For many years I have heard pastoral consultants and others speak of the need for clergy to serve as trainers—emphasizing that it is not the primary job of paid ministers to conduct the active exterior labor; rather, such duties belong to the church members. That equipping and releasing members to exercise their gifts—and not hovering over them—best serves their long-term interests and the church as a whole.

Jesus, however, maintained active contact with those who were in the community. He did not live the cloistered life of a recluse by failing to spend significant time with those who were not “in the church.” I write that as I reflect upon Jesus and His time spent with “many tax collectors and sinners” (Mark 2:15, NKJV). In fact, He trained and equipped by actively doing the public work of ministry.

Could it be that we’re still waiting for the Second Coming of Christ because we’ve not completed the work by following the example Jesus, the Good Shepherd (Pastor), established for us? Might we need to spend more time engaged with those in our communities and less time administrating, fine-tuning our media presence, writing books and articles, and even blogging?