Why is it that people feel the need to tell you that they don't like you?
You know as a pastor there are many challenges. Not only does one need to deal with their own family and life stuff but they also need to take on the burdens of every person in their congregation. The longer I am a pastor the more frustrated I am finding myself become as the demands get greater and greater. For some strange reason there is a belief that you are only there for others, that you have no issues of your own, and that your time is...well there is no time for you.
I remember some time ago talking with a very good pastor friend of mine and interestingly his frustrations were very similar. It seems to me that as a pastor, people feel that they can say and do what they like to you with no regard for how you feel. These people would never speak to their boss like they do to their pastor, so why do they think it is ok? Sadly the worst people I have ever had to work with are so called christians. It is sad to think that people feel they have the right to be and do what they like in the church. No wonder so many of us burn out and walk away from our calling. The mental anguish is horrendous.
At a recent pastoral visit (and this happens many times in different settings) I was greatly encouraged...NOT, when one of my congregation informed me that another member was refusing to come back to church because we were not liked and that they would not be returning to the church until we left. Now it's hard not to take this personally but what saddens me most is that their agenda for attending church is very very clear. I weep that they would sacrifice their spiritual condition because they have some silly issue with the pastor. How as pastors do we deal with this? On top of what has already been a horrible and mentally trying year, how do you push through? It's easy to say stay close to God but one has to question their calling when they are continually emotionally abused by others.
Any way rant over.
