Dear Craig,
Of course, I am not there to see but what comes to my mind when I read your message, is that this Pastor is hurting or burned out or confused or something that we may not even possibly guess.
But something seems to be wrong.
It almost seems like this outing to sell fireworks, even if it was for a good cause, was some kind of diversion or distraction.
Perhaps he needs encouragement.
Perhaps instead of leaving, maybe the Lord is prompting you to do something. Perhaps start a collection envelope and maybe the church will give him a gift of it. Isn't tomorrow Pastor's Appreciation Day?
The ladies in the church are making a money tree for the Pastor. Checks will be in envelopes attached to the tree.
And I believe all Pastors nowadays need to be appreciated more than ever before. Expectations of them are so extremely high. I have heard of people leaving church because they moved the piano a foot, changed something, or said something, or something was said, or whatever.
Locally, I have heard of the most lameist and ridiculous reasons why people have left the church.
But what did Jesus say to do? We must go to the person and talk to them. One on one.
Now just imagine in your case, you cannot conceive (nor can we) why your pastor elected to sell fireworks while services were supposed to be.
But what if you talked to him and found out? What if he really told you from his heart why?
Wouldn't that be better?
And what if he told you something confidential?
Would you encourage him?
Or would you throw him out?
It is so clear that we must encourage, restore, forgive, and we all need that.
I always think about Jim Bakker and what happened to him when he got out of jail. Not too many people received him again, but Franklin Graham and a few others did. They loved him inspite of everything. And Jim Bakker was apparently a changed man.
However, I'm not saying that anything secret could be the case, perhaps he is just burned out or needed a break. Some pastors can get discouraged because he sees no change in the people, and begins to wonder if he made any difference. Stuff like that is easy to get into. It is "going through the valley" times.
Maybe he had nothing to offer the congregation.
Does God give us a word all the time? Should we expect it from the Pastor? (all the time? Three plus times a week?)
I would never abandon your pastor. Maybe you are the one who can put materials into his hand that will encourage him and give him the breakthrough he needs.
I would pray about it and wait on the Lord to hear His Voice.
These are very troubled times.
I know of a case where Deacons voted out the sweetest Pastor that you can imagine. Why? I really don't know the details, except it sounds like they just wanted someone new, someone who can maybe boost the attendance up and what happened? The Pastor and his wife (literally) were out on the street curb (having lived at the church) wondering where to go next, for that very day in the service, they told them they were out of there.
I can't imagine that kind of pain, especially since I know the couple, and they are the dearest people one can imagine.
And you can imagine what happens then..., would a Pastor feel so encouraged and capable from then on? Or would they be a little more reserved or cautious or would they even put that much effort into things? I imagine that they would put up a few more fences, guard their heart better, take more breaks if they feel a valley coming on.
If your pastor has been through a lot or taken advantage of or mistreated, he needs extra encouragement. Don't forget that in a small church they do a lot. They are expected to visit everyone in the hospitals, homes, do this and do that, funerals, marriages, counseling, phone contacts, phone counseling, board meetings, and oh, hear from God and prepare their sermons, drive around to all kinds of places, and many other things that people expect them to take care of, well, because they are the pastors...like straightening out conflicts and putting out fires, and bearing up to all the insults and complaints that they get.
But there are the Pastors who really do have it all wrong, I believe.
So, what does Jesus say to do? Look at the fruit.
What are they producing?
And what else are we supposed to do?
Test the spirits.
See if it is of the Lord.
