I've often heard there is one thing that even a seminary cannot prepare a young minister for. It's affectionately called the "fish bowl factor" and it's something that has to be experienced first-hand to be appreciated. It typically doesn't take more than a few weeks of service in their first church for it to happen. Someone will see either them or a member of their family doing something that they believe is either unbiblical, unspiritual, or just un-cool, and will verbally assault them for it. Ministers, pastors, priests, missionaries, etc., all live in environments where everyone else (churched and unchurched) make value judgments about just about everything they do. What's worse, the judgments typically run in line with the values and perspectives of the viewer--not necessarily the perspective of the Lord. Eventually, the strongest of the young ministers will realize that they cannot please everyone, and will either ignore the judgment or just accept it for what it's worth. The weaker ones will succumb to it and quit. It would do well for young Christians to realize that those who serve them in the church often have very large shoes to fill. But what's more, it is not just professional pastors, priests, etc., who are being watched 24/7. EVERY Christian is being watched--not only by the world around them, but by the Lord as well. What type of example are YOU setting for those viewing your fish bowl?
"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity." 1 Timothy 4:12
Pastor Jim Kilby
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