Saturday Night Pastors' Style

Saturday's Dilemma

For the regular Monday to Friday employee people Saturdays, especially Saturday evenings, are the highlight of the week. Cookouts, movie night, single-A baseball and all varieties of social activities dot the weekend calendar. Without giving away the hermit inside, dare I say that Saturday night just don’t offer me much? Don’t get me wrong. I love the friendships. I love the activities. But I hate the time.

Sundays present a powerful mandate for the church of Jesus Christ to assemble. The pastor is the medium between the confrontational truth of the Word and the conflicting lives of the people. Sundays are the most powerful day of the week. Call the gut churning Saturday night stress, angst, pressure, anxiety or whatever you want because it is there and rightfully so because of the weight of the work. My question – how do you deal with it well?

Two Suggestions

First, recognize the pressure produced from the people. They are demanding, a lot is expected of you and me, and our livelihoods depend on it, but also realize that the holy demand of God upon His servants to speak His Word applies a great burden on our shoulders. I’d rather deal with pressure from God than man because He is my first line of responsibility. I’d also rather trust God than man because God promises to be my help (Ps. 40:17). He desperately wants His Word to pierce the hearts of men more than me.

Second, we must create a Saturday substitute, even if Tuesday nights don’t have the same appeal. But I’m fine with reading a book in the spare bedroom whatever night. I might just be a better vessel when next Sunday roles around.

P.S. Don’t feel guilty about the time off.

Michael Wilburn