9 'm SHU Quite Shaken
by a Concerned Pastor
M y n a m e must remain anony mous, I suppose, not for my sake but for the best interests of my church and all concerned. The expe rience of which I write came about quite unexpectedly in a routine in terview with a high school boy in my study. Had I foreseen the out come I am not certain that I would have had the courage to go through with it. When it was over I felt for a while that I had reached a new low in the black pit of discouragement. Doubtless every pastor has experi enced a few such dark hours. The boy r e a lly had nothing against me personally, I am sure. It was I who asked the rather casual question, “ And by the way, I’m not trying to probe, but how are you getting along spiritually?” His frank reply fairly jolted me. He readily acknowledged that he was not getting along spiritually at all. As he himself put it, he had “ just no interest in spiritual things whatso ever.” He further admitted that he came to church only because his par ents insisted on it, and he assured me that there were other young folk who felt as he did. As far as he was concerned, he said, he could better spend his time at his homework. I detected no trace of insolence or sar casm as he spoke. There was only an intense earnestness in his re marks. Maybe I should have dropped the subject then and there. It would have spared my feelings considerably had I done so; but my conscience pushed me into asking the next question: “ But why? Why do you feel this way?” I almost wish I could forget his answers, but probably that would be akin to the ostrich hiding his head in the sand. The boy went on : “Well, pastor, I no longer simply accept everything I’m told. Sure, I still be lieve the Bible and all the basic things I’ve been taught. But I just
fixed in my mind just as vividly ten years from now, or even twenty, as they are today when with heavy heart I try to put on paper what he told me only two nights ago. Of course, I am not so naive as to think that everything the boy said was entirely right. Surely there are at least a few examples of genuine, Spirit-filled people in my church. However, so much of what he said did make sense that I am still quite shaken by the interview. Perhaps I was wrong in making no attempt to defend myself or to vindicate my congregation. Still, too much of what he said was absolutely true. I felt that he had already won his case—temporarily, at least—and that only the Lord could show him someday the other side of the pic ture (if there is one). More particu larly, only the Holy Spirit can make him aware of his own responsibility to God regardless of the faulty con duct, real or supposed, of others. Just where to go from here I real ly cannot say; for in the boy’s own words, “ I’m sure I don’t have the answer.” How to awaken a local con gregation to the absolute necessity of witnessing is a problem of the first magnitude. The double curse of in difference and stagnation is not too readily recognized, nor is it removed with ease. It is no special comfort to be reminded that there are other churches just like mine. Yes, I know the real answer is for the pastor and the people alike to ac cept their share of the responsibility. We must seek God for a new out pouring of the Holy Spirit, resulting in a revival and a genuine concern for the lost. Unless this happens I certainly do not relish the thought of preaching on Sunday nights for the remaining fleeting years of my min istry to the unsaved when they just are not there! Neither do I like the prospect of having other interviews like the one of which I have here so frankly but sadly written.
don’t see too much around our church that is genuine and real. I’d like to see Christianity really work for somebody, and then maybe I would give it a try. “ I count the people each Sunday night, and it’s the same old crowd week after week. No one cares two cents about bringing in the unsaved and helping our church to grow. We’re quite content if we just hold our own. To my way of thinking, that’s not real Christianity. If our people had anything on the ball, they would be out after new families and showing real concern for the build ing up o f his church. They may say that God is first in their lives, but I can’t say that I see much proof of it in actual practice.” I almost hoped he was through; but he continued: “You know, it seems to me that if Christian people really were con cerned about the work of the Lord, they would all be pulling together in stead of each family heading in dif ferent directions. Maybe I’m wrong, but somehow I feel that true Chris tians ought to be able to get along better together.” I did not ask for specific illustra tions to prove his point. “ Oh, I know the conduct of other Christians doesn’t excuse me, but what I have observed hasn’t influ enced me in the right direction, I as sure you! Really, pastor, I often wonder how you can stick around a place like this. I know that I wouldn’t if I could help it. Oh, I’m not blaming you; our church has been this way for years, and every pastor has found it so. I would think the ministry ought to be a reward ing experience with growth and blessing and progress. But this must be a mighty discouraging place for you to serve.” These were his statements, re corded as accurately as I can recall them. Somehow I think they will be
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THE K IN G 'S BUSINESS
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