Under the Mosquito Nets
Something really weird happens when you become a “professional” Christian. I was one of those for two years. I don’t mean to trivialize what it means to be a full-time minister, it is not an easy road and should be respected. But when someone follows a calling to serve God full-time and becomes paid by the flock (or whatever church or churches are involved) it can change your perspective on things. For me, it made me a bit more careful. The downside was that I couldn’t always express some of the feelings that were going on deep inside. What would my mission supporters think if I discussed how much I dreaded some of my duties? If you gave money to a guy on the other side of the world, would you want to read about his doubts, lack of faith and struggles? Not every minister deals with transparency issues, but for me it was a problem. In some ways it still is.
That’s why I absolutely respect the way Kyle approaches his ministry and blog. Kyle and I met in Bangkok a couple of years back while attending a missions conference. I’ve referred you to his site before but let me recommend it again. His latest post chronicles their recent return to Thailand and the stark contrast between the affluence of the US and the realities of sleeping on a wood slat floor under the mosquito nets in northern Thailand. Enjoy.
-Russ
April 10, 2008 at 8:41 pm
Here’s the double-edged sword: People look to the pastors for reassurance and comfort in difficult times and they look to us for authenticity all the time. Those two things don’t always go together, and you can never know which people need what and when. It’s what Fred Craddock describes as “Preaching as Orientation,” “Preaching as Disorientation,” and “Preaching as Reorientation.” The wise pastor senses when each is needed — and they all are. But that’s another whole comment and I’ve got my own blogs to write.