I pray you are being appreciated during this Pastor Appreciation Month! Allow me to offer my gratitude and thanks. I remember an astute lay theologian in my former congregation. After I received my doctorate he commented, “I want you to know that I am not going to call you ‘Dr. Lamb.’ I am going to give you a more honorable title: ‘Pastor.’” And so it is!
Pastors, you are worthy of appreciation because of the office you hold. You know the verse: “The saying is trustworthy: if anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task” (1 Timothy 3:1). Luther frequently elevates the office of public ministry to the highest place.
“If the ministry of the Word is committed to some one, then also all the other offices which are administered in the Church through the Word are given him, namely the power to baptize, to bless [to administer Holy Communion], the power to loose, to pray, to judge and decide. Indeed, the office of preaching the Gospel is the highest of all” (St. L., X, 1592).
Pastors, you are worthy of appreciation because of the manner in which you exercise this highest office. “[S]hepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock” (1 Peter 5:2-3). And in the words of Jesus, “It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant” (Matthew 20:26).
Pastors, you are worthy of appreciation because you deal with some unruly, wandering, and unappreciative sheep sometimes. But remember, Jesus says this is a blessing! “Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man!” (Luke 6:2)
Pastors, you are worthy of appreciation because you are called to emulate Jesus when you are reviled. “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly” (1 Peter 2:21-23).
Pastors, you are worthy of appreciation because you apply God’s Word of Law and Gospel to people’s hearts and the various matters of the heart with which they struggle. “Speak tenderly to Jerusalem [literally, ‘speak to the heart’] and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins” (Isaiah 40:1-2).
As I travel around the country, I am privileged to meet so many pastors with varying styles and personalities, each of whom exercise their high office as servants of Christ and His people. It is very encouraging, and I am quick to share this with others, especially when I hear pastors being maligned for one reason or another. So I thank you for everything you do. I have been away from parish ministry for eighteen years now, and it is clear that ministry is more challenging than ever before. You have much to do and even more that you are expected to do! You are worthy of appreciation!
I realize that by now Lutheran humility is kicking in and you chafe a bit at the phrase “you are worthy.” If that is the case then, well, you are worthy of appreciation! You know our worthiness comes from God in Christ. “Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God” (2 Corinthians 3:5). Nevertheless, God called you to be His undershepherd, and He poured out the treasure of His Gospel into your hearts, into “jars of clay” as Paul says, and gives you the “ministry of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18). He does great things as you share His Word and administer Baptism and Holy Communion.
So, again, thank you! May you be encouraged by Paul’s words: “Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart” (2 Corinthians 4:1).
Speaking of hearts, I mentioned earlier that you have the joy and responsibility to speak to your people and their “matters of the heart.” Matters of the Heart is Lutherans For Life’s theme for 2015. We seek to help people look beyond the politics and controversy surrounding the life issues and see them as matters of the heart. Once we do this, speaking to these issues becomes part of what we do as pastors. It becomes part of our ongoing Gospel ministry, for the Word of God is tailor made for matters of the heart.
Whether it be the burning heart of our teens tempted to sexual impurity, the confused hearts of pregnant teens, the burdened hearts of those who believed the devil’s lies and gave in to the sin of abortion, the questioning hearts of people suffering from terrible diseases, or the frightened hearts of the terminally ill, you have been entrusted with the only thing that can meaningfully speak to such matters of the heart—the Gospel of Jesus. The Gospel in the wide sense, which includes the Law as preparatory, is the most powerful and positive life-affirming message in the universe. And I’ll say it again, it is tailor made for matters of the heart.
I will also say this again: thank you. Thank you for shepherding your flock and speaking to their hearts. LFL stands ready to help you address the life issues as matters of the heart. If you have not been to our website, please take a look at what we offer at www.lutheransforlife.org. Specific materials on Matters of the Heart for a Sanctity of Human Life Sunday may be found here.
My former member was right, “Pastor” is a most honorable title. Thank you, pastors, for all you do.