Làm Mục sư: Phước lành hay Gánh nặng? Phần 1

Lance Witt 4/29/2024

Làm thế nào để gánh nặng chức vụ không cướp đi phước lành của chức vụ?

Hôm qua tôi đã ở bên ngoài làm một số công việc quanh nhà. Tôi đang di chuyển một số tảng đá lớn ra khỏi ngọn đồi để xếp chúng trên lối vào đường lái xe của nhà. Hầu hết những tảng đá đều quá to và quá nặng để có thể nhấc lên bằng một tay.

Việc này khiến tôi nghĩ đến trách nhiệm lãnh đạo của chúng ta với tư cách là mục sư. Sức nặng chúng ta mang đòi hỏi cả hai tay. Một mặt chúng ta mang trong mình ý thức về trách nhiệm thiêng liêng. Những gì chúng ta làm với tư cách là mục sư đều có ảnh hưởng. Đây là việc nghiêm túc và quan trọng. Chúng ta được giao phó một hội thánh quý giá mà Đức Chúa Trời yêu thương. Chúng ta được trao một Đại Mạng Lệnh có ảnh hưởng đến sự sống đời đời. Điều đó thật to lớn.

Mặt khác, chúng ta cảm thấy vui mừng, hứng khởi, và vinh dự. Mục vụ là “được làm” chứ không là “phải làm”. Không có vinh dự nào cao hơn việc được kêu gọi làm mục sư cho cô dâu của Đấng Christ. Chúng ta có được niềm vui lạ thường khi chứng kiến cuộc sống của những con người được phúc âm biến đổi.

Thực sự chúng ta cần hiểu rõ cả hai điều này để giúp cho mình được luôn khỏe mạnh trong chức vụ. Vì làm thế nào bạn có thể làm một việc nặng nề như vậy mà vẫn không mất đi cảm giác phiêu lưu và vui mừng? Hãy để tôi hỏi theo cách khác. Làm thế nào để gánh nặng mục vụ không cướp đi phước lành của mục vụ?

Tôi tin rằng 1 Phi-e-rơ chương 5 ghi các lời khuyên sâu sắc cho tất cả chúng ta khi phục vụ trong chức vụ.

'Tôi gửi lời khuyên nhủ đến các trưởng lão trong anh em, vì tôi cũng là một trưởng lão, là nhân chứng về sự thương khó của Đấng Christ, và cũng là người sẽ được dự phần trong vinh quang sắp được bày tỏ. Hãy chăn bầy của Đức Chúa Trời đã giao phó cho anh em, không vì ép buộc nhưng do tự nguyện, không vì lợi lộc thấp hèn mà với cả nhiệt tâm, không dùng quyền uy cai trị những người được giao cho mình, nhưng làm gương tốt cho cả bầy.” (I Phi-e-rơ 5:1-3)

Lưu ý rằng lời khuyên của Phierơ không mang tính lý thuyết. Phierơ nói “Tôi cũng là một trưởng lão...”. Ông biết cảm giác như thế nào khi lãnh đạo một hội thánh địa phương.

“Chăm sóc đàn chiên”... Mục vụ Dẫn dắt

Trong tất cả những ẩn dụ mà Chúa có thể sử dụng cho những gì chúng ta làm, ẩn dụ chính mà Ngài chọn là “người chăn”. Đó không phải là CEO, nhà lãnh đạo, người có tầm nhìn xa hay nhà điều hành. Đúng hơn, đó là hình ảnh của một người chăn nuôi, cá nhân và quan tâm.

Xuất Ê-díp-tô 28: 29 'Như vậy, khi vào Nơi Thánh A-rôn sẽ mang trên ngực tên các con trai Y-sơ-ra-ên nơi bảng đeo ngực về sự phán xét, như một kỷ niệm thường xuyên trước mặt Đức Giê-hô-va. '

Mỗi lần Aaron vào Nơi Thánh, ông đều đeo một tấm che ngực có 12 viên đá bên trong. Mỗi viên đá đại diện cho mỗi người đàn ông, đàn bà, con trai và con gái trong quốc gia Israel. Đó là một lời nhắc nhở hữu hình rằng với tư cách là các thầy tế lễ và là mục sư, chúng ta đang phục vụ con người. Tôi thích câu nói “A-rôn sẽ mang trên ngực tên các con trai Y-sơ-ra-ên”.

