Whether it is Moses as he faced the Red Sea, the Disciples following the crucifixion, or the church in our time, we are called to proclaim boldly a message of hope in a sea of uncertainty. There are no easy answers, and we are to be faithful in the face of an impossible task. We as clergy bring our own anxieties and fears of vulnerability as we engage in ministry.
HIDING FROM VULNERABILITY
When our institutions fail us, people feel very vulnerable and anxious. You are asked to be a pastor to anxious people who feel like the world is out of control. From sports teams, to bankers, to government, to the military, to educational institutions, to merchants, and the list can go on, who do you really trust? As a pastor, you can add the church to those institutions which many people feel has also let them down.
So you come to a church with people whose experience has made them feel vulnerable and who don’t trust anyone they can’t see up close. Brown suggests that people in such a situation try to numb the fears that make them feel bad. Some try to do it through drugs or sex, others by wealth or power, and still others by building a shield around them so they don’t have to feel. The problem is that you can’t selectively numb feelings, so you begin to shut down from all that gives life meaning and joy.
A VISION FOR A CONGREGATION
Consider some key theological steps that a pastor might draw upon for the congregation and for self.
- An emphasis on the sovereignty of God. In an uncertain world, people need to be reminded that we believe that God is Lord of history. It is God, not the politicians, personal wealth, or bright ideas that we look to for the future. If our prayer is accurate, “Thy will be done on EARTH as it is in heaven,” then we are looking for that hope in our earthly life. Human institutions do let us down, but God can be trusted.
- Humans, even the best of humans, are imperfect. That goes for our institutions as well. We don’t need to look for the perfect politician, preacher, or church to save us. We need to look for ways that imperfect people can build community and support each other in building a better life.
- Like Abraham and Sarah, when they began this venture of faith, we are on a journey without a clear set of answers but with a God who we can trust. It is natural that we will make mistakes and even suffer a little. But on the way, we can experience joy, creativity, and belonging. We are not alone and if we are compassionate to each other, we will be led to a better place.
