People Pastoring People
This morning at church someone walked in with dishes to return to a friend who had made her family dinner. Another person hugged each young adult as they streamed into the sanctuary. Another brought donuts and vacuumed up the crumbs. People held one another’s babies, hugged across rows, asked about upcoming school exams and recent medical procedures. Still more stuck out their hands to greet unfamiliar faces.
I’m the pastor’s wife and I didn’t recognize a number of the faces that walked in. I’m there every Sunday and yet I kept thinking, Huh, how does she know her? How did he know that family needed that? How do these people know each other so deeply?
I stood in the lobby and took in scene after scene of people welcoming one another—pastoring one another, really. Not that they’re elders or leaders or bear a special title. They’re simply men and women extending care and hospitality to each other.
What a gift.
There’s simply no way a pastor or the elders, or deacons, or staff can meet all the needs of all the people all the time. Even in a small church, the pastor is not enough. It takes everyone to love everyone.
We’re not a perfect church (no one’s is!), but I’m full of gratitude for the warmth and intentionality that I saw today. I’m encouraged and challenged myself to remember the many “one another” commands in the Bible (see all of them below).
Headlines and tweets and post-Christian conferences and book titles bear witness to the pain that churches cause people everyday. Those shortcomings and sins are real and grievous. But the church, by God’s grace, can also be a place where needs are met, hearts are seen, burdens are shared, and joys are celebrated.
I’m so glad I glimpsed that today.
Love one another: John 13:34-35; 15:12, 17; Romans 12:10; 13:8; 14:13; 1 Thessalonians 3:12; 4:9; 2 Thessalonians 1:3; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 John 3:11, 3:22; 4:8; 23; 4:7, 11-12; 2 John 1: 5
Serve one another: Galatians 5:13; 21; Philippians 2:3; 1 Peter 4:9; 5:5
Accept one another: Romans 15:7, 14
Strengthen one another: Romans 14:19
Help one another: Hebrews 3:13; 10:24
Encourage one another: Romans 14:19; 15:14; Colossians 3:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:11; Hebrews 3:13; 10:24-25
Care for one another: Galatians 6:2
Forgive one another: Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13
Submit to one another: Ephesians 5:21; 1 Peter 5:5
Commit to one another: 1 John 3:16
Build trust with one another: 1 John 1:7
Be devoted to one another: Romans 12:10
Be patient with one another: Ephesians 4:2; Colossians 3:13
Be interested in one another: Philippians 2:4
Be accountable to one another: Ephesians 5:21
Confess to one another: James 5:16
Live in harmony with one another: Romans 12:16
Do not be conceited toward one another: Romans 13:8
Do not pass judgment on one another: Romans 14:13; 15:7
Do not slander one another: James 4:11
Instruct one another: Romans 16:16
Greet one another: Romans 16:16; 1 Corinthians 1:10; 2 Corinthians 13:12
Admonish one another: Romans 5:14; Colossians 3:16
Spur one another on toward love and good deeds: Hebrews 10:24
Meet with one another: Hebrews 10:25
Agree with one another: 1 Corinthians 16:20
Be concerned for one another: Hebrews 10:24
Be humble toward one another in love: Ephesians 4:2
Be compassionate toward one another: Ephesians 4:32
Do not be consumed by one another: Galatians 5:14-15
Do not anger one another: Galatians 5:26
Do not lie to one another: Colossians 3:9
Do not grumble toward one another: James 5:9
Give preference to one another: Romans 12:10
Be at peace with one another: Romans 12:18
Sing to one another: Ephesians 5:19
Be of the same mind to one another: Romans 12:16; 15:5
Comfort one another: 1 Thessalonians 4:18; 5:11
Be kind to one another: Ephesians 4:32
Live in peace with one another: 1 Thessalonians 5:13
Carry one another's burdens: Galatians 6:2
The list of the One Another Passages in Scripture comes from here.