How To Burnout In 5 Easy Steps

Staying strong is overrated. All this talk about avoiding the wall? Hooey. You were born to burnout. You were meant for serving weak. Want a quick way to burnout in ministry leadership? Here are 5 easy steps:

1. Seek Unforgiveness. Someone hurt you lately? Cool. Here's what you do: Hold a grudge. That's right. Don't give in to the temptation to be the weaker one. Keep steady. Better yet, give them the silent treatment. Yeah! It will teach them a lesson and you'll be well on your way to burning out.
2. Pursue Passionlessness. Ask yourself this question: "What ministry fuels my passion?" Got your answer? Good. Now do something (anything) that is the opposite of your answer. Do the thing that is a total drag for you. Give it your all. Seek the boredom. Revel in the difficulty. It will annoy those around you and you'll be well on your way to burning out.
3. Engage In Prayerlessness. Got prayer concerns? Want to touch the heart of God? Want to seek and sense His will for your life? Forget it. You're looking to burnout, right? Good. Then cut ALL prayer from your routine. Don't pray in the morning. Don't pray when you're stressed or sad. And don't pray when things are going well. Think of the time you'll save.  It will grieve the Holy Spirit and you'll be well on your way to burning out.
4. Be An Impostor. Are you introverted by nature? Be extroverted. Are you methodical? Be spontaneous. Are you a people person? Then be a recluse. You have to understand that being yourself is simply going to keep you from burning out. So don't be yourself. Better yet, try to be just like someone else. It will irritate your loved ones and you'll be well on your way to burning out.
5. Over-identify. In your work with others, you will feel their pain. This is good. Dwell on it. Identify it so deeply that you begin to feel responsible for it. This will give you ownership of their pain, as though you were the cause. You will sink in the quicksand of their misery. You won't be able to help them because you'll be so depressed yourself. This will help others become co-dependent and you'll be well on your way to burning out.

So you see, if you are interested in burning out, it's quite simple really. Just follow these 5 easy steps and we'll see you in rehab!

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Question: Can you think of more than 5 steps to add to the list?

Comments

[Scott Couchenour]

EF: Ooooo. When I read #12, it sounded eerie. Good thought though. Man, if someone really did want to burnout and fail, this is the place!

[Scott Couchenour]

EF: Ooooo. When I read #12 and its companion "freebie", it sounded eerie. Good thought though. Man, if someone really did want to burnout and fail, this is the place!

[Michael Schutz]

I hear your point, A. Amos Love - titles can certainly be idolatrous. And to go one step further with it, I would say it's the fact that identity, self-worth, etc. are tied to that title, which causes us to lose our proper identity in Christ.

But I must respond with "yes" to each of your three questions:

Did anyone have the “Title” “pastor” in the Bible? Yes. Anyone who was called an elder/overseer/pastor/etc. the titles are used interchangeably. Acts 20 and Ephesians 4 are examples, as are both letters to Timothy, and Titus.
Was anyone ordained a “pastor” in the Bible? Yes. Timothy, the elders of Crete (Titus 1), the elders at Ephesus (Acts 20). Again, though, this presumes one considers the titles to be interchangeable. If we're concerned about the word "pastor", sure, that only appears once. But there is clearly an office that is established to lead churches - that of elder/overseer. I would include the title "pastor" in describing that office.
Were any congregations "led" by a “pastor” in the Bible? Yes. Though, to be fair, it was generally a team of pastors/elders/overseers. I don't think we see single "pastorships" anywhere (though I'm not sure of that off the top of my head...)

So maybe this is #13 :) - Tie your whole identity to your church leadership role. Get it backwards - find your sense of security and worth in what you do, not in who you are in Christ. That way you can burn out much more quickly should that role ever change or go away.

[Scott Couchenour]

MS - Thanks for the clarifications and insight. Regardless of title, the main point stands true: to burnout, build your worth around your role, not Christ.

[Pastor Pride]

number 14 (from a repenting arrogant pastor) -- 14. Think you’re hot stuff. Foster your natural narcissism. Think that it is all about you. Believe your own press releases. Get cocky about how big your church is, how great a preacher you are, and what an incredible leader you. It will accelerate your demise. Don’t visit anybody in the hospital or a tough situation so you have to care.. Don’t go to the back door and meet the folks after a service. Just stay in your office so you don’t have to relate with the peons. Let your ego take you to the point of thinking that God really needs you in ministry! Allow pride to destroy your hunger and thirst for righteousness. Before long the fragrance of Christ will be replaced with the stench of self-centeredness Then sit back and let people exalt you. Your fall won’t be long after this because God will not share His glory with another!

[Scott Couchenour]

Pride: Nice. "It's all about you" - great segue to burnout! In fact, I read where someone once said "pride comes before a fall" :) Interested in burning out? Go for it! Assume the throne meant for God. Be God yourself! (thanks for #14)