David Rohrer’s book, The Sacred Wilderness of Pastoral Ministry, is a book to be slowly chewed over. I can’t devour this book.
Rohrer looks into the life of John the Baptist and reflects on ministry as a pastor. In Chapter 3 he reflects on the song of Zechariah as he learns from God that Elizabeth will bear a son, then he is mute. When John is born, Zechariah’s tongue is loosed and he breaks into song. It is a reflection on proclamation.
We serve a God who shows up. He breaks into time. God is not distant from his people.
Are we “singing” the truth? Are we showing people the character of God? His character is not easy to understand. Sometimes, in our human minds, it is contradictory and confusing. Yet, we proclaim.
God doesn’t just show up. He shows up to save. God came to rescue, redeem and forgive us.
Our task, as ministers, is to point people to the hard truth. We are indeed rebellious. We want our own way. We have wildernesses of our own making. As ministers we are tasked with pointing out the times when humanity has attempted to find their purpose outside of God’s best. We give them liberating truth of God’s power to forgive and restore.
The calling of ministry is not easy. It IS rewarding.
Sing the truth!
