Fathering Pastor or Pastoring Father

I've been praying and wondering what to say to our husbands this Father's Day. Last week, my husband and I were talking about how interesting that in the past there used to be an unwritten rule about only allowing those who were married, and in some cases family men, to become pastors. It sure has some scriptural basis (see 1 Tim 1:1-7 and Tit 1: 6-8) however, we agreed that it is not enough to "qualify" a man to become a pastor. In fact we went further to say that not every man who has fathered children has "credibility" to talk about being a father.

Now, that is one side of this "Fathering Pastor or Pastoring Father" challenge.

The other part is those pastors who literally pastor all day and all night such that the father in them is missed at home.

Indeed it is important to draw a line between pastoring and fathering. I've heard of people who feel that their Pastor-Dads are more like pastors to them and Dads to others. It is a sad situation...which can send children further away from God - God forbid!

I found an interesting article* on what our children expect from their "Pastor-Dads." The one that struck me the most was that: Pastors children need "Conversation, not sermons" - this ties directly with Eph 6:4

"Fathers, don’t make your children angry, but raise them with the kind of teaching and training you learn from the Lord."**

The question is: "What kind of teaching and training do pastors learn from the Lord?" I'm sure you'd agree that God doesn't raise us with sermons or speeches - rather, He spends His time speaking to us in conversation - at our level. So why should it be different when pastors relate with with their children? It shouldn't be different.

Make this Father's day different - give your children the gift of having you as their father not just their pastor...even if you became a pastor before you were a father.

Celebrating all the Fathers today - wishing you a wonderful Fathering life ahead. 

References:
*http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2012/11/05/7-things-a-pastors-kid-needs-from-a-father/
**Easy-to-Read Version - italics mine