Làm Mục sư: Phước lành hay Gánh nặng? Phần 2

Lance Witt 05 / 01 / 2024

Trong bài viết tuần trước, chúng ta bắt đầu với câu hỏi “làm thế nào để gánh vác trách nhiệm nặng nề và quan trọng của vai trò mục sư mà không mất đi cảm giác phiêu lưu và niềm vui?” Nói cách khác, làm thế nào để gánh nặng mục vụ không cướp đi niềm vui của mục vụ?

1 Phi-e-rơ 5 cho chúng ta một số lời khuyên sâu sắc có thể giúp chúng ta trả lời những câu hỏi đó.

'2Hãy 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, 3không dùng quyền uy cai trị những người được giao cho mình, nhưng làm gương tốt cho cả bầy.' (1 Phierơ 5:2-3)

Trong bài viết trước chúng ta đã nói về việc Chúa kêu gọi chúng ta
· Lãnh đạo như một mục vụ: chăm sóc đàn chiên (v.2)
· Lãnh đạo phải có trách nhiệm: Chúa đã giao phó cho bạn (v.2)
Hôm nay chúng ta sẽ xem xét bốn điều khác mà Phi-e-rơ đã đưa ra cho những người lãnh đạo hội thánh.

1. Lãnh đạo cách vui vẻ: Sẵn sàng trông chừng, không miễn cưỡng (v.2)

Chăm sóc hội thánh của chúng ta là một đặc ân thiêng liêng. Nhưng khi chúng ta phải giải quyết các vấn đề hoặc đang “chạy mà không đủ năng lượng” hoặc đang tư vấn cho một tín hữu có nhiều nan đề thì công việc mục sư có thể bắt đầu có cảm giác giống như “phải làm” hơn là “được làm”.

Nó làm tôi nhớ đến lời quở trách mà Ma-la-chi đưa ra cho những người đang lãnh đạo chức vụ vào thời của ông.

'Các ngươi lại nói: “Ôi, việc khó nhọc làm sao!” Rồi các ngươi khinh dể nó.’ Ma-la-chi 1:13a

Việc thực hiện các nhiệm vụ và trách nhiệm của mục vụ đã trở thành một phiền phức đối với các thầy tế

lễ. Kết quả là họ bắt đầu khinh thường điều đáng lẽ mang họ đến gần hơn với Đức Chúa Cha.

Không ai trong chúng ta được miễn khỏi nguy cơ bị mất lòng tin và biến mục vụ thành một công việc không hơn không kém.

Trong cuộc sống và chức vụ của mình, tôi nhận thấy rằng so sánh là kẻ thù của sự phục vụ “vui vẻ”. Rất dễ bị rơi vào bẫy so sánh. Đã rất nhiều lần tôi nhìn các mục sư khác và muốn được giống họ về hoàn cảnh, địa điểm, hội thánh hoặc tài năng của họ. Sự so sánh luôn cướp đi niềm vui của chúng ta và không bao giờ có ích. Nó có thể dẫn đến cảm giác tự hào hoặc không thỏa lòng.

2. Lãnh đạo cách quên mình: không phải vì những gì bạn sẽ nhận được, mà là vì bạn háo hức phục vụ Chúa (c.2)

Để làm mục sư tốt, bạn phải thường xuyên chết đi chính mình. Bạn phải luôn luôn có mặt hàng tuần, quan tâm đến bầy chiên nhiều hơn là thu nhập của bạn, ngôi nhà bạn đang ở, tầm cỡ hội thánh của bạn, hoặc mức độ nổi tiếng của bạn.

Một phóng viên đã từng hỏi một câu hỏi sâu sắc khi phỏng vấn một phụ nữ của Dàn nhạc Giao hưởng Boston: “Cô có cảm giác thế nào khi nhận được sự hoan nghênh nhiệt liệt từ đám đông khi kết thúc buổi biểu diễn và sau đó thức dậy vào buổi sáng thì lại đọc được những đánh giá tiêu cực trên báo chí?” Phản ứng của cô thậm chí còn sâu sắc hơn. Cô cho biết theo thời gian, cô đã học được cách không chú ý đến những tràng pháo tay của đám đông hay sự không tán thành của những người chỉ trích. Cô ấy chỉ quan

tâm đến sự hài lòng của người nhạc trưởng. Suy cho cùng, ông ấy là người duy nhất thực sự biết cô phải biểu diễn như thế nào.

3. Lãnh đạo cách khiêm tốn: Đừng thống trị những người Chúa giao cho bạn chăm sóc (c.3)

Đây là cách lãnh-đạo-phục-vụ. Chúng ta không lãnh đạo từ vị trí, quyền thế, hoặc tiếng tăm. Điều mang lại cho chúng ta sự tín nhiệm với tư cách là những người chăn chiên không phải là khả năng nhìn thấy khải tượng, khả năng giao tiếp thuyết phục, hay tư duy chiến lược của chúng ta... mà là sự sẵn sàng của chúng ta cầm lấy chiếc khăn và phục vụ những người mà Chúa đã giao cho chúng ta chăm sóc.

