sounds above average, but to me that just continues to provide evidence of the sad shape of the local church today. Do you really think God is impressed when only 50% show up?

 

When we throw in food, the numbers increase to about 75%.

 

That's right!!! I knew I was called to preach when I woke up one morning and 1) I didn't want to get out of bed and 2) I was cravin' fried chicken!!!

 

The church people are so lazy they can't even call the pastor to tell him that a loved one is in the hospital, etc.

Nor can they walk three feet to greet the new visitor that just walked in the door.

Most churches are social clubs. As long as the pastor plays by their rules, which might mean doing nothing, he's alright.

But let him get after it, and oops, he's stepping outside his "role."

Churches get exactly the kind of pastor they deserve. If they have a "lazy" pastor, it's because that's what they've trained him to be.

 

Is the pastor lazy if he spends his day studying the Bible and praying?

 

Nope. In fact, in Acts chapter 6 the Apostles told the people to elect seven to handle food distribution (handling the needs of the church members) so they could stay devoted to ministering the Word of God and prayer. Perhaps the church today should have its elders minister to the needs of the people so the pastor can devote himself to the ministering of the Word of God and prayer.

Many congregations today expect the pastor to do everthing. I am thankful for the ones that don't. I would like to see all congregations to step up to the plate and do what is right.

 

Since I've "Retired" from the pastorate, I've become more accepting of fellow pastors. But then, I re-read Paul's epistles and the attitude of pride starts creeping into my spirit. So, all I can say is, pastors, examine yourselves, for it is not my position to judge you.

 

That was the complaint of the congregation of Jonathan Edwards too.

If the church members are leading Bible studies in the community and reaching people there will be few huge church meetings but rather loads of smaller group meetings.

 

Oh boy, controversial topic for me. I spent nine years in college and probably know more pastors than most Christians will ever know. Before I even get into the pastors, let's be honest.. all of us who are pastors have complained about members being lazy. In a church of 100 people, you might find 30 who will come to Sunday night service and probably half of that will show up on "church work day". Most members need to examine themselves before they can turn their judgmental eyes on the pastor.
Of the 8 pastors I have had, none of them were lazy. Maybe the first one was a little lax in some ways, but I wouldnt dare call him lazy. He tended to the church building, cleaned it, took care of the lawn, etc.
However, when I began traveling at 21 yrs old, I came across pastors that I would call lazy. Yes, some of them yanked their sermons from the Sword Of The Lord or from Charles Stanley. Laziness in sermon preparation is glaringly obvious during the sermon itself. Another one does not allow ANY visits at all to his home, and so he is never in the office. One of his members told me that I could only meet with the pastor at his office, and by appointment only. The members felt he was being lazy, but the truth is, only the Lord knows what the man is doing with his time.
"touch not mine anointed" is a warning to those who want to sit back and judge others. I try to keep this in mind and pray to be less judgmental.

 

I will say one thing for the ministry there are not many jobs that allow you to go home for lunch with the family, take time during work to take a chld to the doctor's or attend one of thier attivities. My dad is a pastor and says there is no better job. Being paid to do the Lord's work is just too good. Many people in our church are professionals and work more then their 40 hrs, yet most teach or have some minsitry in the church on top of that. We all deal with people one wayh or the other, and everyone thinks they work harder then someone else. Being in the ministry is a high calling, I know the latter for our pastor seems to be pretty short between "I feel like I have died and gone to heaven being the pastor of this church" to "this has been the roughest year of my life" or "I think I am going to resign." (it helps to be married to the church sec.)I don't know maybe its just me and my flesh but to me the ministry seems to be the ideal life! I think maybe the best is to know you are in God's will and to be content. amen?

 

It's all of that. But when people criticize ministers, I've got to laugh. I gave up $200,000 a year to take a whole lot less and be criticized for what I do.

And I didn't work all that hard to make $200,000.