Transitory Psychosis

I’ll be attending a funeral this weekend. The deceased is a cousin of mine and a long-time pastor. He was, in fact, my pastor for a time when I was in college. You will not find his name among the pastoral “superstars.” He was never invited to speak at a big “church growth” conference or quoted as an authority on preaching. He was, however, a faithful man of God who loved God, loved people, and was true to his calling.

I’m actually looking forward to the service in a way. It will be a celebration of a live well lived and a glorious entrance into heaven. There will be a number of people present whose lives were impacted by the deceased. I expect more than a few admirers and perhaps even some who were not his fans. No doubt, his faithful, compassionate, and often Christlike ministry will be remembered fondly. So, too, will his godly character.

He’s not the only one of his kind. In hundreds of churches, in rural communities and sprawling cities, there are men just like him who serve God and their flocks with dignity and grace. They live exemplary (not perfect) lives, often serving in hard places for low wages. You won’t hear about them on the news. Their congregations are too small for the media to notice and their conduct is too righteous to create a scandal. Their only recognition comes from their small flock and the God who sees all.

One day, these faithful men of God will step into glory and another man, nameless and faceless to this world, will step up to take their place. Friends and family will mourn the passing of these men. Few others will pay any attention.

But the One who called them notices. He sees their faithful service. He’s aware of their quiet visits with sick parishioners. He knows how they have encouraged the struggling, lifted the fallen, and taught the simple. He was there when they counseled the young couple that was ready to throw in the towel on their marriage. He was listening when that couple reaffirmed their vows and watched as they built a strong home and family in the ensuing years.

God saw the pastor’s tears as he pleaded in prayer for strength to endure. He felt the pastor’s pain when unjust criticism was fired at him from immature and unhappy people. He observed the pastor’s hours of study and preparation; time invested to be sure what he said on Sunday was accurate, instructive, and inspiring. He was leaning over the pastor’s shoulder when he refused his check, took a cut in pay, or got a second job in order to balance the church budget. He was in the room when the pastor said comforting words to a roomful of mourners.

God will be there on Saturday as we lay the body of one such pastor in the ground. The small church pastor is the backbone of the body of Christ, unseen but essential to her existence. Between our laughter and tears we will say goodbye . . . for a while. God, however, has already issued His verdict: “Well done.”

Posted Christianity, Death, God, Pastors |