Keep Feeding, Even Those Who Do Not Know What It Is to Be Fed

Wise words–dare I say inspiring words–from Harold Best in one of my favorite books on worship:

Sunday worship time as intellectual coddle time is out of place. Pastors may be tempted to ease up, to soften the depth and width of their teaching. They may pay too much heed to pollster talk about shortened attention spans, limited cognitive styles, socio-aesthetic preferences and generational groupthink. They may be tempted to forget that preaching under the power of the Spirit and the authority of Scripture is miraculously different from producing a sitcom. But then they will find that their congregations will become more and more difficult to please, even though the content is made more and more accessible.

I write these words on behalf of all ministers whose task in this shallowed-out culture is exceedingly trying. One of my fellow administrators at Wheaton College used to say this: “People want you to lead until you do.” I believe this applies to the corporate life of the church and to the kind of congregation that wants to “be fed” until it is truly fed. Then the pastor is often accused of not feeding. I beg pastors to stay with the truth, no matter the cost, and to challenge the extensive-mindedness of every living image of God. There are more people interceding for you than you might know. Since God is for you, who can be against you? (Unceasing Worship, 67-68).

Do not lose heart, brother pastor. Keep leading and keep feeding. Preach your heart out this Sunday and leave the rest to God. He loves your church, loves the lost, and loves the glory of his name even more than you do.