PASTOR, GET OFF THE FIELD!

It's heartbreaking, but the Church in America has lost her way. The Church is supposed to be Salt and Light - radical agents of change for a dark and decaying world. But we’ve become mere "vendors of religious goods and services.” 

How did we get here? And how can we fix it?

I believe that the answer to this problem is to return to the original APEST model of church leadership. Here are links to past articles on this topic.

Pastors and church leaders need to shift from "doing" to "equipping." We need to stop "doing the work of ministry" and focus on “equipping the saints for works of ministry." Pastors and church leaders are equippers, not workers. We are trainers and mobilizers. We are coaches and encourages. 

I'm currently reading a leadership book by NCAA and NFL Champion Coach Pete Carroll. He talked about playing Defensive Back as an athlete when he was younger. But now, it's no longer his job to run on the field and play in the game anymore. Now his job is to prepare his players to be the best they can be. He is an equipper, teacher, trainer, and encourager.

Too many Christians have become like mere spectators at a football game. They sit in the stands (pews) and watch the "professionals" entertain the fans. This is not how it should be.

These Christians aren’t supposed to be in the stands watching the pastors play the game. They’re supposed to on the field, in the trenches. They're the ones that should be getting their uniforms dirty. 

So how do we do this today? How do we turn the Average Joe Christians in the stands into an army of intentional disciple makers?

Well, the first step is for pastors and church leaders to get off the field. It’s not our time or our role. We had our time. It’s time to help others get the game.

John Eldridge and Robert J. Clinton have written a lot about the different seasons of a leader’s life. Here’s the way that I explain it to my people.

There are four specific seasons in a leader’s life illustrated in the chart. 

[see chart]

1) Squire

At the Squire stage, you are a student and a helper. You follow the Knight around and watch him. You shine his sword and fetch him ale or mead or whatever he wants. You become his shadow. You watch him and imitate his every move.

You wake up when he wakes up. When he trains, you watch and imitate what he does. When he teaches, you listen and take notes. In this stage, you are a sponge. You soak up everything you can because you want to don the armor yourself one day. You dream of battlefield glory. You have visions of killing your dragons and rescuing fair young maidens.

In the church world, this is when you are a young disciple. You’re a new believer and you sit and learn from a pastor or mentor. You take notes, ask dumb questions, and make a lot of mistakes. You learn to pray, study the Bible on your own, and serve others. You are given some ministry tasks and minor roles (where you can’t cause too much harm). Soon, you'll grow wiser and stronger and more mature. Then you’re ready for the next stage.

2) Knight

This is when you apply everything that you learned when you were a Squire. You put on the armor. You get to sit at the Round Table with the other knights. You continue to train to improve your skills. When it’s time to ride off into battle, you are ready. Enemies attacking the villagers? No problem. Giants, goblins, and orcs? Bring them on. Fire-breathing dragon? You know that you’ll probably die in battle, but you don’t hesitate to answer the call of duty. Why? Because you’re a Knight and it’s your job!

In the church, this is when you enter the world of ministry. It could be in a volunteer or paid position at church or no official position at all. But you get in the game. You start to do what you were taught. You share the Gospel, lead Bible Studies, and disciple and mentor others.

3) King 

When you have killed enough dragons, you will get to rule your own kingdom. This is a leadership role. You are still engaged on the battlefield. But now you’re playing a different role. You’re no longer the tip of the spear. You are the commanding officer, the field marshal. You devise tactics and strategies. You instruct, inform, guide, and encourage your knights in battle. 

In the church, this is when you become a pastor or elder. You have an official ministry leadership responsibility. You could be in charge of small groups, or the Student Ministry. Perhaps, your kingdom is the small Simple Church that meets in your home. Your job is no longer just to “do ministry” but to recruit, train, equip, and encourage others to do the ministry. You spend most of your time recruiting and developing other leaders.

4) Sage (or mentor)

At this stage, the King has accomplished his vision. He shifts from running the day to day affairs of the kingdom. Now, he spends the majority of his time mentoring others. He is humble and reflective. He intentionally invests his time to help others find and fulfill their potential. He becomes a Sage, the well of wisdom that people go to for perspective and advice.

This is the stage that I’m entering. I’ve spent many years as a Squire. I’ve learned at the feet of many of the best leaders out there. I’ve faced my share of orcs and dragons on the battlefield of ministry as a Knight, and I have the scars to prove it. And for the last two decades, I’ve played the role of the King in the three churches that I planted and led. Now, older and wiser, I realize that I’m too tired and slow to battle the dragons. And running and growing a kingdom doesn’t interest me anymore. What I’m most passionate about is investing in the next generation. 

In the football game of life and ministry, I realize that it’s my time to leave the field and become the coach. I now know that my success is helping others succeed and become the best that they can be.

Too many pastors and leaders think they are the star of the show. I believe that's one of the reasons the Church in America is at its current weakened state. Pastors think that their gifts, skills, and talents are the only thing that needed to win the game.

Pastor, let me speak to you. You’re not the hero of the story. You’re the mentor. You’re not Luke Skywalker, you’re Obi-Wan Kenobi. You’re not Daniel-san, you’re Mr. Miyagi.

That’s what Paul is trying to tell us in Ephesians 4:11-12. It’s not our job to “do the work of ministry.” Our job is to “equip the saints for works of ministry.”

Pastor, if you’re the star of the show or the hero of the story, then you’re sitting in the wrong seat on the bus. Move over and become an equipper. And teach the next generation to “wax on, wax off.”

When you do, you’ll enter the most productive and fulfilling chapter of your ministry. 

Pastor, it’s time to get off the field and let the others play. It’s time to hang up the cleats and embrace the role coach and mentor.

Let’s change the world together.