Son of Encouragement

St. Barnabas was the early mentor and missionary companion of St. Paul. While his actual name was Joseph, Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”) was given this special nickname by the other Apostles because of his compassionate and conciliatory character. After St. Paul’s miraculous conversion to the Christian faith, many Christians still feared St. Paul.  Having previously been known by the name Saul of Tarsus, St. Paul had zealously persecuted the Church, arresting and dragging Christians in to be tried, imprisoned, and even executed for heresy. It was St. Barnabas who encouraged the Apostles and other Christians in Jerusalem to accept St. Paul as a true believer in Christ (see Acts 9:26-28). St. Barnabas’s appointed day of commemoration is June 11th. 

 

With that little bit of information you may be wondering, “Why is Pastor Grannis writing about St. Barnabas in October if his feast day is in June?” Well simply put, I often think of St. Barnabas when God has blessed me with particularly encouraging people. This past Sunday was Clergy Appreciation Day, part of the month long celebration of October as Clergy Appreciation Month.  Having been blessed as I was with cards, gifts, and words of encouragement, I am feeling especially thankful as I sit and write this Pastor’s Note. 

 

This year I celebrate 15 years in pastoral ministry. I have served the saints of St. Paul, Waseca for a little over 2 years. God has blessed my time here in many and various ways. But the greatest blessing has undoubtedly been the big and little encouragements I have received not just on Clergy Appreciation Day but week in and week out.  I have been blessed with countless prayers. I have been blessed with many loving gifts of food for my rather large family (10 kids and an amazing wife). I have been blessed with words of encouragement by “Barnabases” who share how God is using me to bring His Word and Sacraments to bear in their lives of faith. 

 

This is what a Pastor is meant to do – bring the things of God to bear in the lives of the congregation.  It is nice to be liked. It is nice to be well thought of. But often times the job of a minister of God is hard and thankless work, filled with displeasure and anger toward the one who strives to be faithful to his calling. The Word of God shows people their sins and shows them the only way that those sins can be properly dealt with – through the forgiveness of sins purchased with the blood of Christ’s once-for-all worthy sacrifice. The pastor is a messenger of God called to a specific group of people to proclaim that Word of God in its truth, purity, and fullness. 

 

When a pastor is faithful to his calling, he is going to upset his people. Why? Because none of us like to have our sins called out. None of us like to be called to repentance. It doesn’t feel good. It exposes our guilt and (if the Holy Spirit is working in our hearts) it makes us feel ashamed of the wrong that we have done. Believe it or not, THAT IS A GOOD THING. It is good to feel ashamed of our sins. It is good to realize that we deserve God’s judgment and wrath because of our sins. Helping us to see our sin is part of the pastor’s job. 

 

But THANKS BE TO GOD, that is not the only Word God has given to pastors, otherwise I’m sure I would have been run out of town a long time ago. God’s Word also reveals the Gospel of forgiveness through Jesus Christ our Savior. In fact, that is the main purpose of the Word of God, and the goal of all of Holy Scripture – to reveal our forgiveness, the promise of resurrection, and the blessed eternal life that is for all people through faith in Jesus Christ our Lord. 

 

God has raised up pastors to learn His Word and to apply His Word to the lives of people so that they would know their need for salvation, and know Jesus Christ who is the means of their salvation.  Pastors help us to see our sins and to see our Savior. Knowing our sins, they lead us in confessing our sins, they proclaim the Word of God’s forgiveness through Jesus Christ, and they ENCOURAGE us in leading lives of repentance. 

 

The biggest encouragements I have received from congregation members have been those words of thanks when I have been faithful to the pastoral charge.  And what is that charge? Pastors have the difficult task of leading their members to the confession of their sins. But that is not an end in and of itself. It is an uncomfortable task with a glorious goal – to fulfill the duty and honor of applying God’s Word of forgiveness on account of Christ to His repentant people.  There is no greater encouragement than when a person has been shown his sin, has confessed his sin, and has been comforted with the Gospel promises of forgiveness, life, and salvation on account of Christ. 

 

With all this in mind, I encourage you all to listen to God’s Word spoken by faithful pastors. Let the Word of truth shine into the darkest places of your life. Rather than hiding from the light, or denying your sins, confess your sins. Confess them to God. Go to your pastor and confess the sins that weigh on your heart.  Ask him to speak God’s Gospel Word of forgiveness to you as is his honor and duty. And then having been encouraged by your pastor, encourage him in turn. Encourage him to continue to faithfully proclaim the true, pure, and full Word of God to you and to the rest of your congregation. In Jesus’ name. Amen.