Nó làm tôi nhớ đến lời của sứ đồ Phao-lô trong Phi-líp 1:7 'Tôi nghĩ đến tất cả anh em như thế là phải, vì anh em ở trong lòng tôi. Dù khi bị xiềng xích, hoặc lúc bênh vực và biện minh cho Tin Lành, tất cả anh em đều dự phần ân điển đã ban cho tôi. '

Vì vậy, để tôi hỏi bạn, những người mà Chúa nhờ bạn hướng dẫn có ở trong trái tim bạn không? Nếu thành thật mà nói, tôi phải thừa nhận rằng đôi khi những người mà Chúa nhờ tôi chăn dắt đã làm tôi bực bội hơn là ở trong tim tôi.

Có lẽ đối với một số người trong chúng ta đang đọc bài viết này, chúng ta cần dừng lại ngay bây giờ và cầu xin Chúa khơi dậy lại tình yêu của chúng ta đối với dân sự mình. Tôi biết rằng những con chiên có thể bừa bộn, bướng bỉnh và bực bội. Tuy nhiên, những mục sư chân chính lại rất yêu mến chiên.

Vì vậy, việc chăm sóc đàn chiên bắt đầu bằng việc yêu thương đàn chiên.

“mà Chúa đã giao phó cho bạn”... Lãnh đạo có trách nhiệm (với tư cách là người quản lý)

Thật không lành mạnh khi chúng ta bắt đầu nghĩ rằng chức vụ của chúng ta thuộc về chúng ta. Chúng ta phải cẩn thận về việc sử dụng cụm từ: nhà thờ của tôi”...”Người của tôi”... “Chức vụ của tôi”.

Bản thân tôi thường sử dụng những cụm từ đó, nhưng tôi nghĩ sẽ tốt hơn nếu thường xuyên nhắc nhở bản thân rằng cuối cùng thì dân sự và chức vụ của chúng ta đều thuộc về Chúa. Đó là hội thánh của Ngài, không phải của tôi. Tôi thực sự là một người chăn chiên phụ thay mặt cho Người chăn chiên trưởng mà phục vụ hội thánh. Hội thánh không phải là cơ sở riêng của tôi. Với tư cách là người quản lý (mục sư), tôi nên lãnh đạo hội thánh theo cách mà người chủ (Đấng Christ) muốn tôi thay mặt Ngài lãnh đạo. Điều lành mạnh nhất là xem chúng ta như là người quản lý các mục vụ chứ không phải là người sở hữu các mục vụ này.

Một số nhà thờ mà tôi cùng làm việc đã thực hiện điều này khá nghiêm túc. Họ huấn luyện nhân viên của mình dùng từ “chăm sóc” hoặc “trông chừng” khi nói về các mục vụ. Đó là ngôn ngữ của người quản lý.

Những lời của sứ đồ Phierơ cũng nhắc nhở tôi rằng tôi chỉ chịu trách nhiệm về đàn chiên mà Chúa đã giao phó cho tôi mà thôi. Tôi không chịu trách nhiệm về đàn chiên mà Chúa đã ban cho bạn. Là một mục sư, đôi khi chúng ta dễ dàng nhìn qua hàng rào và ước gì mình có bầy chiên của người khác.

Tôi yêu mến những mục sư năm này qua tháng nọ bằng lòng trung tín chăn dắt và trông coi đàn chiên mà Chúa đã giao phó cho họ.

Trước khi tiếp tục công việc trong ngày của mình, hãy dành một ít thời gian ngồi lại với câu hỏi sau đây: Năm nay tôi sẽ trở thành người chăn tốt hơn năm ngoái như thế nào? (Còn tiếp)

__________________

By Lance Witt on Apr 29, 2024

How do you not let the burden of ministry not rob you of the blessing of ministry?

