Many going into ministry assume that the greatest source of pain in the pastorate will be inflicted by those who do not profess faith in Christ.
D.A. Carson and John D. Woodbridge wisely counsel those considering the pastorate:
Read through Paul’s epistles rather rapidly in three or four sittings and observe that it was his relations with Christians that gave him the greatest pain. Should you end up in vocational ministry, your experience will not be any different.
Perhaps, the reason it hurts so much is that to be called to to the pastorate is to be given by the Spirit a heart for a flock. We’re always most vulnerable to those we love.
Amen. I will go that one better.
To me, it is a testimony to sovereign grace that any pastor remains a Christian, period. The greatest stumbler to me has not been the problem of evil (per se), difficult texts in the Bible, or arguments of unbelievers.
The greatest trial to my faith BAR NONE has been Christians.
Sadly, including myself.
This is a sobering reminder for those us under spiritual authority.
Hebrews 13:17 says, “Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage.”
What a terrible thing to actually contribute towards making a difficult job even harder.
It was Charles Ryrie who once told me that believers are the only army that shoot their own wounded. I wish I could have proven him wrong over the years.