The next two excellent posts are by two of my D.Min. students’ Discussion Board responses to the question “How can Pastors Follow Nehemiah’s Example” that he set in Nehemiah Five. The first is by Heath Faircloth and the following is by Tim Stallings.
Admittingly, this topic isn’t quite as easy as one might suggest. On the one hand, as a pastor, I desperately want to be an example for others to follow in my life, but, on the other hand, there is a fine line between wanting others to see Jesus in me and being prideful in what Jesus is doing through me. Pride is a dangerous sin. Pride has been the downfall of many men in ministry and in the business world. No one is immune from its evils. Augustine said that “Pride is the commencement of all sin.”[1] However, it is equally as prideful when I am more concerned about how others view me than I am in helping them become more like Jesus. Bloom has well stated, “However, if there is something in my life that is exemplary that might help you, but I don’t say anything because I’m more concerned with how you view me than with helping you increase your joy, that’s just pride borrowing humility’s clothes. I love me more than I love you.”[2] Therefore, as long as my heart is pure, I must help others by being an example.
One way I have challenged people in the pulpit is through sacrificial giving, specifically for special offerings like Lottie Moon. While I do not share the amount that my family gives, I will often give the parameters by which we base our giving: no one gets a single gift bigger than what we give Jesus during our Mission’s offering. For several years, we gave more to this particular offering than all other Christmas gifts combined.
Secondly, I can tell stories of how I am serving others. It could be my neighbors that do not know Jesus. It could be something that happened at a particular outreach event or service project, but remind people that you are there and allow your example to be a way of leadership in these areas.
Next, and this may not always be in the pulpit, but I am a firm believer that the pastor is the worship leader. He may not be the one leading the singing, but he needs to set the example of worship. If he does exemplify a spirit of worship, it is doubtful that those he leads will either.
Finally, I can be an unselfish example by confessing my sin in an open, transparent way when I mess up. I’m not advocating for every Sunday to be an open confessional time, but from time to time, I need to remind my people that I mess up and am in need of repenting of my own sin. Hopefully, this will be a reminder to them that they too need to repent when they mess up and be an avenue that will help them to take sin serious in their own hearts.
[1] “Sin of Pride,” All About God, accessed at https://www.allaboutgod.com/sin-of-pride.htm
[2] Jon Bloom, “Imitate Me: Laying Aside the Weight of False Humility,” Desiring God, September 22, 2017, accessed at https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/imitate-me