Poor Pastor...

1 Corinthians 4:9-13 "For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men.  We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we entreat. WE have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things."

1 Corinthians 4:16 - "I urge you, then, be imitators of me."

As I read this passage this morning, a new perspective hit me that I had never really seen before, or maybe I have never taken the time to slow down and actually pay attention to the words I am reading...

But, look at the first chunk of verses again...doesn't sound like what we would want as a spiritual leader, does it?  Someone who is the SCUM of the world? The REFUSE of all things? Not my idea of a leader I would be quick to follow.  I like the idea of being an imitator of the Paul who stands before the men in Athens and points them to their false, unknown God and makes it about Jesus. Or the Paul that demands an apology from the magistrates in Philippi, because they punished a Roman citizen unfairly...

But, he refers to himself as a homeless, starving, beaten and ridiculed piece of trash.

I have heard the phrase "Be imitators of me" preached before about Paul, and what a great man of God he was, and how above reproach he was to ask people to be like him... and I have often thought that, to say that - took a level of confidence and a pair of stones, that I guess I just don't have.

And, when I read the phrase in context, it makes sense. Paul is saying, look at me, I am nothing.  Jesus is everything.  The world considers me garbage and I can do, and will do nothing without Jesus.  Life is hard, and not gonna get any easier.  But, I am plugging along, worshiping Jesus.  Be like me.  Put up with the hatred, the beatings, the disrespect, poverty, and hunger - for Jesus.

Kinda put things in a new light for me this morning.  Paul isn't saying, I am so great be like me.  He is saying, life is hard as a Christian, you are gonna get treated poorly, and if I am able to endure, so can you.

What if as pastors, we adopted that message? What if pastors and leaders looked like that today? Instead of building hangars for their planes, or adding another suit to their wardrobe - they got up in plain clothes, with calloused hands from their regular job (not a 6 figure salary from a church) and shared their trials, struggles and persecutions.  And then pointed to Jesus.

That would be pretty awesome!