Pastors in the pandemic

If pastors are going to help their people in times of crisis they need to know God.

And they must know him experimentally. The Lord must be ‘with us’ in a way which is recognised by people (1 Sam.3:19,20). There is a deep need for this at this time of death and dying.

The need

A few things that have brought it to my mind recently.

First, in a private email to me this March, Iain Murray (Banner of Truth founder) signed off with these remarks, which I found arresting: ‘It would seem that both here and in Australia there is real lack of that kind of experimental preaching which necessitates godliness in the preacher. There is, I nearly said, plenty of teaching such as only requires a grasp of good commentaries, but it is heartfelt empathy with people which is more uncommon, and evangelistic passion.’

He’s right. But this applies not only to preaching, but to all pastoral dealings. The pastor needs to be close to God and so genuinely show God’s love.

Second, I have a wealthy and intelligent Chinese friend who is interested in Christianity. But just at present (I’m still working on him) he has read Karen Armstrong’s The History of God and has come to the conclusion that, though God does not actually exist, nevertheless the idea of God is very helpful. Christianity has hit upon a set of extremely useful ideas which bless society. But it is all in the mind. When our life as pastors majors on study and neglects prayer, we are actually promoting something similar to this heresy. Our Christianity becomes a philosophy for dealing with personal issues rather than new life in tandem with our heavenly Father.

We believe God speaks through Scripture today, but mere academic study will not do (John 5:39). There needs to be prayerful submissive meditation. Paul puts it like this: ‘Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this’ (2 Tim. 2:7). Wisdom is given by the Lord (not simply the brain). The Lord Himself interacts with us. This is the root of godliness.

Third, this is vital to leadership. Harry Blamires in his book The Christian Mind (still worth reading after nearly 60 years) describes the difference between the scholar and the thinker (or prophet, the word he uses) as follows: ‘The scholar evades decisiveness; he hesitates to praise or condemn; he balances conclusion against competing conclusion … he is tentative, sceptical, uncommitted. The thinker hates indecision and confusion; he firmly distinguishes right from wrong, good from evil … he works towards decisive action.’

We are not against scholarship, but scholarship does not go far enough. There needs to be prayer, reflection and obedience. That’s why the apostles gave themselves to prayer as well as to the ministry of the word (Acts 6:4).

Sky pilots

Sometimes in popular slang a pastor is known as a ‘sky pilot’ – flying people to heaven, I suppose. Well, when our people come to face death, or are going through perhaps the biggest crisis of their lives in bereavement, they do not want a pilot who has only ever read the flight manual. They need an experienced flier. They need us to truly know God, not just know about Him.

Living in a secular culture and perhaps frightened by charismatic excesses, the evangelical church has played down the whole area of experiencing God by spending time with God.

The Psalms, the Bible book which most deeply explores intimacy with God, speaks frequently about ‘waiting on God’ (Psalms 27:14, 33:20, 40:1). Waiting is a practical acknowledgement of God’s greatness and lordship over us. We linger for Him. Waiting for someone is an expression of the importance we place upon them. He does not jump to our timetable, but we to His. He is God.

Waiting, obviously, means time. Pastors must wait on the Lord in prayer. Promises are seldom brought to pass instantly. Abraham waited 25 years, Noah 120 years. Intimacy with God takes time.