Ergun Caner, dean and president of Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary and one of the nation’s most prominent Christian apologists, called for the liberation of pastors so that they can be free to do what they are called to do. Quite simply, Caner said, “Don’t let people bug you.” He said that the Apostle Paul “was exhausted” from what was happening in the church at the time of his writing in the sermon text of Galatians 6, in which Paul encouraged Christians to glory in the cross of Christ, allowing nothing and no one to trouble them in that pursuit.
Caner sighted three ways in which pastors can be liberated in order to do what they are called to do.

1. Your scars tell your story.
In verse 11, Paul says notes the large letters he uses in writing that section of the epistle, which suggests some possible unnamed malady, or a scar. “Satan wants your soul,” Caner stated, “and if he can’t get that he wants your testimony. Or he’ll try to rob you of your joy.” He implored pastors to allow God to use their scars of ministry, noting that Paul did not hide what was wrong with him. Caner said that our scars are essentially “tattoos of grace.”

2. God’s calling kept Paul committed.
Caner stated that it is “the inevitability of ministry” that someone is going to hate you and someone is going to love you. But he advised that pastors cannot get lost in worrying about those who oppose them because we have a God-ordained mission: “It’s about souls and that’s what gets us up in the morning.” He added, “We do what we do because we are called; it’s a holy obsession.” As such, we must remain focused on the goal.

3. Your worst pain will be your greatest power.
Our pain will lead to victory. “When we have pain, God provides grace,” Caner exhorted. He closed by saying, “Find out what His call is on your life, then rise up and speak up. The only thing you can never do is quit!”