I was asked the question: "So, what do you have to do when you go back to Portland?" And so I answered, "Well, I have to prepare for..." and then "I have to finish..." and finally "I have to do..." this and that. After answering that question a couple times over the past week, my mind went back to this verse:
"Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers." - 1 Timothy 4:16
Although I can focus on so many different facets of pastoral ministry, such as programs, structure, administration, communication, numbers, effectiveness, and so on, it is clear that my utmost concern is twofold: my life and my doctrine.
Am I faithful in teaching God's Word accurately and in a God-honoring way? Am I then living out faithfully what I teach from Scripture? The first question is difficult in and of itself... I must strive to be diligent in study and prayer so that I do not miss the point of any particular verse or passage and take it out of its context or intended meaning! The second question, however, is where the rubber meets the road. Am I faithfully living out God's truth? Of course, neither I nor anyone else could ever say that we follow God's Word with perfection, but I do think that we must be faithfully fighting the fight of faith. Paul makes clear in his letters to Timothy that certain men were not qualified for pastoral ministry if they were not considered men of good character and faithful obedience.
How does this change the way I answer the question, "What do you have to do when you go back to Portland?" Instead of listing off duties and responsibilities, I think that I will try to include some of the character development and spiritual disciplines I should be (and hopefully will be!) doing. So ask me that question and see if I live up to what I'm preaching!
