Pastors: If we cannot be described as gentle, we’ve abandoned a fruit of the Spirit and a qualifying mark of a pastor.
—
Pastors today face enormous pressure to project strength and authority. We hear expectations expressed everywhere: in the aisles during greeting time, over a fellowship meal, in the parking lot after the service, and especially on Christian social media. “The world is dying for bold preachers, tough preachers—strong, manly preachers!”
What pastors frequently hear is an implied accusation that they’re weak, soft, and timid, that their preaching lacks boldness. A pastor’s gentle demeanor is perceived as weakness. But what if being gentle is actually courageous?
