Jesus replied, “And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them. (Luke 11:46)

Pastors Delight to See Their Members Grow

Pastors, we love our church, don’t we?

As a fellow Pastor, I know that nothing gives us more joy than to see people come to faith in Christ and grow to maturity in him. As we faithfully preach and pastor God’s people in their journey as Christians, it’s a joy and privilege to see God’s work in their lives, growing them in their knowledge of Christ, and transforming their lives by the powerful working of his Spirit.

As Pastors, we strive to preach the gospel of grace: we’re saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. We emphasize that salvation is not by our own works, but because of God’s own grace and love (Ephesians 2:8-9). We delight to see people grasp God’s grace as they receive Christ as their Saviour and begin their journey as Christians in a gospel community. The church becomes their family. They study God’s word, pray, worship, serve and love the church of God.

Different churches emphasize different aspects of discipleship. Some emphasize the preaching of God’s word. Some expect their members to attend Bible studies and grow in their understanding of God’s word. Some teach new Christians about spiritual disciplines like prayer, quiet times, and giving. There is a lot for the new believer to take in and learn, and they are often delighted to do so. Peter writes:

“Like newborn babes long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.”

~ 1 Peter 2:2-3

The Problem with Creating a Culture of Works

One problem however is that the natural tendency of sinners, even those saved by grace, to be drawn towards self-salvation. Although on paper we believe that we’re saved by grace, over time we act as if our works are what ultimately matter. It is so easy for the Christian life to dissolve into a list of spiritual disciplines and duties that we must perform, instead of a joyful response to God’s grace in Christ. We start to think of the Christian life as a kind of spiritual checklist that we must tick off to please God. As we tick off our list, it makes us feel good about ourselves, and tricks us into thinking that God is pleased with us, because of all the thing we have done for him.

But how does Jesus look upon such a legalistic approach to the Christian life? Jesus says:

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.

~ Matthew 23:23-24

Jesus reminds us that the more important things are the unseen things of our hearts: things like justice, mercy, and faithfulness. In focussing on outward performance, like the Pharisees did, it is so easy to neglect the things that really matter: the things of the heart.

What happens when a zealous begins to take his spiritual disciplines as the means of his acceptance in Christ? His spiritual disciplines and service become the predictable idol from which he gains acceptance and affirmation from God. If a Pastor is not very careful, their well-meaning efforts to create a culture of loving God’s word through Bible studies and seminars can easily feed such a Christians desire to justify themselves by their own efforts. Could it be that by emphasizing all the Bible Studies, accountability groups, growth groups, prayer meetings and Leader’s meetings, we inadvertently encourage people to look to those things instead of to Christ for salvation and approval?

Of course, all those are good things. I’m certainly not suggesting that we shouldn’t prioritize the study of God’s word and prayer or be zealous in serving him. But it’s easy for good things to become idols when we approach them in the wrong way. Ticking off the checklist of our spiritual report cards becomes a lot easier and neater if we have gone to all the Bible studies, Growth Groups and Prayer Meetings offered? It certainly reveals our devotion and love for God. But does that mean it’s good for our spiritual nourishment?

If so, then why are so many Christians in “gospel-centered” churches tired, burnt out, and feeling that they are failures because they haven’t been committed enough? Or been able to lead “x” number of their colleagues to God? Or brought “x” number of people to the church? If they’re in a gospel-centered church, then how is it that they’ve developed such a legalistic focus on works?

Are we burdening our congregation?

Perhaps the warning Jesus gives to the spiritual leaders of his day in Luke 11:46 is relevant for us today:

Jesus replied, “And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.

~ Luke 11:46

In our zeal to inculcate a culture of loving the Word, knowing God and growing in faith, could we be inadvertently placing a burden on our congregation so heavy that they can hardly carry it? We will know if we are when members of our congregation get burnt out from church because they cannot keep up with the demands of church and working a full-time secular job. We will know when people begin talking about their ministry as if it’s merely a duty instead of a joy.

Faced with such situations, we may in our zeal seek to encourage greater commitment. We may say things like: “You have received so much from God, how can you not now give your time and resources to serve God?” or “If you love the Lord, why aren’t you faithful in coming to all our Sunday school classes and give your weekend to studying the Bible?”. But without proper explanation and loving care, could we be causing more harm than good?

Some churches dangerously ignore their member’s cries for help. Instead of allowing burnt our members to take a break and refocus on the grace of Christ, they press harder for them to persevere through this difficult season. Unfortunately, in our Kasih Care ministry (a Biblical Counselling Ministry) we have seen many Christians from “gospel-centered” churches burnt out or feeling rejected because they have not met the spiritual goals of their church, whether implicit or explicit. This ought not to be.

How then should we as pastors spur our congregation on to love and good works? Is it not by helping them see the power and grace of the gospel over and over again? The more they “taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8), the more they will want to know him and love him and serve him. It is therefore incumbent upon the pastor, not to emphasize studying God’s word, prayer, giving and all the excellent things that make up our worship and devotion to God. Instead, the role of the pastor is to help our congregation see and savor Jesus Christ: to turn our duty to delight; to remind us that Christ will never leave us nor forsake us, even in the darkest valley (Heb. 13:5); to remind us that Jesus yoke is easy and light (Matthew 11:30). In Luke 7:36-49, our gracious Saviour leaves room for the sinful woman to repent and receive his forgiveness. As she comes to Jesus in faith, she hears those beautiful words; “your sins are forgiven” (Luke 7:48) and “your faith has saved you” (Luke 7:49).

God’s Grace Grows Healthy Disciples

The role of pastors is to point people to Jesus and his gospel of grace. As they do, it will naturally overflow in a rightful response of worship, devotion, and sacrificial service. So, Paul reminds us:

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

~ Titus 2:11-14

It is God’s grace that motivates us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions and “Yes” to self-controlled, upright, and godly lives. It is God’s grace that grows in us hearts that are eager to do good. What transforms a Christian is not the pastor’s guilt trips, constant reminders or gentle prodding, but pointing people to the beauty and kindness and lavishness of God’s grace in Christ.

Pastor, do you love your church? Then do all you can to avoid promoting a spiritual checklist and keep pointing people to God’s grace in the gospel. It will make all the difference.