Transitioning

Years ago I heard someone say that a pastor is someone who helps others transition from one spiritual level to the next. I knew that this is what I want to do.

Of course, what he had in mind was helping people move from an immature evangelical theology and lifestyle to a more mature evangelical theology and lifestyle.

That’s not what I have in mind.

“Spirituality” has become a difficult word because it travels with all kinds of assortments of baggage. Someone asked me yesterday, “What do you mean by ‘spirituality’?” I said that a healthy spirituality is about being fully alive. Period. Of course there’s more to it than that. But that’s what I’m concerned about.

The vocation of “pastor” still applies because I love helping people transition from one level to the next in becoming fully alive. For some I’ve pastored, this has actually meant helping them transition out of the church and even out of a recognizable Christian theology. And they are grateful for it.

My experience of pastors has generally been the opposite: they try to keep people faithful to one level and not change. They are firm in their beliefs and what a righteous life looks like and impress this idea upon the ones they pastor.

It is almost impossible to transition in this milieu because it usually means one must leave the community and that pastor’s oversight to do so.