Think of it like a Personal Trainer

They just do not want to tell me.

At least most people don’t.

And I am probably not the only pastor who doesn’t get told.

Don’t get me wrong, I understand the motivation.

Sort of.

After all, who wants to tell other people about their struggles?

Who would enjoy confessing their sins to their pastor?

Probably no one.

But, I think we are missing an important aspect of the Christian life when we don’t.

People are supposed to go to the pastor.

For several reasons, but not the least of them is so that the pastor can help.

Yet, I am afraid that people worry that the pastor will look at them differently.

Judge them.

But what if the pastor didn’t?

What if that is exactly what the pastor was hoping for?

Maybe if we look at it differently.

Think of it like this.

Would you go to your personal trainer and tell him you don’t need him?

Would you walk in the gym and tell the guy or girl that went to school to help people get healthy and in shape that you were good on your own?

That you have it all under control?

After all, you don’t want him or her to think less of you.

To know that you think cupcakes aren’t just for breakfast anymore.

To make some kind of judgment upon you.

So you walk in to the gym with the elastic on your workout shorts begging for mercy and tell him you are just fine.

Is that what you would do?

Or, would you walk up to that person, grab your droopy arm and ask how to fix it?

Which machine do I use?

And how do they all work?

What diet do I need?

How often can I eat cupcakes? (No one said we wouldn’t occasionally ask dumb questions.)

Isn’t it more likely that we would tell them that we need their expertise on how to get rid of the spare tire we seem to have accumulated over the last 5 years?

Isn’t that what we would do if we wanted to be better?

Of course it is.

Because we recognize that this is what they went to school for.

That it is their job.

That they are paid to help us get in better shape.

The same is true of the pastor.

Their job is to help us get in better spiritual shape.

To help people in their problem areas.

To point people to the tools and exercises that help them grow in their faith.

That help them love God more.

Follow Jesus better.

Fight sin more effectively.

The pastor’s desire isn’t to judge, it is to help.

Your pastor wants you to be as spiritually healthy as you can possibly be.

So, blow your pastor’s mind this Sunday.

Tell him about a struggle you are having.

Ask him how to fight it.

Tell him you want to get healthy.

He’ll be excited that you did.