Professional Pastoral Malpractice
“Shepherds with no skills to strengthen the weak and no balm to put on Christ’s wounds have committed pastoral malpractice. ”
The poor man had been wondering the American church for months on end, seeking help. He met with a pastor last week, he said. The pastor listened to his story, and replied, “Just trust Jesus.”
That was it.
A pithy, surfacy answer, given with no skill, no thoughtfulness, no time to enter into the deep emotional grief and loss of a global worker who had lost much.
So much.
Whomever the next poor desperate soul sitting in that pastor’s office, I pity him.
No wonder people are leaving the church.
Where are the shepherds with the skills to apply the balm of Gilead to heal His Body??!!
What would this pastor say to Christ if Christ came and sat in his office, and told him of all the unjust treatment, lies, betrayals, unfair trial he had experienced.
I imagine this pastor would tell Jesus, “Just trust God.”
A small heart, a faith surfing the water, not anchored in the deep, not only cannot heal, but does great damage. It doesn’t matter if he has a seminary degree from the best seminary and preaches eloquent sermons. If he cannot provide substance, generous presence, a cup of cold water when it matters, he is not fit for service.
