Pastors are people too

A recent NY Times article shed light on what many of us in ministry were already aware of: pastors are some of the most unhealthy people in society. As the article states, obesity, hypertension, and depression are higher among pastors than most Americans. Simply put, pastors in large numbers are sliding down the slippery slope to complete burnout. Even more alarming is the reality that the average time in ministry is now about 5 years.

This is a disturbing reality. I think one of the biggest problems facing pastors is not dealing with sin in their own life. This is an area where I have struggled myself. In this journey of restoration I have realized that I did not know how to deal with my own issues. I spent a lot of time talking with people about how to deal with their issues. This led me to completely neglect my own spiritual health. What can pastors do about this? Here are my thoughts:

1. Remember pastors are people too. Here is a great article I read recently reminding us of this truth. One of the mistakes I've made is buying into the "pastor on a pedestal" mentality. We like to hear the compliments that come our way. Too much attention paid to what people say about us can lead to this type of thinking, positively and negatively. Sometimes pastors forget that they're not Jesus. Temptation is real and fierce.

2. Create a culture of confession. James 5:16 says "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed." I can recall many times where I've sat in prayer meetings where leaders would have plenty to pray about regarding others but limited info, if any, on what issues they themselves were dealing with. If leaders do not practice confession, can they really expect people in the church to? Confession is avoided like a plague for the most part. I know because many times I've chosen to avoid it.

3. Seek counsel. A little over a year ago I decided to seek counseling from a professional counselor. I was wrestling with some issues and thought that it would be a good way to process things that were going on. I was right. I was a little hesitant about going because I was afraid of what people might think, which was one of my issues:) It was a refreshing experience. It's something that I will continue to do regularly when I'm in full-time ministry again. I would suggest to ANY group of leaders to offer to pay for counseling for their pastor as a way to ensure that they stay physically, emotionally, and spiritually healthy. Steven Furtick, pastor at Elevation Church in Charlotte, NC, wrote a blog post about why he regularly sees a counselor. Pastors carry around the spiritual weight of caring for the people God has entrusted to them. Having an avenue to unload some of that weight is a smart move.