The other night at our city’s big rival high school football game, I sat with our worship pastor and his family, along with a High School student and his parents. We had a great time cheering on our students as they challenged the rival team. During the game, a pass was made and a player fumbled into the sidelines to catch the ball. In shock I yelled, “Oh, man they’re going to knock out the cheerleaders!” To this the mom turned to me and said, “Well, better knocked out than knocked up.” We both laughed in agreement. Then her son next to me said, “I was thinking that too mom, but I am sitting next to two pastors.” He said it as a joke and I was for sure not offended, but it made me think. It made me realize that people look at me different. It seems like that should be obvious, but it really isn’t to me. I don’t often think of my ‘title’, although I probably should. I do have to admit it still is a little weird to hear. Hearing the word ‘pastor’ in front of my name makes me feel good in the since that I feel like I have accomplished something, yet it feels like I’m an outsider. That maybe I can’t be trusted with people’s real thoughts. I still struggle with what to call myself when I introduce myself to others on a Sunday morning. Do I introduce myself as Pastor Rachael, or Rachael? If I shake their hand and say, “Hi, I’m Pastor Rachael” then does it make me sound better than them? Have I put myself on another level than them? If I just call myself ‘Rachael’ I feel I’m being real and am on their level, but once they find out what I really do, will they call me ‘Pastor’? Will they see me as the authority figure that I am? I even feel weird when I meet people outside of Sundays because I know once they hear ‘pastor’ it will change the dynamic of the conversation. Some people feel uncomfortable once they find out what you do, and not only are you a pastor, you’re a FEMALE pastor!
I guess that night at the football game made me think. It made me think, “How many more people are not real around me because of my title? How many people don’t say what is really on their mind because they are afraid of offending me? Or think I’m judging them?” I just look at myself as, well, normal. Not holier, not more righteous. Just . . . . me.

TODAY’S CHALLENGE:

People hear the word ‘pastor’, they stop swearing and straighten up. They may think of you as judgmental, overly spiritual, or whatever. However, we should look at it as a gift. My lead pastor put it this way: our society needs a standard of righteousness. What is sad is we have the least credibility of most jobs. We need to change that. He chooses you! We GET to be an example. Thank you Lord! What an honor that God would choose us to lead a standard of righteousness!
Do we have to have a mouth filter? Yes. Do we have to be more careful than most about what we say and what we post on social media? Yes. God has called us. No matter what He has called us to, it will be difficult. In ministry, there will be times of loneliness, times of not fitting in. Be encouraged that we have someone ‘closer than a brother’. God blesses us with Jesus. He blesses us with His presence. Pray today and throughout your week that God will use you to be an example of righteousness. Be honored ladies!