Yesterday I was outside doing some work around my home. I was moving some large rocks off of a hill so that we could line our driveway entrance with them. Most of the rocks were too big and too heavy to pick up with one hand.

It made me think of our leadership responsibility as pastors. The load we carries takes two hands. In one hand we carry a sense of sacred responsibility. What we do as pastors is weighty. It is serious and it matters. We have been entrusted with a precious congregation that God loves. We have been given a Great Commission that impacts eternity. That is sobering.

In the other hand we carry a sense of joy and adventure and honor. Ministry is a “get to”, not a “have to”. There is no higher honor than to be called to pastor the bride of Christ. We have the incredible joy of watching people’s lives get transformed by the gospel.

It really does take holding both realities in tandem that keeps us healthy in ministry. So, how can you do such a weighty thing and yet not lose the sense of adventure and joy? Let me ask it another way. How do you not let the burden of ministry rob you of the blessing of ministry?

I believe 1 Peter 5 provides some insightful advice for all of us who serve in ministry.

And now, a word to you who are elders in the churches. I, too, am an elder and a witness to the sufferings of Christ. And I, too, will share in his glory when he is revealed to the whole world. As a fellow elder, I appeal to you: 2 Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. 3 Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example. 1 Peter 5:1-3 (NLT)

Notice that Peter’s advice isn’t theoretical. He says “I, too, am an elder…”. He knows what it is like to be down in the trenches of leading in a local church.

“Care for the flock”… Lead Pastorally

Of all the metaphors God could have used for what we do, the primary metaphor he chose was that of “shepherd”. It’s not CEO, leader, visionary, or executive. Rather, it is the image of a nurturing, personal, caring shepherd.

Exodus 28:29 says Whenever Aaron enters the Holy Place, he will bear the names of the sons of Israel over his heart on the breastpiece of decision as a continuing memorial before the Lord.

Every single time Aaron went into the Holy Place he would wear a breastpiece that had 12 stones in it. Each stone represented every man, woman, boy and girl in the nation of Israel. It was a tangible reminder that as priests and pastors we are in the people business. I love those words “he will bear the names of the sons of Israel over his heart”.

It reminds me of the words of the apostle Paul in Philippians 1:7 (NIV) when he says It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart.

So, let me ask you, are the people that God has asked you to lead on your heart? If I am honest, I would have to admit that sometimes the people God has asked me to shepherd have been more on my nerves than on my heart.

Perhaps for some of us reading this article, we need to stop right now and ask God to reignite our love for our people. I know that sheep can be messy and obstinate and frustrating. But, true pastors love the sheep.

So, caring for the flock starts with loving the flock.

“that God has entrusted to you”… Lead Responsibly (as a steward)

It is unhealthy for us to start to think that our ministry belongs to us. We must be careful about the subtle use of personal pronouns…”my church”…”My people”… “My ministry”.

I often use those phrases myself, but I think it is good to regularly remind ourselves that ultimately our people and ministry belong to God. It is His church, not mine. I am really an under-shepherd serving on behalf of The Chief Shepherd. The church is not my own personal business. As a steward (pastor), I should lead the church in the way that the owner (Christ) wants me to lead on his behalf. It is most healthy to view our ministries in view of stewardship, not ownership.

One of the church teams that I get to work with has taken this quite seriously. They have trained their staff members to talk about the ministry that they “look after” or “watch over”. That is the language of stewardship.

Those words from Peter also remind me that I am responsible only for the flock that God has entrusted to me. I am not responsible or accountable for the flock that God has given you. It is easy as a pastor to sometimes look over the fence and wish we had somebody else’s flock.

I love pastors who year after year are content to faithfully shepherd and watch over the flock that God has assigned them.

Before you move on with your day, sit with the following question for a few moments. What would it look like to be a better shepherd this year than I was last year?

Làm Mục sư: Phước lành hay Gánh nặng? Phần 1

Lance Witt 4/29/2024

Làm thế nào để gánh nặng chức vụ không cướp đi phước lành của chức vụ?

How do you not let the burden of ministry not rob you of the blessing of ministry?

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