Those Awkward Moments Pastor's (and Christians) Have

What they don't teach you in seminary is how awkward being a pastor can be . . . 

I was riding to the cemetery in a hearse recently to do a graveside service, and a car pulled out in front of the driver.  The driver braked, honked at the car, and then let an impressive tirade of foul language fly.  That was followed by the awkward moment when he realized he was sitting next to the pastor.  “I’m sorry about the language, Reverend,” he said.  I went to my stand-by line, "I've heard way worse than that—I've been a Cubs fan my whole life." 

Somebody is always apologizing to me for something, and I’m still not used to it. I haven’t been a pastor for a long time.  I've spent most of my life "not a pastor."  I've been a Christian for a long time, but until I became a pastor, nobody ever apologized for swearing in front of me.  Nobody ever tried to explain to me items in their shopping cart at the grocery store. Nobody tossed a cigarette out real fast when they saw me coming. That happens more often than you'd think now.  And it's still weird to me.

Here's the thing.  Pastors live in the same world as everyone else. We stub our toes, deal with traffic, and I would certainly admit having to bite my tongue when the Cubs blow a lead in the ninth inning.

My wife, Valerie, is amused by this phenomenon.  Valerie calls this the preemptive pastoral apology.  She loves to point it out when it happens, and there’s a lot of different variations, but what they all have in common is--they’re awkward. 

Like the time Valerie and I were in a convenience store, and we ran into somebody we both had known for a long time.  I was talking to him, and he was all hunched over.  After we’re done talking, he kind of lurches away.  I asked Valerie if he had been in an accident or something.  She said, “no, he had a twelve pack of Budweiser behind his back he was hiding from you.”  I wasn’t even his pastor! 

It's not just pastors.  I think Christians as a whole are living with a stereotype.  It’s this idea that Christians are somehow living in a cultural time warp, completely out of touch with modern life.  I have news for you.  Christians have Netflix. They argue about whether pineapple belongs on pizza.  They know who Taylor Swift is. We’re not living in some parallel universe where the internet doesn't exist and entertainment stopped being produced in 1955.  We’re Christians, but we’re not Amish!

We drive cars, use smartphones, and have opinions about Marvel movies. I've got friends who can quote Scripture and recite every lyric from every song that was on the radio in the 1980s (okay that’s Valerie).  I know, I know—it's shocking!  It can’t possibly be true!  But it is.  

And why do people assume Christians are judgmental?  In my experience, we seem to be the ones who get judged.  Think about it. When someone finds out I'm a Christian (a pastor even), they immediately make assumptions about my politics, my social views, my intelligence, my sense of humor, and my ability to relate to "normal" people. That's a lot of judgment!

The truth is, most of us are focused a lot more on where we fall short rather than spending time wondering what you're up to. We're trying to figure out how to love our neighbors in a very angry world.  How we can raise our children with good moral character in a culture that doesn't value morals.  I can't remember to take the trash out on Wednesday mornings--do you really think I'm focused on what you did on Friday night?  We’re not interested in monitoring your life choices.  But somehow, that stereotype that we are, persists.

But are we different?  Oh, we're absolutely different.

But do we think about you at all?  Yes, we absolutely do.

And what are we thinking? 

We aren’t judging you like you believe we are.  What we’re wondering is if you’re saved.  We wonder if you know Jesus Christ.  And if not, we pray there’s a way we can share the good news with you, and show you a path to better life in Christ.  That's what we're thinking about you.  Because YOU are OUR mission.

“…go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  

~Matthew 29: 19-20

~Pastor Todd Creason