6. We are often spiritually starving.
Probably the most closely guarded of your pastor’s secrets is how spiritually empty many of us are.
Like a worker at the chocolate factory who no longer likes the taste of chocolate, or the prostitute who gets no pleasure from sex, we deal with spiritual matters so much that they often no longer have much meaning for us.
Worship, for us, is a program that must be organized and executed. It’s work. It’s not for us. It’s for you.
And then, when we’re not ‘on,’ often the last thing we want to do is something spiritual. Because it reminds us of work.
We can’t read the Bible without thinking of sermon ideas. We can’t pray without thinking of leading prayers. We can’t meet with other church people without talking shop. So we’d rather play golf, or watch TV, or anything else.
Which ultimately leaves us empty. Not everyone, not always. But often.
7. We are sinful, no different than you.
Consider this one of your pastor’s secrets. We don’t just think about sinning. We aren’t just tempted to sin. We commit sins.
The same kind you do. Believe it.
But also understand that this doesn’t make us less qualified to talk to you about sins, but more.
If you’ve ever sat in the pew and heard a pastor rambling on about temptations and sin and thought, “Whatever, there’s no way she understands what I’m dealing with,” think again. It’s very likely that she does, firsthand. And that what she’s saying comes from her own life, not just from a book.
8. We are lonely, because it’s hard to trust.
Pastors often have trust issues.
As well they should. All pastors have heard stories about Reverend so-and-so who confided in someone in his church about his addiction to whatever, only to have that person tell the elders about it, which ultimately got him fired.
It happens. We know it does.
