Courage can take many forms in pastors, however, one of the most important ways in which pastors show courage is simply to be themselves. Pastors are often pressured to organize and plan everything and are therefore presumed to be the experts in educating everyone on how to live life. The biblical characterization of impeccable spiritual maturity can easily slip into this inaccessible perfectionist model that prevents many pastors from being themselves before their people. Instead, do they act, while souls die. God calls man to grow up and be. a brave shepherd like this:
Show yourself broken, weak and needy in front of the church you are pasting.
- Do not underestimate God’s power to bring life to the church when a pastor leads a transparent and authentic life before God’s people.
- The reality is that pastors are as weak.
- Needy.
- And broken as all other members of the church.
- Pastors must adopt this call.
- To live an honest and authentic life before their people.
- Let them watch you fight.
- Let them know that you are suffering and remind them that it is not perfect and that you are not in control.
The bravest shepherds are those who do not “represent” but rest in their identity in Christ and live in the freedom to be themselves before their people.