Dear Pastor Whoever

Dear Pastor Whoever….

You have an advantage over most of us. While we all have mirrors, only you have a spiritual mirror. We can look at our reflection to get an idea of our physical health. (Red-eye bad. Glowing complexion, good. Belly hanging over belt, bad. Etc.) But only you have a mirror that reflects your spiritual condition. That mirror is the congregation that you, more than any other, influence. (“Like priest, like people.”) Their spiritual health, or lack of it, is a reflection of your spiritual health, or lack of it. To know how you’re doing, simply consider your people.

How many are accomplished preachers/teachers? How many seriously finance Christ’s command to take the gospel to the nations? Do they ache for souls or are they lethargic?

Do your people read the Bible lots or little? Do they speak Jesus Christ often or sparsely? Are they prayerful? Is there an ache for intimacy with their Christ? Do they abide, primarily, in “the true vine” or in churchianity? Are they followers of Jesus or followers of christians? Are they governed by the Holy Spirit or are they lackeys of man? They will, hopefully, receive rewards at the judgment seat of Christ. And they will, certainly, “suffer loss” of rewards (as we all will). These rewards are eternal rewards. (“Where neither moth nor rust destroys.”) And losses are eternal losses. Because you have been assigned (by man, not Christ) to give leadership, you will help determine the eternal outcome of each pew-person. A scary thought?

And the present condition of your congregation could be your harbinger for the upcoming judgment seat.

I wish you well,

Larry Jones