Reader: Stories & love
It took me almost three years in the par- ish to learn what my members were really looking for—down-to-earth stories like Jesus told. And years later, all that people remembered of my sermons was the stories I told. They learned our doctrine through those stories. I also learned that the message I should
give to my members was not just in words, but in a life of caring love. Jesus demon- strated his message and his love through what he did as well as through the parables he told. Preaching and teaching are important,
but the two most important things a pastor should know are: 1) the people must know he or she loves them and 2) that he or she is most effective by couching sermons and classes in stories and language that will be remembered long after he or she is gone. I was disappointed that the church
never suggested that in my undergradu- ate classes I should take courses in busi- ness, music, psychology and, yes, even
theater. Robert S. Ove, retired pastor Rio Rancho, N.M.
and see more things done by God out- side of church activity. The questions are “Will they notice?” and “How will that impact the things they say and do?” The best pastors don’t focus primarily on religious stuff—they
focus on joining with an active God in the world. And the best congrega- tions and Christians do the same. While performing in Toronto
recently, singer Paul Simon noticed a woman screaming from the crowd. Rayna wanted him to play “Duncan,” her favorite Simon song and one she knew on the guitar. Simon invited her up to play it. Overwhelmed, she finally agreed to join him on stage and he handed her a guitar. After a few nervous looks and time to calm her shaking hands, Rayna played and sang the first verse (it went better than expected). Simon motioned for her to continue and the band joined in.
Simon watched, encouraged and whispered chords in her ear for one transition and stepped back again. With wisdom that only a sage can have, he recognized the moment and knew the best thing was to step aside and let her shine. Rayna loved it. The crowd loved it. Simon loved it. It was magic.
The ideal pastor will be center stage a lot. It’s how our churches are wired. But the ideal pastor will rec- ognize when someone else has seen God at work and has something help-
ful and important to share. The pastor will have the ability to step aside, the depth of faith to do so confidently, and the wisdom to know how much to help and how much to just stay on the sidelines and encourage. Because the ideal pastor is never the point. This is about God being alive and active in the world.
Before his death Martin Luther commissioned a painting for the altar at St. Mary’s Church in Wittenberg, Germany. The entire altar is a fascinat- ing lesson in Luther’s hopes for the church—a church where pastors and laity fully share in leadership in ways that would make many religious lead- ers cringe today. In the bottom panel is a picture of Luther preaching to the town’s people (see below). In their midst appears the crucified Christ. For Luther, the task of preaching was not to tell people about Jesus. It was to show them Jesus.
Five hundred years later, the search for the ideal pastor starts in the same place. Can this person help us see God? And will this person be open enough to let us help each other (and others) see God? We are tired of hear- ing about a God who was. Christ is
risen. Help us see the God who is. M LUCAS CRANACH/WIKIMEDIA
24 The Lutheran •
www.thelutheran.org
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