Recently someone asked me, “How can pastors stay spiritually vital?”
I said, “I don’t worry about that.”
He looked surprised, even shocked. “To me, there’s an issue even bigger than staying spiritually vital,” I explained. “The important thing is to stay spiritually authentic.”
There’s a difference. Usually when I hear people talk about staying spiritually vital, they’re talking about staying pumped, being spiritually up, feeling strong, keeping the glow. But that’s only part of the spiritual life. To expect to be spiritually high all the time is like expecting to romance your wife every evening. It just isn’t realistic.
In the Christian life, there’s an ebb and flow. Sometimes you feel exalted and glorious; other times you feel weighed down or simply quiet. Some days you feel despairing; other days resilient and joyful. The strong, vital times come, too, but they’re not the constant.
The rub comes when we expect to be buoyant constantly. And as pastors we may get that message from others. We’ve all known churches where each week had to be a grand and glorious spiritual experience, higher and stronger than the last.
But then comes a day when, to be truthful, we’re spiritually wrung out. There’s not a drop of vitality in us. At that moment we are greatly tempted: Will we be honest about it, or will we mask it because we’re supposed to be “spiritually vital”?
Being honest, being true to our actual spiritual condition, is what I mean by being spiritually authentic. It’s not easy.
I plead with my staff: “It’s okay sometimes to let people know you’re struggling, that you feel dry, that your prayer life or your family life isn’t what you want it to be. Be honest. If you’re down, admit it. If you’re flying high, it’s okay to tell them that, too. Just be spiritually authentic, for when you’re authentic, you’ll grow-and so will your people.”
One time when I was preaching on heaven, I had to admit, “The first thing I did this morning was pray a prayer of confession, because I wasn’t proud of the way my mind has been working these past few days. I have been too worldly recently; I have been too caught up in the here and now. I get so tired of having a guilty conscience. I get so tired of saying things I have to apologize for. I get so tired of lashing out at people and then trying to make up for it later on. I get so tired of sinning.”
By letting people know I needed forgiveness as much or more than they did, I could then point to an aspect of heaven that appeals to me greatly: “But the Bible says a day is coming when you’re in heaven and there’s no more remorse, no more regret, no more stained consciences.” No, I may not have come across as the paragon of spiritual vitality in that sermon. But I hope I came across as spiritually authentic.
Why?
Sometimes in my more honest moments I think, I’ve given probably a thousand messages at this church, but I’ll bet my best people couldn’t give you the titles to three of them. Then I think, But, man, their lives have been radically altered, and preaching is at least fractionally involved. What’s happening?
I’ve come to believe that a major benefit of preaching (and ministry) is indirect-what people pick up as they watch us and listen to us over time. And when we’re honest about our struggles and admit our failures, people see that Christianity can fit with the ups and downs of their lives. I rejoice on those occasions when someone will come to me and say, “You know, Bill, I’ve come to the conclusion that you’re a real person just like me. Thank you for shooting straight with me about occasional mistakes you make in raising your children. Thank you for telling us you had a problem controlling your temper in a volatile discussion. It just reminds me that if there’s grace to cover your mistakes, there’s probably grace to cover mine.”
When I hear that, I’m reminded that I don’t always have to be spiritually “vital.” But I do have to be authentic enough to admit when I’m not.
-Bill Hybels
Willow Creek Community Church
South Barrington, Illinois
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