The Pastoral Blindspot

The missing link between biblical truth and behavioral change.

Good morning, friend.

If this is your first time here, welcome. Thousands of thoughtful, growth-minded people read along each week. Join them here.

Everyone deserves to know their Primal Question, so don’t keep us a secret. Forward this email or share it with a friend. (Copy link here)

Today, we’re talking about…

Why theology isn’t enough for pastoral ministry.

You spent years in seminary studying Greek and Hebrew. You can explain the nuances of sanctification, parse verbs in Romans, and deliver a sermon that connects the Old Testament to Jesus. You're equipped with theological training that helps you understand God's Word.

But do you feel equipped with exactly what to say when someone sits across from you in pain?

When a woman has tears streaming down her face because her marriage is crumbling? Or when a young man confesses he can't stop looking at porn despite "trying everything"? Or when a church leader is wrestling with anxiety so severe they can barely function?

In my experience, most pastors are not prepared for these moments.

Because in these moments, theology alone is not enough.

Theology is the study of the nature of God.

Pastors also need to know how to study the nature of people.

Because while you've been trained to handle the Scriptures, you probably weren't trained to handle trauma. While you can walk someone through a bible study, you might not know how to walk them through abandonment, betrayal, addiction, or shame. This is the pastoral blindspot hindering your ministry.

Let me be clear:

I'm for you, not against you.

I've spent thousands of hours working with pastors.

Many of my closest friends are pastors. I've been in ministry myself. I still speak at churches a few times per year. I know your heart, and I know you want to help.

Frankly, you just haven’t been taught how to be effective when it comes to heart issues.

Most ministry programs focus 99% on theological knowledge and 1% on people skills, but the work of ministry is often the reverse. This leaves many pastors feeling like they’re playing catch up, constantly on their heels. They’re making it up as they go, trying to reference a relevant Bible verse but secretly wondering if they’re really making an impact.

The most common mistake?

Treating the symptom instead of the source.

I see this pattern every day:

A couple is fighting constantly, so a pastor tells them to pray more often and do weekly date nights. A young man can't kick his addiction, so he's given Scripture to memorize and a site blocker. A youth pastor is stressed, so they tell them to take a day off.

These responses aren't wrong, but they focus on behavior and miss the deeper question:

Why is this person really struggling?

What is at the root?

The behavior you see is rarely the actual problem. It's a symptom. It's a coping mechanism. It's what I call “The Scramble", which is all the unhealthy things we do to try to meet our deepest need. When we treat surface-level behavior without understanding the deeper need, we end up offering shallow solutions to soul-deep pain.

What if you knew how to get to the source?

After seven years of research, 100,000 assessments, 6,000 hours of interviews, and 22 group labs, I discovered something powerful: Almost every human struggle points back to one of seven core needs—what I call the Seven Primal Questions.

Every person you counsel, every staff member you lead, and every person you preach to is driven by one of these questions:

1. Am I safe?

2. Am I secure?

3. Am I loved?

4. Am I wanted?

5. Am I successful?

6. Am I good enough?

7. Do I have purpose?

Every person in your congregation has a Primal Question.

When it is answered with a NO, we scramble into unhealthy behaviors. When it is answered with a YES, we feel grounded. As a pastor, your job isn't just to correct behavior but to help people identify and bring their deepest need to God—the only one who can truly answer their question with a resounding "YES."

How do you get started?

3 Steps to Start Shifting Your Ministry Today

Here's how to move from surface-level pastoring to soul-level transformation:

1. Recognize that behavior is not the problem.
   
   When someone walks into your office struggling with anger issues, addiction, or anxiety, don't just address what they're doing. Look deeper. These behaviors are rarely random. They're responses to unmet needs. Before you try to change what someone is doing, get curious about why they're doing it.

   The behavior is just the tip of the iceberg.

2. Identify the unmet need driving the behavior.
   
   This is where the Primal Questions framework becomes your most valuable pastoral tool. Learn to listen beyond the words people are saying to hear the question they're really asking.
   
   That person who can't stop looking at porn? They're not just battling lust. They might have a need to be wanted. The control freak on your elder board? They might be desperately trying to feel safe in an unpredictable world. That youth pastor who’s burnt out? They might be scrambling to do more because they’re not sure if they matter.
   
   Until you know which question they're asking, you're just guessing. But once you identify it, you suddenly have a map for the conversation. You can speak directly to their core need.
   

3. Show them how God answers their question with a YES.
   
   This is where your theological training becomes powerful again, in a targeted way. Scripture becomes deeply personal when we realize that God answers every Primal Question with grace.
   

• For those asking, "Am I safe?" — Point them to Psalm 18:2: "The Lord is my protector. He is my strong fortress. My God is my protection. With Him, I am safe. He protects me like a shield."

• For those wondering, "Am I secure?" — Share 2 Corinthians 9:8: "And God is able to bless you abundantly so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."

• For the person asking, "Am I loved?" — Remind them of Lamentations 3:22-23: "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. His mercies never come to an end. They're new every morning."

• For someone questioning, "Am I wanted?" — Reassure them with Luke 15:4-5: "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn't he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders."

• For the person who needs to know "Am I successful?" — Show them Philippians 3:7-8: "But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord."

• For those asking, "Am I good enough?" — Share 2 Corinthians 12:9: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." They may not be good enough on their own, but God's grace is more than enough.

• For the one wondering, "Do I have purpose?" — Remind them of Ephesians 2:10: "For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

Your job is to reflect God's heart by answering their deepest question with His resounding "YES."

What would it look like for you to be equipped with everything you need to know about how to handle any people situation that comes your way? What value would it bring to your ministry if you were never lost, never confused, and never making it up as you go?

That's what understanding the Primal Questions can do for your ministry. It gives you the framework to see what’s really going on underneath the surface.

This isn't just another ministry tool. It's a way to minister to what people actually need. And when you do that, you're doing the work of Jesus—meeting their greatest need with His greatest love.

Warmly,
Mike Foster

P.S. Want to discover your own Primal Question? Take our free 5-minute assessment at primalquestion.com. It'll help you understand what's driving your own behavior and ministry style.