PASTORING STRONG-WILLED PEOPLE
How do you follow the Lamb when you're shepherding lions?
S. Robert Maddox
January 1, 1993
It was my first Sunday at my first pastorate. After preaching with youthful energy and confidence, I went to the door to get my "strokes." Instead, one lady bluntly told me she didn't appreciate the doctrinal errors in my message. I was shocked. I entered the pulpit more cautiously the following Sunday, and on the third Sunday a different person attacked my sermon at the door. It soon became clear that major doctrinal differences divided these people. Quickly I called for a board meeting and asked point-blank about their basic beliefs. I found that half the board members disagreed with the stated position of the denomination! What should I do? The seat of all unity-common belief-did not exist in the church. First a lion, then a lamb
I decided if we didn't have a workable foundation, I had to declare a foundation and let come what may. Reminding the board of the doctrinal position of the church, I informed them what I would preach and what we would practice in the church. Most of them didn't go along for the ride. The problem was, no minister had been willing to shepherd these lions long enough. The church had been in existence for fifty years, but the average minister had stayed only two years. The congregation was composed of wonderful people who happened to be headstrong. They loved God, were devoted to the Bible-and demanded their independence. I knew I had to recognize them as individuals while addressing their individualism. My goal was to channel their bullheadedness into boldness for Christ. For a while I had to become a lion, hoping that I could someday revert to being a gentle shepherd. In the five years that followed, I learned what it takes to pastor strong-willed people. Here are a few concepts that worked for me and ...
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