Do pastors spend too much time just talking?

I was talking with a student recently and he said that a big problem in the PCV is that pastors spend too much time talking and not enough time doing anything. I agreed. We sit in our long meetings and talk, but when we come out nothing changes. And I am part of the problem. I say, "We should do this and this and this" but I don't do it. Pastors spend too much time talking and don't do anything.

But then I realised I was wrong!

The work of a pastor is to speak. Paul told Timothy, "devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching" (1 Timothy 4:13). Elders and pastors must speak (Titus 1:9). Paul's goal in life was to speak (Acts 20:24; Col 1:28). Luther started the reformation by speaking. Words have power, especially the Word of God!

So what is the problem? Pastors must spend more time speaking the Word of God to people. e.g. preaching, evangelism and counselling.

The question is not, "Do pastors spend too much time talking?"
The question is, "Do pastors spend enough time speaking the Word of God to the people?"

And maybe some pastors actually spend too much time doing and not enough time talking!

How the church can grow

Earlier this year Ps Tony Wan preached a sermon at Talua and said that the PCV is in serious decline. The percentage of people in Vanuatu who are Presbyterian has fallen as follows:

1989 – 48%
1997 – 37%
2009 – 28%

This means we are losing about 10% every 10 years. Most people agree that there is a big problem, but what is the answer?

Ps Tony said that pastors are not spending enough time preaching, teaching and discipling. This is like the church in Acts 6. The Apostles were helping feed widows, but they chose other people to do this so that they could spend their time preaching and praying (Acts 6:3-4). Today pastors are doing many things, but they are not preaching and praying and discipling enough.

I agree with this. The only way the church can grow is through the word of God. We must pray and preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. "Yufala i mas kam we yufala i wantem tumas tok blong God... olsem ol pikinini we i jes bon i wantem titi tumas. Tok ya i save mekem yufala i kam strong, nao bambae God i sevem yufala." (1 Peter 2:2)

What do you think? Is there are problem? What should we do?

The good news is the centre

The good news of Jesus Christ is the centre of the Christian faith. Jesus died and rose again as Lord and Saviour. Only through Jesus can we have life and peace and joy. Only through Jesus can we glorify God as we should. The good news must be the centre of our life as a church.

If the good news of Jesus is the centre, then the church will be a light shining out to the nation. People will see our joy in Christ. They will see our holiness. And they will know that Jesus made us like this.

Talua should also be like this. I have started this blog to help us talk about three questions:

1. Is the good news the centre of our life at Talua?
2. Are there ways we need to change?
3. How can Talua help the whole church to make the good news the centre?

I will write many posts, but this is a place for us all to share our thinking. Please share your thoughts, in either English or Bislama.