A Pastor's Anthem: I Won't Back Down

Over ten years ago, the students of Fruitland Baptist Bible Institute were treated to a concert by Southern Gospel group Gold City on the campus. I still remember hearing them say that a well-known pastor who was undergoing much publicized trials and tribulations in ministry began every day listening to their song, "I'm Not Giving Up." The song goes like this:

I'm not giving up. I'm not turning 'round.
By the grace of God I'll win a shining crown someday.
I'll keep holding on to that nail-scarred hand.
I'm not giving up, no I'll keep going on.

Been walking through the valley
Through this vale of tears
At times I've even questioned even if my Lord was near
Then at times that ole' tempter says "Why not turn around?
You can't get any farther, because you're just losing ground."

I'm not giving up. I'm not turning 'round.
By the grace of God I'll win a shining crown someday.
I'll keep holding on to that nail-scarred hand.
I'm not giving up, no I'll keep going on.

Would you mind to tell me; there's been something botherin' me:
Why is it that ole' devil, he just won't let God's children be.
See he has purposed and determined to get right in the way
And turn us from the way of life
And lead our souls astray.

I'm not giving up. I'm not turning 'round.
By the grace of God I'll win a shining crown someday.
I'll keep holding on to that nail-scarred hand.
I'm not giving up, no I'll keep going on.

When I heard that song and the accompanying testimony, I was naive about the challenges of ministry. I thought, "My goodness, how bad can it be that someone would have to begin every day with that affirmation?" But soon enough, my idealism met the reality that is pastoral ministry. It is tempting, especially on Mondays and Thursdays to say, "Why don't I just throw in the towel?" And I just don't like Southern Gospel music enough to make myself listen to that song every day. But then along comes Tom Petty.

Who knew that Tom Petty was so sensitive to the concerns of Pastoral Ministry? Last night, on a late night run to Chic-Fil-A, "I Won't Back Down" popped up in the shuffle on my iPod. Maybe its because it was business meeting night, maybe its because several people took the liberty to try to tell me how I should preach and teach, maybe its because I spent a good deal of time talking with someone about the difference between doing "what's right" in ministry rather than doing "what works," or any number of other reasons (maybe I was just really tired), but this song came across to me as one that could have been (or maybe should have been) written by a pastor who is plugging along as faithfully as he can in spite of many obstacles. It could just as easily apply to a faithful Christian trying to follow the call to discipleship and witness in a fallen world. What I like about Petty's song is that (for understandable reasons) it does not force us to see Satan behind every attack. Sometimes "the world" (as the term is used often in Scripture to denote the ways of thinking that dominate this world) is our enemy. People, even church people, even pastors, are influenced by the world. And the one who tries to live hard for God will be dragged down and pushed around by the world. And there isn't any easy way out. "Pie in the sky" will only get you so far on a Monday or Thursday. We're better to remember the words of Petty: "There ain't no easy way out." Sometimes it just takes raw determination to say, "I won't back down," in the face of the gates of hell and the threats of this world.

"I Won't Back Down" by Tom Petty

Well I won't back down
No I won't back down
You could stand me up at the gates of Hell
But I won't back down
No I'll stand my ground
Won't be turned around
And I'll keep this world from draggin' me down
Gonna stand my ground
And I won't back down.

Hey, baby. There ain't no easy way out.
Hey yeah, I will stand my ground.
And I won't back down.

Well I know what's right
I got just one life
In a world that keeps on pushin' me around
But I'll stand my ground
And I won't back down.

Hey, baby. There ain't no easy way out.
Hey yeah, I will stand my ground.
And I won't back down.

Hey, baby. There ain't no easy way out.
Hey yeah, I won't back down
Hey, baby. There ain't no easy way out.
Hey yeah, I will stand my ground
And I won't back down.