The church is referred to as the Body of Christ, and includes all believers, everywhere. That means you are part of the universal church if you consider yourself a follower of Jesus. But for all of its challenges, I would ask you not to give up on the local church either. Know that God loves these flawed bodies and wants to use them to influence the communities around them, and remember that there is a power and authority in corporate prayer and worship that builds us up and protects us.
Stepping Back Without Stepping Out
I don’t really like the dichotomy that seems to exist between pastors and laypersons, between “super spiritual” Christians (who may be seen as fake, burnt out, martyrs, judgmental, prideful Pharisees), and “regular” Christians (who may be labeled as backslidden, insincere, nominal, Sunday Christians). It seems like there is the potential for distrust and a fear of judgment on both sides. What would happen if we just walked with God and didn’t worry about anyone else? What would it look like if we built communities where people weren’t judged and labeled, but simply accepted where they were at while being encouraged to keep moving toward God? I would love the local church to be a place where “post-ministry” Christians could still find a home, and where those serving elsewhere or taking a break could find acceptance that isn’t based on what they can do for the church.
Recognize What Season You’re In
Just because you have been a leader in the past, doesn’t mean you don’t need a break. Maybe you are part of a ministry that has you traveling many weekends, maybe you are burnt out. It can be hard to step back if you are used to people depending on you. It can be daunting to walk into church on time, and leave on time wondering about judging eyes if you had previously been one who made a whole day event of it. It can be discouraging to want a break and not see anyone stepping up to fill the gaps. But there are benefits too. Maybe those leaders are hesitant to step on your toes. Maybe you will be able to return in time with greater energy and a new vision. Maybe you can mentor someone else. Just remember, God meets us where we are at, and church leaders should too. But they are human. If you have been a leader before, you should remember this. Mistakes are made, people are hurt, but if you are part of a life-giving community, they can be overcome.
Mistakes are made, people are hurt, but if you are part of a life-giving community, they can be overcome.
Don’t be Afraid to Say “No” to Serving. Or to Say “Yes.”
Understand your spiritual gifts, but be open to God using you in other ways. If you are used to being someone who tries to do it all, it may feel impossible to say no. I’m on a worship team in my current church that’s part of a rotation, which means we sing about once a month. After missing a couple of months, our turn was coming up again, and it came during a very overwhelming time for me. When I received the song list and realized I’d have to learn 3 completely unfamiliar songs in my second language in just a few days, I knew I just couldn’t do it. I felt terrible about missing another time, but my leader was very gracious, and I experienced an immense sense of relief after saying no. I knew it was the right choice for me, because I wouldn’t have been able to give it my full effort.
You might have to give yourself a season of saying no to a lot of things so that you can reset boundaries that have gotten skewed over time. The whole point of having a community is so that no one person has to do it all! But as my pastor likes to say, so often it is 20% of the members doing 80% of the work in church. Another side of this coin is finding something you CAN do according to your current ability and circumstances. A friend recently shared the story of a gifted teacher who during a time of transition in her life, decided that the best place for her to serve would be in the kitchen. As my friend put it, “If she couldn’t feed their souls for a time, at least she could feed their bodies.” There are so many places you can be used, and for those in leadership, it can be a good thing to serve behind the scenes for a time.
The truth is, no matter how inadequate you may feel, no matter how tired you are, saying “Yes” to God will always bring healing and wholeness. And isn’t that the goal after all?