Author and pastor Steven Furtick tackled the "why bother" syndrome that can plague the faith of many pastors during his address Wednesday morning at the Radicalis conference.
Furtick, who leads Elevation Church in Charlotte, N.C., spoke from Mark 5 on Jairus, the synagogue leader who asks Jesus to come to his house and heal his sick daughter. But along the way, a woman who has been bleeding for 12 years "cuts in line" and gets healed by touching Jesus' cloak. Meanwhile, Jairus learns that his daughter has died at home.
He said pastors attending the event at Saddleback Church can become inspired by the conference but then can fall into depression and despair as they compare the size of their ministry and church to the magnitude of what they see at Saddleback.
"At the same time you are hearing God's word and faith is growing and rising up inside of you, your situation may be actually deteriorating and may not be improving at all," said Furtick.
Pastors could hear a similar voice of doubt to what Jairus heard when he learns his daughter is dead, "Why bother the teacher anymore?"
"See, every time, God's voice speaks into your life, speaking to you about the realities that this is possible through the glory of God. At the same time, God is telling you it is possible, the enemy is telling you why bother?" said the North Carolina pastor to the more than 2,000 people at the conference and those watching the live webcast from at least 146 nations.
He candidly pointed out, "Some of you are hearing the devil saying it to you loud and clear - every time God is saying it is possible through him who believes - why bother? You are 47 years old. This may have been possible when you were 30 but you have teenagers now."
Other pastors may be so successful in their ministry that they will want to live off the compound interest of what they've worked so hard for, he said. They may also think, "Why bother? Why get out of the boat?"
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