Teaching and Pastoring

Colossians 2:1 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. 5 For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

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One of the things that impresses me and blesses me about Paul's tone of voice here is his obvious love for each church community. He is so good at blessing people, encouraging and building them up. He always takes time at the beginning of a letter to do this, and then goes on to teach the Truth. Paul has the dual gifting as teacher and pastor, coming along side individuals and communities as a shepherd in the pursuit of a life like Jesus.

Sometimes it is tempting to think that teaching and pastoring are the same gift. Certainly a teacher is helping to lead another person intellectually, and a pastor is teaching by example and influence, but these two personalities tend to break out in the church. Paul is unique to have both gifts so strongly knit together. This is my theory. A good teacher, like a professor, has the weakness of intellectualism and pride. He or she might, in moments of sin, think too highly of themselves. Pride breaks down the unity and community. It is possible to be theologically sound, and yet lack love - which is, of course, not so sound after all. On the flip side, a pastor might be good at building community and loving people, but lack the ability to clearly communicate the truth of the gospel. He or she might, in moments of confusion or distraction, deemphasize the pursuit of right thinking. So Paul is good at both, which isn't to say he didn't have his own weaknesses. A quick lesson to leaders is to emulate both qualities and self reflect on potential areas of weakness. If I am a teacher, do I allow my knowledge to puff up without building up? If I am a pastor, am I letting my fear of conflict get in the way of truth? The fact is, the truth will cause a church to become more unified and healthy, if not bigger. But the Word of God is like a double edged sword (even sharper actually), and sometimes the truth will seem to shrink community rather than grow it. But Love prunes us, otherwise it would not be Love.

Justice, Light & Heat

Isaiah 30:18 Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you,and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him. *** Isaiah 30:26 Moreover, the light of the moon will be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day when the Lord binds up the brokenness of his people, and heals the wounds inflicted by his blow.

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Isaiah 30:33 For a burning place [7] has long been prepared; indeed, for the king it is made ready, its pyre made deep and wide, with fire and wood in abundance; the breath of the Lord, like a stream of sulfur, kindles it.

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It seems that the justice of God, like a furnace, has different effects on differing materials. Whatever parts have been submitted to Him and redeemed, are turned to Gold and made part of an eternal reward. Whatever parts are horded away, whether physical resources or natural abilities, will be lost if not invested/redeemed. The same holy heat that purifies and sanctifies our lives is the heat that judges us for misusing and selfishly squandering our means. Where, under this light is there a place to hide? There is only one place to hide from you, and it is in you. The only protection from the heat of your justice is the shelter of your grace.