I became pastor at the ripe age of 24. I’d served as an intern before then, but never on my own, and never as the full-time vocational pastor of a local church.
My first sermons were pretty good — at least, I think they were. I have no way of knowing now. I had a few in the hopper, but soon found myself facing the weekly grind of preparation. I felt stretched, just as I did with the other responsibilities I faced. Who was I to presume to lead a small congregation, offer pastoral counsel, and answer theological questions?
I was probably like a new puppy — cute in some ways, but prone to chew up the furniture. That church was gracious to me.
So was the next one. I have more evidence of my ministry there. The main complaint about me was that I was so young, but I told them I had a multiyear plan to address this problem. I laughed, not realizing that this plan would unfold quicker than I imagined. I remember more of the mistakes I made at this church: sermons that weren’t quite ready to preach, decisions that lacked wisdom, outbursts that revealed immaturity, and a tendency to look for the next big thing to follow.
It takes a special kind of maturity to allow a young pastor to lead. The most godly in these churches did so, not because I deserved it, but because they extended grace that I needed in order to grow.
The qualifications for an elder demand a certain level of maturity. There’s a weightiness to ministry that can’t be borne by those who haven’t yet lived long enough to accumulate some wisdom. There’s a balance: while one must meet the qualifications for eldership, no pastor will be fully mature, and some will have a lot of maturing to do. Immature pastors require patient congregations.
“Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress,” wrote Paul (1 Timothy 4:15). Timothy had work to do. It required diligence; the stakes were high; but he’d continue to make progress, and the progress would be clear for all to see. When pastors follow Paul’s command to Timothy, people should be able to say, “You’re a better pastor now than you were before.”
If you follow the Lord long enough, and the Lord grants you enough years, you will likely reach the age when you are older and more mature than your pastor. Be gracious to your pastor then. Be the kind of older Christian who is kind and gracious to young, earnest pastors who still have room to grow.
Aim to become even more gracious as you get older. Don’t excuse sin, of course, but don’t expect too much maturity from those who haven’t lived as long as you. If your pastor is qualified and called to your church, be patient. Allow room to grow. Extend some grace. Pray for that pastor. Gently confront when appropriate, but encourage too.
And that pastor, with God’s help, will grow, and you will have the joy of watching their progress, and for them becoming even more useful in the service of the King.