I was recently a part of three-day training conference with about thirty other men. Most of them were boomer-aged pastors.

During our first session, one of the facilitators did the usual “Let’s get to know one another” exercise. One-by-one the men introduced themselves and talked about their families and where they currently are in ministry. That revealing process was so reminiscent of other pastor gatherings I’ve been a part of in recent years. Most of what we heard was guarded, but, nevertheless, undisguised discouragement, frustration, and pain. I wouldn’t call it morbid, but there was a palpable sense of perplexity in the room. 

I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that many boomer pastors today - those near or reaching the traditional retirement age – find themselves in a prolonged period of perplexity. Prolonged perplexity leaves one weary, worn, and wasting away emotionally, physically, and spiritually. We might call this condition CPS – Chronic Perplexity Syndrome.

Why are so many pastors chronically perplexed? I have some thoughts based on personal experience, dialog with other pastors, and simple observation. We can look at this question from two perspectives:

The Big Picture Perspective offers several answers:

1. The dreadful state of our current culture.
2. The decline of the traditional church.
3. The difficulty of creating meaningful change.

 The Local Picture Perspective offers several answers as well:

1. The lack of influence and impact of the local church – irrelevance.
2. The lack of growth in the local church – inwardness.
3. The lack of authority and ability of the pastor to affect change in the local church – entrenched attitudes, structures, and tradition.

Is the Chronic Perplexity Syndrome a condition we can overcome? Of course it is! We need to adjust our perspective:

1. We must remember that we didn’t choose the time. God chose us for this time. (Esther 4:14)
2. That we hurt for our church and desire something better for our people is a part of our calling and our pastoral heart in the same way Jesus was perplexed and wept over Jerusalem, and in the same way Paul hurt for the Galatian Christians. He tells them, “My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!” (Galatians 4:19-20)
3. Biblical leadership is never easy and always tested. The difficult issues in the church at Corinth strained Paul’s leadership even as he fought against the powers of darkness. He told them, “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed, perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but destroyed.” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9)

Prolonged perplexity may be something we have to endure in these days as spiritual leaders, but we need not despair. Those who have fought the good fight have something to say to us. “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9)