Jump Start # 3460

Philemon 9 “yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you– since I am such a person as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus.”

In the political arena, as things start gearing up for the presidential election next year, there is a lot of talk and discussion about whether or not President Joe Biden should run for reelection. It’s not his age, but his cognitive reasoning and strength that has many wondering if he is up to the task.

Now Jump Starts do not delve into politics. That’s not our purpose nor our place. But what many are asking brings up a great question about those who function as leaders in the church. Aged shepherds and preachers are something that is not given much thought. The role of shepherds is often viewed like a Supreme Court Judge, one serves until he dies.

Let’s take a short walk down this road and give this some thought:

First, with age comes the blessing of mountains of knowledge, experience and wisdom. To have served the people of God for multiple decades also means that person has see about everything imaginable. There have been building expansions, the hiring of preachers, the appointment of other shepherds, the death of members, the growth of little ones until they are now big and are adding to the kingdom. Such experience doesn’t come from books, but from life. A long, long journey with the Lord, through valleys and mountain tops, tears and joy, hardships and happiness, brings a wealth of knowing how to help people. That is a blessing of age. Such experience is a rich blessing to any congregation.

Second, among preachers, many have not done well financially and late in life they must continue to preach because they need the money. This presents a real difficulty for all around. If the preacher is starting to slip mentally, and is making mistakes continually he ought to step down. His family ought to be the first to pull the plug and have that discussion with him. But if finances are the issue, a real problem is at hand. The church may not be in the position to pay his retirement along side of hiring a new preacher. And, if the aged preacher doesn’t want to step down, things become dicey and even ugly. The ole’ saying in sports is to go on when you are on the top. Many athletes hang on too long and their final few years of playing are not good. They hurt the team and they hurt their image. That is a call that the shepherds have to discuss. Is the aged preacher hurting the church? Are people leaving because of him? One would hate to fire someone who has given his life to preaching, but the good of all must be considered.

Third, proper steps can be taken to prevent such a sad situation as we have painted. Shepherds need to have discussions with their preachers about finances, investments, retirement. A man in his 30’s or 40’s needs to be putting in place the right steps that will keep him from being a burden, either in the pulpit or to the church financially. By the time a preacher is in his 50’s, he ought to be well on his way in saving and investing. Caring for the preacher involves much more than paying him each week. It’s looking after him and helping him make the right choices. Some do not understand finances and investing. So have no interest in those things, yet, to ignore these early steps can result in someone like Joe Biden trying to preach every Sunday. Weak in voice and thought, tiring easily, not able to keep up with things, quickly becomes a burden rather than a blessing to a church.

There has been a shift in how long preachers stay with a congregation. There was a time when about every four years preachers moved. But now, preachers are staying decades. That’s a win-win for both the preacher and the church. Trust, credibility and commitment are established and good things can happen. But with this shift in length of staying, there hasn’t been much of a shift in how preachers are paid.

A man ought to preach or lead the people of God because he wants to, is capable and is effective. Having to do it because he’s broke or having to do it because he can’t take his fingers off of things are not healthy attitudes to have.

In our verse today, Paul recognized himself as being aged. Apostles didn’t retire. Most died in their prime because they were killed. Preachers and shepherds are not apostles. There comes a time for a person to step down simply because he cannot do the job any more. Yet, there are many other things that he can do and many ways a congregation can use his wisdom and experience to help them.

Having good conversations about topics such as this is healthy and it can lead to good developments along the way.

Roger

Jump Start # 2339

Philemon 9 “yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you– since I am such a person as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus.”

Paul the aged, that’s how Paul described himself. That doesn’t fit well in our thinking today. We do everything we can to hide the looks of aging. Ours is a youthful society and when you are no longer youthful you find out that you may not fit in, be needed or are useful. The images of sitting in a wheel chair in a smelly nursing home frightens most of us.

Recently I had a discussion with a few different preachers who are in their sixties or more. I’m among them now. The topic was how brethren take care of older preachers. The discussion wasn’t much better than the image of the wheel chair in a smelly nursing home. This is something that many have not given much thought to. I even mentioned this from the pulpit recently in a place I was holding a meeting. The local preacher is in his 70’s. It’s time for conversations, I said, about what to do with our aging preachers.

