Attending a Celebration of Life this past weekend, the officiant spent some time talking about church burnout, specifically pointing out in his own words that it can happen when your whole life, starting with childhood, has been centered around church: church attendance, church duties, church people, church issues, and thankfully however, there were church person dedicated in a unwavering way to the uphill climb to spiritual maturity. The officiant’s comments sunk in, made me realize that all followers of Christ will be subjected to church burnout.
It is not always the ways of the world that cause one to make the choice to stop “doing church.” It is not always the technological, virtual option of getting a word from the Lord, a phenomenon increased during the height of the pandemic. It is not always a drop or decrease in faith, just a break in including church as part of actively walking by faith. It is not a entirely the failure to do what Pastor M.R. King challenged our congregation to do Sunday, to walk by faith, putting one foot forward after the other, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. It is not necessarily the tempter’s snare, although he will complicate any reason on chooses to justify not going to church. It is, let’s be real, the hypocrisy of those who talk Christ, but walk contrary to His example. Can I go on? It is not always that span of life’s vibrant days, days where young adults are enticed to experience life outside of the church. It is not always a litany of “legitimate” excuses. You may ask, “Well, what is it?” What “it” is, my friend, is church burnout.
Realizing that we will all can benefit from strategies to supplant church burnout. Here are a few to consider:
- Rest! Don’t retire, just rest. Listen to what Jesus says in Mark 6:31(NLT), “Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat.”
- Delegate! Don’t desist or depress the effort needed to fulfill your purpose, but rather, delegate! Do you remember what Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law told him? Let me refresh your memory. Jethro advises Moses in Exodus 18: 14-23: “When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he asked, “What are you really accomplishing here? Why are you trying to do all this alone while everyone stands around you from morning till evening?” Moses replied, “Because the people come to me to get a ruling from God. When a dispute arises, they come to me, and I am the one who settles the case between the quarreling parties. I inform the people of God’s decrees and give them his instructions.” “This is not good!” Moses’ father-in-law exclaimed. “You’re going to wear yourself out—and the people, too. This job is too heavy a burden for you to handle all by yourself. Now listen to me, and let me give you a word of advice, and may God be with you. You should continue to be the people’s representative before God, bringing their disputes to him. Teach them God’s decrees, and give them his instructions. Show them how to conduct their lives. But select from all the people some capable, honest men who fear God and hate bribes. Appoint them as leaders over groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten. They should always be available to solve the people’s common disputes, but have them bring the major cases to you. Let the leaders decide the smaller matters themselves. They will help you carry the load, making the task easier for you. If you follow this advice, and if God commands you to do so, then you will be able to endure the pressures, and all these people will go home in peace.”
- Avoid self- pity! Don’t resort to self-pity but re-route your actions by hearing the voice of the Lord, just as was the case with Elijah, as taken from I Kings 19:9-15a: “There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah? “He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away. “And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind, an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away. “And the Lord said to him, “Go, return on your way…”
- Deny self! Don’t delight yourself in doing what you want to do! Deny yourself! Jesus said in Luke 9:23, “And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”
- Revisit Your Identity: Reach into the word of God and be recharged, revived, refreshed, and find renewed strength by realizing the purpose that comes with your identity. Jesus defines out identity in these two familiar similitudes, found in Matthew 5:13-14 (The Message Bible): “Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage. “Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.”
I could write more, but I am sure that the strategies above will help in supplanting burnout and turning out as just who the Lord called us to be. Share these strategies with somebody! Be blessed!
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King