Pastor

Pastor-Shepherding the Flock

"All Ye Are Brethren"

Chaplain, White Memorial Hospital

Chaplain, Walker Memorial Sanitarium and Hospital

"All Ye Are Brethren"

DUDLEY C. NEWBOLD Chaplain, White Memorial Hospital

Preachers are inclined to have exaggerated opinions of the effectiveness of the weekly sermon in influencing the hearers. Especially is this so if the sermon has been prepared in the seclusion of the pastor's study. A sermon may be judged successful because it was well organized, replete with facts, and delivered with eloquence. But if it did not grow out of knowledge of the personal needs of the church members and a vital concern for their salvation, there is no assurance that anything was accomplished beyond the inflation of the pastor's own ego.

The Saviour came near to men as one who sought their good. However, barriers exist between men of the cloth and the laity. Oftentimes the perplexed layman who needs help and guidance is reluctant to approach his pastor because he feels his pastor is so clever or so good or so important or so busy.

To learn from Jesus lowliness of heart would make us more approachable. The feeling of inferiority that laymen have would be lessened if ministers assumed no titles and if laymen and preachers alike were called "Brother." "One is your Master . . . ; and all ye are brethren." Ananias, sent of God to show Paul the way of life, neither "looked up" to him as one of the greatest scholars of his age, nor "looked down" upon him as the foremost among sinners. Paul and Ananias himself needed the grace of God, and so he addressed him, "Brother Saul."

If a minister would be approachable, he must be available. His members must know at what hours and what place he meets with any member of his congregation who wishes to consult him. If the problem is one of little consequence, a parishioner will be satisfied to make an appointment to see the pastor. If it is a big problem, a "great sin," a marital difficulty, or anything else with much emotional involvement, he is not likely to make an appointment. He simply comes at an hour when the pastor is scheduled to be in his office. There is trepidation. His life is in a mess. His little world seems to be tumbling. He needs help. He thinks, "Why am I not man enough to solve my own problem? How will my pastor treat me? Will he shove me off because he is busy? Will he condemn me? Will he think less of me when he knows my weaknesses? Can I trust him to keep my confidences?" The pastor's door is open. There sitting at the desk is the man who can possibly help him. Hope comes to his heart. "Pastor, are you busy?" "Not about anything that is more important than talking to you." The pastor wisely moves from behind his desk. The pulpit and the desk are symbols of superiority. "Come, let's sit here on the couch, or, if you choose, sit beside me at the desk." The pastor and the parishioner talk of the weather, world affairs, and dogs. The layman begins to think, "Why, he's human. Things don't always go well for him. He has seen sorrow. He is friendly. I even think he likes me." "Pastor, I am in great trouble. I feel you can help." "Tell me, John. God and you and I will work on your problem together." The pastor listens, not with sympathy, such as the strong give the weak, but with empathy. The pastor cares as a brother; he shares the burden. They are fellow travelers on the road of life. The way is not easy for any.

The True Counselor

As the layman talks his problem through, the burden becomes lighter. The pastor listens and prays. There are periods of silence. That is the time when God can speak. New insights and convictions are born when every human voice is hushed. The pastor guards against the temptation that comes to ministers to display a "Jehovah complex." God is God. The counselee and the counselor are both servants of God. "Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth." The minister must be sparing and cautious in offering advice. He must not play God and assume the responsibility of telling just what is to be done. By his attitude the counselor indicates that guidance must come from God. Through reading the Scriptures, through prayer and absolute surrender to God's will, guidance comes. The minister as a counselor has access to resources of wisdom and power that transcend those of the psychiatrist or the psychologist. The minister is a friend who knows a Friend who has help for every need.

Whether or not men and women come to their minister for counsel depends upon the opinion they form of him in the weekly preaching service. If he hotly condemns the Catholics, the liberals, or anyone else in his sermons, those in difficulty are not likely to come to him. They feel that he might sit in judgment upon them and hotly condemn them also. If he appears too wise, they feel that before their story is told he wiii tell them what to do. If he is oratorical and speaks loudly, they are fearful that he will scold them as they were scolded in childhood.

The preacher to whom men come 'with their burdens is the one who preaches on personal religion. His sermons make God real-a God who cares, who loves, and wlw forgives. He does not preach down to people or at them. He talks to men as equals-every one a soul for whom Christ died. He is sincere. He is wise but not too wise. His sermon does not have in it the coldness of the man who has lived only with books, but the warmth of one who during the week went about with Christ doing good. There are thirty people in the audience with whom he has counseled during the week. There is James, who has been wayward. He spent an hour with James at his place of work this week. There is old Sister Smith, who recently lost her husband after forty-nine years of happy marriage. This week her pastor called and wept with her in her sorrow and loneliness. There is Brother Jones, who has brought reproach upon himself, his family, and the church. Friends are shunning him and his family in embarrassment. Brother Jones and his family are bewildered. What are they to do now? What can he say as he stands up to deliver a sermon? What word of man can satisfy the needs of these he loves? They are his people. He remembers his charge, "Preach the word." The Word of God is a hammer to break hard. It is a cooling to the thirsty. It is healing salve to the wounded in life's struggle. He does not censure human weakness, he himself being a sinner saved by grace. With a heart filled with love and understanding he points to a fountain open for all uncleanness. The sermon indicates that his heart is open to all who seek help. No matter how crimson the sin, or how unworthy the sinner, the sermon seems to say, "Come, I am a brother and a friend who knows a Brother and a Friend who can help all who come to Him.

"The Hospitality Approach"

Herman C. RAY Chaplain, Walker Memorial Sanitarium and Hospital

Question Adventist ministers may well ask themselves often is "What have I done recently or what am I planning to do in the future as a friendly approach to the min· is try of other denominations?" We have been instructed through the messenger of the Lord that we should be friendly toward the ministers of other denominations.

For some time we at Walker Memorial Sanitarium and Hospital had considered a simple banquet for the ministers of the three associations in our immediate area. At a meeting of the Avon Park Ministerial Association the time seemed opportune to suggest such a plan. The chairman of the association, pastor of the large First Baptist church, not only championed the idea but also suggested as a topic for discussion after the dinner, "The Pastor Visits the Sick." As chaplain of the institution I was asked to present a fifteen-minute introductory talk on the subject and to act as chairman during the discussion period.

This plan was carried out at the earliest convenient date and was well received by the ministerial groups in Sebring, Frostproof, and A von Park, all these towns being in a twelvemile radius from the institution. The topic proved to be one of general interest and the discussion was freely entered into by all present. A 'feature that was much appreciated and added interest was the helpful hints on the physician-minister relationship in the institution, presented by one of the staff physicians who had accepted our invitation to meet with us. He answered direct questions and also entered into the general discussion.

Although this type of approach to other ministers might at first thought be considered one for medical institutions only, it could well be used by our ministers wherever they are member of the local ministerial association.

I can highly recommend the plan to our chaplains and ministers in general on the basis of the successful experience we had at Walker Memorial Sanitarium and Hospital.

 

 


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Chaplain, White Memorial Hospital

Chaplain, Walker Memorial Sanitarium and Hospital

April 1954

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