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There’s a problem in the church…

This weekend I was able to hang out with six other pastors and talk through the book of James… and of course we talked about church too! You know what… I realize that there’s a problem in the “Church” (at large). I’ve been mulling this over for a couple of months now and am going…

This weekend I was able to hang out with six other pastors and talk through the book of James… and of course we talked about church too!

You know what… I realize that there’s a problem in the “Church” (at large). I’ve been mulling this over for a couple of months now and am going to put it out there discussion.

Here’s the problem…

Church members and pastors typically have different sets of expectations! This is common in churches of all sizes and denominations!

Here’s how it works…

Church members have a tendency to think in terms of a trichotomy…

  • Us (i.e. the church)
  • The Pastor
  • Them (i.e. the people outside the church – unsaved/unchurched)

The problem is that most pastors think in terms of a dichotomy…

  • Us (i.e. the church)
  • Them (i.e. unsaved/unchurched)

The expectation of most pastors is to…

  • “We” (i.e. the church) will bring “Them”  (i.e. the unsaved/unchurched) to Jesus… and build them up in that relationship so “They” can go and bring more people to Jesus!
  • NOTE: Most pastors see themselves as a part of the church… or at least they want to be a part of it…

The expectation of a lot of church members is that…

  • The pastor will preach to us
  • The pastor will provide pastoral care for us
  • The pastor may lead some to Christ… and encourage us to do the same
  • NOTE: I think that often times (based on the stories from pastors and church members) the pastor is viewed as an outsider who wants to impose change and create chaos

Another way of saying it…

  • Member’s expectation = “The pastor is here for us.”
  • Pastor’s expectation = “I’m here to lead this church to reach the unsaved/unchurched.”

Or maybe we could say it like this…

  • Many members say, “What about us?”
  • Many pastors say, “What about them?”

I sat in a room filled with pastors this weekend and listened as each shared their frustration and even some of the pain that has flowed out of these misaligned expectations.

I have also sat and listened to many members speak of the frustration caused by their pastor who just “doesn’t seem to care.”

Yea, so there’s a problem… it’s a problem of expectations.

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Response to “There’s a problem in the church…”

  1. Jason Curlee

    Very Interesting thoughts Paul…I had never thought of it that way but can really understand it.

    I wonder who the major cause comes from. The members or the pastor. Often I think it may be from the teaching of most pastors. Often times they set themselves up for this to a degree.

    And then there are the members. I myself have heard this one from my volunteers. “Isn’t that why you get paid?”

    Also I have also been given confusing messages by my pastors in times past who on one hand encourage delegation but then on the other hand want me to do everything.

    I think the answer should be teaching as soon as possible how everyone is gifted and that it takes everyone. This must be taught over and over as well as creating systems that bring people into service.

    Reply

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