Oxygen for the Pulpit

At a time when there are so many signs that the evangelical church in North America is losing altitude, I’m thankful for a church that allows their pastor to make sure he puts on his oxygen mask. It’s the right strategy for everyone to keep breathing.

If you’ve flown, you remember flight attendants instructing passengers that if the cabin loses air pressure, parents should make sure their oxygen masks are in place before attending to their children. Of course, the idea is not that children die of oxygen deprivation. Rather, without oxygen, parents won’t be thinking clearly enough to save either themselves or their little ones.

It’s like that with the local church. So, many pastors are so busy helping everyone else with their spiritual oxygen masks that they forget to breathe. It’s easy to do. Pastors don’t immediately realize when they’re hurting for air. Our pastoral motor skills disappear a little at a time and then suddenly it’s too late, for the pastor, or for those under his care.

It’s something the pastoral search committee and I talked about extensively four years ago. We identified a pace of ministry that would allow refreshment through vacation and sabbatical. We talked a lot about me not wearing out my voice with the congregation – – because of fatigue on either the part of the preacher or those listening! Breaks are good for everyone. (So 2 1 Tim 5:17ff).

It also means what C. John Miller called, “outgrowing the ingrown church” – – We’re stepping up our focus on missions and ministry around the world. Amazingly, this year that has meant opportunities in both Togo West Africa in April and England the first week in July.

It’s a matter of oxygen. My family vacationed last week on Mackinac Island. It was a lilac-fresh breath of air. This week I’ve been studying hard. I’ve stepped up my Scripture memory a couple of notches and am designing an online manual on Scripture memory. I continue to think about Romans but I’ve also read a wide range of other materials (which you can see more about on my blog). I have another book proposal in the works. I’ve corresponded with people with forgiveness questions across the country and even across the ocean.

But, none of this would be possible apart from the support of our congregation. I am thankful for what it means for our family, but also what it means for you. The central gift of spiritual air from Christ to the local church is biblical preaching in which Spirit anointed truth comes to bear on life. If the pastor doesn’t put on his oxygen mask, he won’t be able to help his flock with theirs.