Here are some things I see. Many of these older preachers were never paid much. Some weren’t very good at finances. They are at a point in life where they must preach because they need the income. Also, many are not able to keep up with technology and fast paced, large congregations. They are simply left behind and often the only places that will have them are small, struggling congregations that cannot afford anyone else. Many of these grand old soldiers have preached for more than fifty years of their life. And, they see reality. Congregations want these younger fireballs. Like the old work mule, they are worn out and replaced and never used, nor thought of again. A few of the best are still used, but for the most part, you never hear of these old giants anymore. They move slowly. Some look fragile. They struggle with computers, powerpoint and they do not understand social media. Yet, they have a wealth of Biblical knowledge. They have tons of experience. They have been through spiritual battles and wars and have come out on the other side. But now, they are old. They stand with Paul the aged.

What are we to do with the old preachers? Here are some thoughts:

First, find ways to use these old soldiers of Christ. They may not be able to keep the pace of a fast moving congregation, but they can teach. Let them teach. Many can still write. Let them write. Many have years of great class material. Dig them out, put a fresh face on them and use them.

Second, companies learned a long time ago that simply paying a daily or weekly wage wasn’t enough. They started pensions and retirement programs. Through the years that progressed to 401’s that companies added to as well as the worker. It’s time for the church to start thinking that way. What better way to honor and older servant of Christ than promising to take care of him the rest of his life. A church has to be forward thinking with this and making plans, but it can be done. Simply replacing a man after fifty or sixty years of service seems rather cold and heartless.

Third, help the younger preachers learn about finances and retirement. Put things in his salary that will be exclusively used for retirement. Try to prevent the situation of someone having to preach late in life because he is broke. Include life insurance with the package for the preacher. This helps his wife in the case that he passes. I’ve known several preachers who died and they had no life insurance. Shame on them for not being better stewards. In one situation, the preacher and his wife lived in a house that was owned by the church. A month after his death, the elders showed up and told the widow that she had to move out because a new preacher was hired. She had nothing. It was a pitiful situation. Talk about these things and be transparent in what is needed.

Fourth, as the preacher ages, there may be areas that he is better suited for beyond the daily tasks of a local work. Maybe he wants to preach on the road more. Maybe he wants to focus upon overseas work. Find what excites him and he is good at and work with him. Use him and his wisdom to better the kingdom.

Fifth, find ways to honor the old servant of Christ. In many ways, the old preacher feels like life has passed him. What the younger people talk about, he doesn’t understand. He feels out of touch. He often feels no longer needed. I know this because I have talked to some of these men. With real tears in their eyes, they confess that they never thought their careers would end this way. Forgotten. Unwanted. Put out to pasture. I know a couple of congregations that periodically brings in these older preachers. They make it a special deal. These grand old voices aren’t cranky, critical, or judgmental. They have a special way of reminding us of Biblical promises and truths that we have long forgotten.

Finally, there comes a time when age, the ability to connect, and health issues finally forces the old preacher to retire. It’s hard on him. For more than half a century he has been preaching every Sunday. The congregation as well as the preacher who replaces him must never throw the old preacher under the bus. The old preacher often wonders if he has done any good. He has simply tried to bring Christ before the eyes of the people throughout his life. Be kind in this transition. Be helpful to the old preacher. Most that I know are humble and want to get out of the way. They don’t want to be the focus of any attention and they don’t want to hinder the work of the Lord. They would rather just fade out quietly, and for most, that is what will happen to them.

What to do with an old preacher? Have you ever discussed that? Do you have any plans? Have you given him any assurances or hope? While many of us enjoy retirement, for the old preacher, it is often a silent struggle with finances, emotions, self-esteem and wondering what value he is to others.

I believe it’s time we gave some serious thought and had some real conversation about what to do with an old preacher. I hope this helps. I hope some changes begin to take place.

Roger

Jump Start # 1396

Philemon 9 “yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you—since I am such a person as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus.”

  In the short and personal letter from Paul to Philemon, the slave owner, whose possession, Onesimus, ran away, we learn many lessons about appealing to people. Onesimus was now a Christian, that was a game changer. He somehow found Paul and had become very helpful and useful to him. But there remained the right thing to do. The right thing isn’t always convenient nor easy. Paul could have kept the slave and that would have been the end of the story. But the right thing prevailed. The right thing was to send the run-a-way back home where he belonged. That decision was full of pressure, stress and fear. How would he be treated by Philemon? Most run-a-ways had to learn a lesson. Some were injured, some were killed. If nothing was done, what signal would that send to other slaves? What would other slave owners think about Philemon if he was too lenient? Sometimes we can talk ourselves out of doing the right thing simply because of all of the possible situations that we think up. Do the right thing.

Onesimus was sent back, carrying this letter, to Philemon who lived in Colossae. In the Colossian letter, probably carried at the same time, by the same people, there are general instructions about masters and slaves. Those instructions, with this personal letter, would pave the way for the right thing to be done in the right way.

