Austin Fitch

Follower of Jesus, Husband to Liv, Pastor, fan of the Jays, Bills, and yes even the Leafs.

[Jason Kovacs @jasonkovacs]

This week I spoke with four pastors who are dealing with some form of burnout. I wouldn't call it an epidemic based on four conversations, but I did notice something they had in common - each serves on staff at a large church where there is considerable emphasis on the great things God is doing.

That emphasis can create a subtle pressure to keep up and continually pour yourself out. Jesus gave his life for us, the reasoning goes, so we should give everything we have to him and his church. While sacrificial ministry is biblical, this message can be used sometimes unintentionally to justify unhealthy expectations and unsustainable patterns.

That said, burnout requires careful discernment. Is the primary issue personal character? Perhaps an internally driven workaholism or an inability to receive limits? Or is the organizational culture placing undue pressure on the person? Often, both personal and systemic factors need attention.

We also need to consider capacity, competency, and calling. When someone consistently works too far outside their limits, abilities, or calling, the likely destination is burnout, blowup, or breakdown.

Healthy churches help staff members discern these things. They place people in appropriate roles, clarify responsibilities, provide adequate support, respect human limitations, and encourage sustainable rhythms of work and rest.

Pouring ourselves out for Christ does not mean pretending we are limitless. Faithful ministry includes sacrifice, but it also requires humility, wisdom, community, and rest.

[Austin Fitch @AustinFitch]

@JJ_McCullough I was in Italy last summer. As I entered the boarder agent just stamped my passport and said next. Didn’t ask for a visa, didn’t ask how long I was staying, literally didn’t ask me anything at all. Not many barriers to be broken down here.

[Austin Fitch @AustinFitch]

@TrevinWax “I didn’t sit down today intending to write to an author” then proceeds to say “I work with authors” lol, nice try AI

[Paul Anleitner @PaulAnleitner]

Malcolm Guite explains, in just 90 seconds, how the deconstruction of our guiding stories leads to the collapse of civilization.

@malcolmguite

[Austin Fitch @AustinFitch]

@pastrpaulcarter 3/3 Just some food for thought 🤷‍♂️

[Austin Fitch @AustinFitch]

@pastrpaulcarter 2/3 You alluded to this when you say “You must get rid of it quickly lest it be used by the devil to lead you into sin”. At what point have we actually been lead into sin, and at what point are we just experiencing a natural emotional response to injustice (and are not in sin)

[Austin Fitch @AustinFitch]

@pastrpaulcarter 1/3 I think it would be helpful if you defined what anger actually is and what part of it is actually sinful. Is it the thought? The emotion? The response? Surely the immediate feeling that naturally arises when an injustice has taken place is not, in and of itself, sinful.

[Jason Kovacs @jasonkovacs]

We underestimate the power of presence. If you have someone in your life who knows you, knows your story, your struggles and *stays with you*, you tend to get better.

It can be as simple and as difficult as that.

[Austin Fitch @AustinFitch]

@JJ_McCullough Assessing year one of Mark Carney as Prime Minister. When he started he was pretty unknown, now we know him better. Not an overly original idea. But it’ll get views and I’d love to hear your thoughts.

[Austin Fitch @AustinFitch]

@FriedgeHNIC I think it was wise to stick with Anderson. He doesn’t need more rest, he needs to regain some confidence and get his head into the series

[Jason Kovacs @jasonkovacs]

While the decision to remove Grace Community Church by the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors is commendable it shouldn’t be viewed in isolation. It sits within a broader history of how abuse has often been handled within this particular group of biblical counselors.

Over the years, there have been repeated concerns. In some cases, abuse has been minimized, reframed as primarily marital conflict, or addressed in ways that placed burdens back on victims rather than prioritizing their protection and safety. These outcomes are not accidental. They are, at least in part, connected to the underlying framework that has shaped this approach.

This is where a historical critique of Jay Adams and the nouthetic model is necessary. Adams made important contributions in recovering the authority of Scripture in counseling. But his framework lacked in dealing with power, oppression, trauma, and abuse dynamics. As a result, situations of abuse could be flattened into categories of sin, conflict, or mutual marital struggle. That flattening is not just imprecise, it is dangerous.

An example of this is found in an article from 1984 that has recently resurfaced, where Jay Adam’s addresses a case study of a father who sexually abuses his daughter. Adams’ language, at times, leaves room for the idea of “complicity” on the part of the minor victim and calls it an “affair.” He also frames the abuse in the context of marriage where he deals with the wife’s sin of withholding sex and her need to repent. He views the wife’s sin as creating the temptation that led to the husbands abuse of his daughter. He emphasizes that “developing a proper way to deal in the future with marriage problems will lead to no more ‘incidents'”. This comes from a sincere belief that we are all sinners and all of us need to consider our part in repentance - even in a case of childhood sexual abuse. Some have defended this article just this week.

When categories are too narrow, when suffering is not adequately distinguished from sin, and when power dynamics are not taken seriously, the result is often that victims are misunderstood and abusers are not confronted with the full weight of their sin. Faithful, gospel-centered counseling is clear:

• abuse must be named for what it is
• victims must be protected and cared for
• abusers must be held accountable
• and the church must act with both grace and justice

Recovering biblical authority in counseling was necessary. But continuing to refine our categories in light of Scripture and real human experience is equally necessary. I'm grateful for where that is happening.

[Austin Fitch @AustinFitch]

@PastorPWMartin This is a legendary story!

[Austin Fitch @AustinFitch]

@jasonkovacs Soooo stressful! But another big win!

[Austin Fitch @AustinFitch]

@JJ_McCullough Come live in St. Catharines Ontario, we get hardly any snow here

[Austin Fitch @AustinFitch]

@JeffreyPWiesner I think with every additional pastor you add, the more strongly you should consider planting. If it’s just a second pastor then I’d say care. If this is the 5th pastor on your staff I expect most would say plant.

[Austin Fitch @AustinFitch]

@CanadaTGC Great thoughts. I’d say if it were to be talked about in our church it this Sunday it would resonate with a small minority, but for the majority of people it would seem mostly out of place.

[Austin Fitch @AustinFitch]

@PastorPWMartin STRONG OPINION: They should just scrap speed cameras entirely. They have them here in Niagara and they are vandalized constantly. As decent speed bump would produce the same desired outcome.

[Austin Fitch @AustinFitch]

@TGC I appreciate the heart behind this article, but I think spiritualizing church pews is a bit of a stretch for me.

[Austin Fitch @AustinFitch]

@jaredcwilson As a Canadian I feel like 8 is a decent score

[Austin Fitch @AustinFitch]

@TGC If it was a heterosexual couple who were living together (unmarried) would you say the same thing? Wouldn’t they also be living in a way that is contrary to Gods design? I’m not trying to play a game of “gotcha” just genuinely curious where we draw the line on these matters.