I saw that question in a recent Linked-In network post. I typically do not respond to many such posts. This one, however, hit a raw passion button within me, and I HAD to respond!
The dialogue with some other pastors and business leaders was fairly extensive, so I thought this might be a question for us to consider together as a great Tipping Point for Transformation.
The High and Holy Calling “of” a Pastor
Having served as a Pastor for over 20 years before being called to take on the Kingdom Way mantel, I will always hold Pastors in a position of high honor. It is a privileged calling. It is a high and holy calling, as many say. With it comes its unique challenges and expectations. Higher character and accountability before God are just two of the many (see 1 Timothy 3, Titus 1 and James 3:1). But, does that negate business leaders from serving as a Pastor to his/her employees?
The High and Holy Calling “to” Pastor
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9)
Did you catch the emphasized phrase: “a royal priesthood?” In the context, it is NOT referring to ministers who hold the position of a Pastor in a church. It is given to everyone who claims to be a follower of Christ. Now this may be a little “fish out of water” kind of thinking, but this means ALL Christians (especially those who are entrusted by God with leadership roles in their workplace) should be doing some level of pastoral work such as leading, guiding, providing, counseling, etc. those whom God has entrusted to their care.
What if One’s Employees or Team Members are Not Believers?
The target audience of Pastoring doesn’t matter. A pastor / priest is something that we are. It is a calling that shouldn’t be turned on and off based on whether people are believers or not, or whether they respond or not. Consider Judas. Jesus pastored him for 3 years, and he sure didn’t respond in the way Jesus would’ve wanted him to!
I can’t begin to describe how passionate I am about this and how important it is that we all champion this message! Pastors NEED to see their people as fellow ministers of the gospel and change any intentional or unintentional ways they communicate that somehow their calling is more high or holy than others. It’s not. It’s just different. Further, business leaders NEED to see themselves (and their work) as more than just a job. It is a ministry! And, they are called to serve as Pastors in that ministry.
A Tale of a Pastoring Business Leader
As an example, a business leader who is a part of one of our coaching groups, (Read More About…) recently sat across the table from me describing how his participation had changed him personally and professionally. He has the challenging task of leading a trucking company with approximately 50 employees. With great emotion, he shared with me the following story.
An atheist employee, just a few years from retirement, called him. The report was not good. He had just wrecked a brand new rig worth $350,000 in an accident on the east coast. After finding out that driver had not been harmed, my friend responded with great, Christ-like compassion.
Instead of telling the driver to find his own way home, or that his job might be in jeopardy when he got back (as this special brother said he would have done a year ago!), he sent another driver to pick him up. The rescuing driver was chosen strategically. He was a strong believer in Christ, and my friend knew that he would take every advantage to share the gospel and love of Christ, during their long trek home.
That’s exactly what the hero driver did! My friend then leaned over the table where we were having lunch. He had his cell phone in hand, showing me the text he received from the believing driver. It was filled with elation, as he expressed the incredible spiritual conversations God had orchestrated during that ride home.
If that’s not pastoring, I don’t know what is!
I raved at what an awesome, pastoring kind of witness this business owner was to his employee and gave him the biggest high 5 I could get away with in the middle of a restaurant! Then I said, “Who would ever have had the opportunity to share the gospel of Christ with that man if you hadn’t been sovereignly planted right where you are as a business owner/operator for Christ and His kingdom?”
I’ll never forget his response. As he had tears well up in his eyes, he said something like, “I’m starting to see that this is the purpose and plan God has for me.”
O my friends, there is not much that can match the sense of meaning, joy, and satisfaction that comes from stepping in to serve in the high and holy calling of pastoring for the benefit of others and the fame of God!
Questions for Pastors to Consider:
- How are you empowering the people you pastor to view themselves as Pastors Monday-Friday?
- What are some of the things that you do intentionally or unintentionally that could cause the people in your church to think what you do is more “important” or more “holy” than what God is calling them to be and do in their work-week?
Questions for Business Leaders and People in their Worklife to Consider:
- What difference would it make if you went to work every day viewing yourself as a Pastor to the people you oversee or work with?
- How would you treat them differently?
- What can you do to better honor and support the work/calling of the Pastor of your church?
Resource Consideration
If you are a business leader and would like to know how you can better “pastor” your employees, or if you are a Pastor of a church and would like to know how to better equip the business leaders in your church to care for their employees, consider downloading our PDF resource entitled A Compassionate Ministry Care Plan–The How’s and Why’s
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PS: Keep the conversation going by sharing a comment or some of your responses to the questions for application above!
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