In our verse today, Paul had stated that he could have “ordered” or commanded Philemon to accept the run-a-way back. Instead, he appealed to love’s sake. Love forgives. Love gives another chance. Love thinks the best. Love would allow Onesimus the opportunity to change. We do better when we are driven by love rather than commands. The same results may be accomplished, but the way you get there and the feeling it gives you is so much different. Love appeals to the heart. Commands appeal to the mind.

Stating all of this, Paul reveals something about himself. It is a personal note. Three simple words, “Paul, the aged.” The NIV uses the expression, “Paul, the old man.”  Some would take offense to that. Some tend to think of old as over the hill and beyond usefulness. Some would say it’s time for the rocking chair and the assisted living home. Had Paul not stated this, most would not have seen this in his travels and writings. He is a busy person. He endures much, teaches many and travels far. This is certainly not the time for his rocking chair. The definition of “aged” is much like the definition for “rich,” it’s not us.

There are two thoughts I’d like to explore concerning the “aged.”

1. There are special advantages that senior Christians have that others do not. First, the energy of taking care of kids, the expense of raising them and the necessity of working everyday is not there for most senior Christians. Simply put, senior Christians have more time than younger families. The clock doesn’t wake them up demanding that they roll out of bed, often still tired and longing for a few more minutes of sleep, and head to work. The senior Christian has time to do things and time to make a difference in people’s lives. Time to share deep lessons with grandchildren. Time to teach Bible classes. Time to help out where it is needed. Time to visit. Time to write cards. Also, with time, many, many senior Christians have a wealth of Biblical resources and knowledge. Imagine the number of sermons that one has listened to, the number of Bible classes they attended, the articles that they have read—there is a store house of knowledge that is equal to the hours of a PhD in most universities. What advantage it is to have senior Christians who can keep the younger set to stay the course and answer many of their questions. Is it any wonder that older women were to teach younger women and that one term for leaders in congregation is “elders.” Spiritual experience is priceless. Younger heads need to appreciate that. Many congregations have ignored and moved away from the older voice. As a result, those fast paced, younger believers have drifted off to la-la land and are dancing and clapping their way to Satan because they have ignored true Biblical principles. Wiser heads would have warned them. Wiser heads would have steered them to the right path. But, as it is so many times, the older voice was silenced and the younger and foolish advice sought, just as Solomon’s son did generations ago, and disaster loomed on the horizon. Use those heads of experience. Don’t ignore them.

2. The church as a whole hasn’t given much thought about what to do with the older preacher. Paul, the aged, presents a problem for some today. The older model that many have followed is to use the preacher like a pack mule. Work him and work him until he wears out. At that point, he is replaced with a younger and stronger mule who will carry on the work. But what to do with that old one is a thought that few have considered. After years of service, the old preacher, still wanting to teach, is left behind by some who feel that he is too old and will not relate well with the young people. A younger preacher is hired and the older one is forgotten. Some simply retire. Some, because of financial reasons, cannot. Those few try to find another congregation that will give them a chance. If they are lucky, there will be a small congregation meeting in the area that the preacher tries to teach and encourage until the Lord takes him. For others, it means that they must move in the senior years, to find a congregation that will give him a chance. That’s hard and sad. Often, he doesn’t want to move, but necessity demands that he has to.

Once in a while, we hear of a congregation that allows the older preacher to remain on and be useful, while a younger preacher is hired to carry the heavy day-to-day work. That’s rare. Not many places can afford to do that, nor want to do that.

I’m not sure what the best answer to the aged preacher is. I hope that these writings will cause some to think about it for the first time. I hope that some will see the value of honoring a person who has poured decades into the heart of a congregation. I hope some would think about positive ways to take care of the aged servant of God. Younger preachers need to give this some thought. If the Lord allows, they too will be old some day. How you see a congregation taking care of the aged preacher is how they will take care of you when it’s your turn.

I’ve been around some old soldiers of Christ. I like them. They have funny stories and great insight into life. Most are humble to the core. Most are kind, sweet and just love Jesus. Most realize that they are not as sharp as they once were. They know that they miss things here and there. It bothers them greatly. Most simply want to be useful in the kingdom. Some, with a tear in their eyes, realize that they are no longer needed, wanted or used. No one calls them for advice anymore. No one asks them to come and preach for them. No one wants to read an article that they could author. They sit silently in a pew, wondering if this is how it is supposed to be. Tons of knowledge, love and wisdom, only to be silenced because of their age.

Paul, the aged. God included those two simple words, “the aged,” for a reason. I wonder if we have really given thought to that properly as the Lord would want us to. Maybe it’s time that we do.

Roger