We are not building an empire…
In one of the ending chapters, Peterson expressed what he sees as a positive change between his congregation and him, after he returned from a year of sabbatical leave:
A recent incident, seemingly trivial, illustrates the profound difference that keeps showing up in a variety of situations. About twenty-five of us were going on an overnight leadership retreat. We had agreed to meet in the church parking lot at 5:45 to car-pool together. I made a hostpotal visit that took longer than planned and arrived five minutes late — to an empty parking lot. They had left me. Before the sabbatical, that would never have happened; now that kind of thing happens all the time. They can take care of themselves and know that I can take care of myself. Maturity.
We are both, the congregation and I, experiencing a great freedom in this: neither of us neurotically needs each other. I am not dependent on them; they aren’t dependent on me. That leaves us free to appreciate each other and receive gifts of ministry from each other.
Eugene Peterson, The Gift — Reflections on Christian Ministry, p.151.
What do you think? How would you feel when something like that happened to you as a pastor? Reading Peterson’s words, and looking at how Apple’s share slump on Steve Job’s temporal medical leave, one has to wonder how counter-cultural pastoral work can be, and must be.
No, as pastors, we are not called to build an empire — at least not one that circles around ourselves. If your congregation cannot survive upon your departure or your extended leave of absence, it could only mean one thing — that those people have been following the wrong person all along.
May the neighbors’ words to the Samaritan woman be a constant reminder to all of us who are leading, shepherding and teaching:
We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world. (John 5.42)
