『如何請你們的牧師走路』“How to Get Rid of Your Pastor?”

From “Our Daily Bread” Chinese Translated by Flora Lyu

^.^~~☆~^.^~~☆★★ ~^.^~~☆ ☆~^.^~~ ☆.^~~

A Christian leader told about some church members

who came to him for advice.

有一位基督徒領袖提到某教會的一些會友來找他要個忠告，

They wanted to know of a way to get rid of their pastor.

就是他們想知道，如何請他們的牧師走路。

Sensing that they were not being fair,

he gave them these suggestions:

他感覺他們對此事有失公平，所以給了他們以下的建議：

Look your pastor straight in the eye

while he is preaching and say “Amen!” once in a while.

當你們的牧師講道時，直視他的眼睛並不時地說「阿門」，

He’ll preach himself to death.

他就會很努力地講道講到自己死翹翹了。

Pat him on the back and tell him his good points.

你們要常常拍著他的肩膀，並且欣賞他所提到的好觀點，

He’ll work himself to death.

他就會竭力地做到自己死翹翹！

Rededicate your life to Christ

and ask your minister for a job to do.

再一次把你的生命獻給基督，並請你的牧師委任事工給你服事，

He’ll die of heart failure.

那麼，他就會感動得心臟衰竭而死翹翹了。

Get the church to pray for him.

再者，動員全教會的弟兄姐妹好好地為你們的牧師禱告，

Soon he’ll become so effective

that a large church will take him off your hands.

很快地，他會變成一個很有效率的牧師，

然後嘛！就會有大教會從你們手中把他挖走了。

If your pastor faithfully preaches God’s Word

and tries to live an exemplary life,

如果你的牧師是忠心地傳講神的話語且盡力過一個有見證的生活，

do all you can to support and encourage him.

盡你一切所能地支持他並鼓勵他。

Of course, no pastor is perfect,

and sometimes a loving rebuke may be needed (1 Timothy 5:20).

當然，世上沒有完美的牧師，有時他也需要愛的指正（提前5:20）。

But a pastor carries a big responsibility (Hebrews 13:17),

不過牧師是身負重責大任的人 （來13:17），

and a faithful man of God is worthy of respect

and generous financial support (1 Timothy 3:1, 5:17-18).

而且一個對神忠心的人，

是配得尊敬和經濟上慷慨的資助（提前3:1, 5:17-18）。

By the way, when did you last say to your pastor :

順便一提，你最近一次是在什麼時候對你的牧師說：

“I’m grateful for you and all you’ve done for me”? –

「牧師，我很感激你，以及你為我所做的一切」？

－－Richard De Haan

We give the help that pastors need, for burdens they must bear.

我們應該給牧師所需的幫助，因為他們要擔當許多重擔，

When we express our thanks to them, and hold them up in prayer.

當我們表達對牧師表達的感激時，要用禱告托住他們。

－－D. De Haan

A Pastor Leads Best When His People Get behind Him.

當牧師的背後有會友全力支持時，他就會變成一個最好的領導者。