Well, does depression disqualify a pastor?

It's a serious question, it's a very heavy question, and it comes to us from a podcast

listener named Kyle, hello, Pastor John, at what point if any does depression and or joylessness

disqualify an elder?

Or when might these become reasons for an elder to step down out of a desire to most wisely

serve his congregation?

What would you say to Kyle, Pastor John?

Let me begin by affirming that Kyle is right to suggest that there is a point at which

joylessness does disqualify an elder.

A lot of people don't think of that, so he's right to point this out.

But we have to be so careful here because joy is subjective, it's a subjective reality,

it's no less real and no less important for that.

But it manifests itself in various ways, it manifests itself in degrees of presence and

so putting our finger on it is not easy, but so I think we should be slow and careful

before we declare anybody unqualified for their ministry because of it.

So let me just point to, I don't know, three or four things that Kyle might take into

consideration as he ponders this or the rest of us.

Number one, Hebrews 13, 17 says, obey your leaders, submit to them for they are keeping

watch over your souls as those who will have to give an account.

Let them do this with joy.

So let your leaders lead, let your pastor and elders lead with joy, not with groaning,

for that would be of no advantage to you.

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