Đây là một câu hỏi cần suy ngẫm: Làm thế nào tôi có thể phục vụ một cách khiêm tốn những người Chúa đã giao phó cho tôi?

4. Lãnh đạo cách chân thật: dẫn dắt họ bằng tấm gương tốt của chính bạn (c.3)

Những lời này của Phi-e-rơ làm tôi nhớ đến lời phát biểu của Phao-lô trong 1 Cô-rinh-tô 11:1 ...hãy noi gương tôi cũng như tôi noi gương Đấng Christ

Khi tôi còn là một đứa trẻ ở trường, chúng tôi thường có một trò chơi gọi là "Hãy Cho Xem Và Kể Lại”. Để chơi trò này bạn phải mang một thứ gì đó từ nhà đến để cho cả lớp xem. Thực ra được nhìn thấy đồ vật đó tận mắt thì thú vị và hấp dẫn hơn là chỉ được nghe kể về nó. Điều này cũng đúng với đời sống Cơ- đốc nhân. Ngoài việc chỉ rao giảng (kể) về lối sống Cơ-đốc, khi chúng ta làm gương (thể hiện) về những việc đó thì lời “kể” của chúng ta sẽ có sức thuyết phục hơn nhiều.

Bạn cần thực hiện câu nào trong 4 câu này cho tuần lễ này?

Lãnh đạo cách vui vẻ
Lãnh đạo cách quên mình
Lãnh đạo cách khiêm nhường
Lãnh đạo cách chân thật

________________

By Lance Witt on May 1, 2024

None of us are exempt from the danger of cynicism and turning ministry into nothing more than a job.

In last week’s article, we began to wrestle with the question “how do you carry the weighty and sober responsibility of being a pastor without losing your sense of adventure and joy?” In other words, how do you not let the burden of ministry rob you of the joy of ministry?

1 Peter 5 gives us some insightful advice that can help us answer those questions.

²Care 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. ³Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example. 1 Peter 5:2-3 (NLT)

In the last article we talked about our call to

Lead Pastorally: care for the flock (v.2)
Lead Responsibly: that God has entrusted to you (v.2)

Today we want to look at three other challenges that Peter gives those of us who lead in the church.

Lead Gladly: Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly (v.2)

It is a sacred privilege to look after our congregations. But when we are dealing with problems or “running on empty” or counseling that needy church member, pastoring can begin to feel like a “have to” rather than a “get to."

It reminds me of the rebuke that Malachi gives those who were leading in ministry in his day.

And you say, 'What a burden!' and you sniff at it contemptuously," says the Lord Almighty. Malachi 1:13a (NIV)

Carrying out the duties and responsibilities of ministry had become a hassle for the priests. The result was that they began to disdain the very thing that was intended to draw them to the Father.

None of us are exempt from danger of cynicism and turning ministry into nothing more than a job.

In my life and ministry I have found that comparison is the enemy of serving “gladly”. It is so easy to fall into the comparison trap. Far too many times I have looked at other pastors and wished for their situation, their location, their congregation, or their gifts. Comparison always robs us of joy and is never helpful. It either leads to feelings of pride or inadequacy.

Lead Unselfishly: not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God (v.2)

To pastor well you must regularly die to self. You must keep showing up week after week caring more about the sheep than about your income, the house you live in, the size of your congregation, or how well known you are.

A reporter once asked an insightful question when interviewing a woman from the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra: “How does it feel to get a standing ovation from the crowd at the end of your performance and then wake up in the morning to a negative review in the newspaper?” Her response was even more insightful. She said over time she has learned not to pay attention to the applause of the crowd or the disapproval of the critics. She was only after the approval of her conductor. After all, he was the only person who really knew how she was supposed to perform.

Lead Humbly: Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care (v.2)

This is all about servant leadership. We don’t lead from position, power, or prominence. What gives us credibility as shepherds is not your vision casting ability, persuasive communication gifts, or your strategic thinking… it is your willingness to pick up the towel and serve the people that God has assigned to your care.

Here is a question to ponder: How am I doing at humbly serving those that God has entrusted to me?

Lead Authentically: lead them by your own good example (v.3)

These words from Peter remind me of Paul’s statement in 1 Corinthians 11:1 …follow my example as I follow the example of Christ

When I was a kid in school we used to have something called “Show and Tell." The idea was that you were supposed to bring something from home that you could show your class. Actually being able to see the object was way more interesting and compelling than simply being told about it. The same is true with the Christian life. Beyond just preaching (telling) about the Christian life, when we model (show) what it looks like it is far more compelling.

Which of these 4 statements do you need to work on this week?

Lead gladly
Lead unselfishly
Lead humbly
Lead authentically

Làm Mục sư: Phước lành hay Gánh nặng? Phần 2

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