Here’s an interesting blog from Bob Hyatt. (Hat Tip: Jesse Morton)

The era of the pastor on the pedestal is over. Not that we shouldn’t respect our pastors, but too many of us grew up being allowed to think that the pastor was a cut above, on a super-spiritual plane that we should aspire to, but probably would never reach short of becoming pastors ourselves (or missionaries… missionaries were even better in some cases).

The problem is that pastors are only human and the first time they show that, those who enjoy the pastor-on-the-pedestal are left feeling hurt and betrayed. Better to let people know up front

-I’m just like you. I struggle with self-doubt, with identity and motivation issues just like everyone. I struggle with sin. I get angry. I’m selfish too much of the time. Sometimes I don’t want to spend time with God. I hate the fact that my hair is deserting me, but my stomach seems to be hitting a growth period. But in the midst of all that God shows me grace and forgiveness, God is my center and my ground.-

It’s possible to live this life and not be swept away, not be pulled under. And it doesn’t happen because you reach a level of spiritual perfection where the waters calm and the clouds part. It happens because through those very things you struggle with you are driven time and time again to God Himself. And if I didn’t live that process openly with people, what right would I have to try to tell them that’s how it works?

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