This is an excerpt from the new 48 Days to the Work You Love. The story here still breaks my heart when I recall it:
Pastor Jones sat in my office, slouched down in the big chair, struggling to relay the events of the last few days. After 19 years of faithful service as a pastor, he had been informed that his contract would not be renewed. No matter how gentle the delivery, the message screamed out at him – he had been fired, terminated, downsized, or uninstalled. How could this happen to a man of God? A man who had committed his life to serving God in the most socially 
recognized path of service. The anger and sense of betrayal came exploding out as we began to explore his options for moving on.
The portrayal of the preceding years, however, relayed a series of red flags that had been ignored. Pastor Jones was now grossly overweight, having drowned some of his frustrations in eating. He was on medication for depression and was been treated for a bleeding ulcer. Were these not clear signs of a life out of balance? Doesn’t God use physical unrest as a method of telling us something is out of alignment? In questioning this gentle, Godly man about his current life picture, he shared openly his naïve theological view. He simply thought that if he was committed to God, somehow everything would just work out. In his own words he said he was guilty of “sanctified ignorance.” This phrase jumped out at me and has haunted me ever since.
Sanctified Ignorance, the belief that if we love God and have committed our lives to him, everything will just work out, is an immature theology. Getting up each morning as a clean slate, just open to whatever may happen that day, will lead to a life of mediocrity. This is not the path of accomplishment, of excellence, of maximizing our impact and witness. The path of least resistance, just going where it seems easiest to go, creates very crooked streams, and very frustrated Christians. The truly Godly life is one of focused purpose, having like Paul, defined the goal and created a plan for its accomplishment.
Knowing God’s will is not some passive guessing game. Rather it is taking what God has already revealed to us and developing a plan of action. And God’s revelation to us comes through our bodies, our minds, our hearts and our spirits. Yes, we are submissive to God’s will, but God is not an angry taskmaster. He will not force you to be miserable day after day. The secret to creating a career that is both nurturing to the soul as well as to the pocketbook is, as theologian Frederick Buechner said, to find where “your deep gladness and the world’s hunger meet.” There you will find a job, a career, a business, and a life worth living. We cannot talk ourselves into doing something we do not inherently enjoy, no matter how spiritual that something may appear to those around us.
Pastor Bob had for years resented the resistance of the people. They seemed slow to act and only moderately supportive of his ideas for growth and change. Their resistance was reflected in their lack of financial support as well. He had two paper routes, requiring him among other things to start each Sunday morning at 3:30 AM, with three hours of delivering papers before delivering his message. His wife was working a stressful job to add to their meager income. And yet all this was justified because he was “serving God.” His early interest in engineering had been discarded based on an influential person’s declaring that Bob was called to preach. With no affirmation in the actual doing, he was still struggling to fulfill that expectation.
What a dismal picture! God does not call us to this picture of Christian living. Sanctified Ignorance is no excuse for a life out of alignment, lacking joy, fulfillment and a clear sense of accomplishment. If you are a street sweeper, then do it with joy. The Bible does not rank the Godliness of occupations, only modern Christians do that. Look at how God has uniquely gifted you in your (1) Skills & Abilities, (2) Personality Traits, and (3) Values, Dreams & Passions. It is in these that we find the authentic path designed for us for a purpose driven life.
Yes, Pastor Bob is redesigning his life. The years of moving off track cannot be recaptured completely, but he can redirect to capture the value of his remaining years. He is working in an engineering firm with many opportunities to share his faith and values. His income has increased dramatically, reducing the stress and resentment of his own wife and children. He is on a stringent program to reduce his weight and is experiencing the immediate satisfaction of the tiny steps of success. Godly insight and action are replacing his years of Sanctified Ignorance.
For steps in building a purposeful life, get a copy of 48 Days To The Work You Love or contact me about working together to find your purpose: Working with Dan
Greetings Dan,
This story illustrates a number of things you frequently address in your work. There is always hope, it is never too late to make significant changes. We need to look inward, get the help of others, take action, often a loss precipitates the onset of significant change and action. Also, alignment is key. If you work for one person, that person can put you on the street, without income, in short order. Thank goodness Pastor Jones was willing and able to address his plight in a constructive manner and with your guidance successfully reinvent himself.
What is both curious and familiar to me here is the idea that pastor Bob struggled with the resistance of those he was attempting to lead, this created resentment and frustration which undoubtedly impacted all areas of his life (again as you teach). The pastor may have had fine ideas and certainly a good heart but perhaps the role and context would not allow the expression or implementation of those ideas. His form of creativity and voice may have been squelched which, I would fathom, seldom leads to satisfaction. Sanctified ignorance is an interesting concept and certainly food for thought.
Love the new website! A job well done 48 Days Team!
Thanks,
Paul – yes, the process of finding our own individual path has many facets. Thankfully, we all have many, many options. Thanks for your comments.
sounds similar to other stories I’ve heard you share. Such as the preacher who turned painter and had more opportunities to witness than ever before because people expect a preacher to attempt to convert them but when a worker shares a story it’s a different message. Thanks for all you do. PS great look to the blogs. I’m headed to the website now.
So well written Dan. What’s sad is that he was on a path of interest in engineering when someone with influence came along and said he was called to preach. It’s so important that we carefully choose whom we allow to speak into our lives. The person who said he was called to preach could have told him he could be a “Preaching Engineer” and still maintain his income. 🙂 A pastor is not more godly or holy than an engineer just because he has the title of “pastor”. It’s so important that we re-frame how we see ministry. So glad he was able to take your advice and get on a path to a happier & healthier self.
Jevonnah, You are so right. We need to have a filter of discernment in allowing other people to speak into our lives. There really is safety in a multitude of counselors. Often life direction decisions are made based on the input of one influential person.
Hi Dan,
What a great concept–Sanctified Ignorance. Wow! I had the help a couple of pastors on their transition out of the ministry, and it was not pretty. There was a lot of bitterness and resentment toward to church leadership and toward themselves. I think you encapsulate the feelings and emotions that go along with that. Since then, they have both been able to move on and they are happy and fulfilled in near careers.
Cheers to you Dan. Keep rocking it.
Leo,
I trust you’ll keep having those opportunities. There are SO many pastors who are mismatched and unfulfilled in their attempts to do work that is “Godly.” Keep showing them options that allow a continuation of “ministry” without the components of their current worklife that are not a fit.
Thank you, Dan, for sharing this great, but heart breaking story. I think many of us go through life with some reason for not doing what we are passionate about doing. Sometimes we believe it’s serving God, but the reasons can also be money or other people’s expectations. In the end, we need to look past those “red herrings” and move on to what is really important, as Dan says. Blend your passions, your personality and your skills, and you will be successful!
Thanks so much Dan for such an enlightening blog. I think to some degree I have been living like that. It just never dawned on me. Now I have no excuses!!
Dan, I so appreciate your definition of “sanctified ignorance” in this post. It makes me want to stand and applaud you for speaking up and speaking out. I have not only experienced this myself, and the let down that comes as a result, but have seen so many others shipwreck their faith and end up off course. I’m grateful for the wisdom that years of experience brings. Thanks for speaking up Dan.
Marcy,
Thanks so much for your kind comments. Indeed, it is common to see someone “shipwreck their faith” with poorly examined theology.
What a way to share the fact that we are “co-creators”! I like to believe God put in his heart the longing to be an engineer.
This is a great post! A year ago I would not have been in agreement with the way I am today. Thanks for posting!