I took a service at Brentwood on Sunday - and I didn't feel well at all. It's not the first time (nor I suppose the last) that I've preached while not feeling too good. But I wondered if it wouldn't have been better if I had just stayed home and felt miserable by myself.
There are two ways of looking at it.
1. The congregation expects the minister to provide hope and optimism and so if I can't pitch up cheerful and full of beans I should rather stay at home.
2. The congregation needs to see that the minister is a human being just like they are and they also have the responsibility to care for their minister.
I somehow want to make both work.
I don't think I preached well, but I wouldn't have got through at all without somethiong extra from God!
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4 comments:
There is no clear answer to this dilemma, but one just trusts that in our 'weakness' God uses us to bring the Gospel to the people.
Hope you feel better soon.
Delme
I've heard of a few preachers (and I knew one) who died while addressing the congregation. That's quite convincing I think, not like an ordinary sniffle.
I once conducted a service when I was too sick, and resolved not to continue in future if I would make a spectacle of myself.
Ministers need to be seen in their weakness, too, I think. I don't like the superman/woman notion, which is common. However, there are dismal extremes!
Thanks Delme and Thomas. Maybe the 'spectacle' question is a good one. I must admit that I'm still not sure how I came across on Sunday - spectacle or not! But Jesus is still Lord . . . and I'll leave it in his hands.
You are making strange good sense again. Incidentally did you hear of the optometrist who fell into his grinding machine and made a spectacle of himself?
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