Do Not Feign Weakness

It isn’t even right for me to say that pastors need to be weak. That implies that there’s some kind of underlying agenda to the weakness.

It would also be wrong for me to say that pastors should let their weakness show. Again, the problem with this is that there’s an agenda behind it.

It is even worse to require pastors to show their weakness so that it will help others. Agenda again.

The fact is pastors are weak. And any honest human being who lives with authenticity, truth, and with integrity, looks weak. I believe that God became a man, that he became weak. Or, rather, that his weakness was embodies. And that this wasn’t some kind of ploy, some kind of tactic in order to accomplish something. It isn’t like he “took on” weakness, cloaked himself with it, covering over his strength and power with the appearance as though he were Clark Kent covering Superman, doing the mundane until his superpower was needed. The weakness of the cross IS the weakness of Jesus and the weakness of God. Truly weak. Not fake pretend. As Paul insists over and over again, it is the cross which is the power. It is the weakness which is the strength.

So pastors, if you are weak, and you are, be honest! Don’t just share a time when you resisted a temptation. Tell about the time you didn’t. Don’t talk about how you struggled with God but got through it. Tell about how you’re not sure what you believe anymore. Cry. Laugh inappropriately. I’m just encouraging you to be yourself and to be yourself openly. Come out of the closet. You are going to offend people guaranteed. But you’ll feel better. And some people will want you to be their pastor. Maybe. Of course, I know plenty of people who can’t admit they’re weak, even to themselves. That’s a whole other problem.

This is one of my paintings. You can buy my paintings HERE and HERE.