FROM THE OFFICE OF THE PUBLISHER
Paul D, Robbins
July 1, 1983
Time magazine recently published a cover story about the stress epidemic in our country. It gave evidence that stress is a major contributor to the six leading causes of death: coronary disease, cancer, lung ailments, accidental injuries, cirrhosis of the liver, and suicide. The three best-selling drugs are Tagamet, a medication for ulcers; Inderol, a medication for hypertension; and Valium, a tranquilizer. Two-thirds of all office visits to family doctors are prompted by stress-related symptoms.
If you are a pastor or other person involved in Christian ministry, this information comes as no surprise. Most of your counseling appointments are sought by stress-saturated people. As one pastor put it, "Stress passes through my study like a never-ending parade."
Although the theme of this issue is church politics, the secondary, unarticulated subject matter is stress. The major topics-church politics, staff conflicts, dealing with deacons, also remarriage and death-all qualify for Hans Selye's list of the 100 most important causes of stress, the kinds of stress that gravitationally engulf the parishioner as well as the pastor. How do we work in the epidemic and not catch the disease? How do we usher stress through the study and not through our soul?
I've been fascinated with the kinds of stress Paul describes in 2 Corinthians 11. First he lists the external kinds: beatings, bandits, persecution, shipwrecks, stonings, floods, poverty, and hunger. Then he lists the internal kind: "the daily inescapable pressure of my care and anxiety for all the churches!" (v. 28, Amplified). It's hard for me even to imagine the trauma of shipwreck or the pain of rent flesh from a whip; however, sleepless nights over troubles in the church I quickly ...
Like the preview? To read this complete article
and 20,359 more in the archive—JOIN NOW!
Easily find high-quality, well-researched materials that provide a Christian perspective on topics ranging from headlines to history.
Start using this invaluable tool TODAY for preparing your Bible studies, presentations, class lectures, sermons, meetings, and more.
|
It's easy and quick to join:
Brought to You by Christianity Today Int'l |  |
|
| 
Find similar articles
E-mail this page
