I’ve had occasion over the last few months to engage a number of hurting and wounded pastors… which is probably no surprise if you’ve been reading my blog recently. I am grieved by how many have been deeply wounded by people who attend church!
I delivered a message while I was an interim pastor titled, “How To Fire The Pastor” which you can read HERE. I add a few more points of practical nature for consideration…
#1. Take Hebrews 13:17 seriously (Meditate on it) and don’t rebel against God’s Word at this point. “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.”
#2. If you are at odds with your pastor for any reason, the first thing you should do is to pray FOR him… not prey ON him (Get it?). Pastors are not perfect. They need the prayer support of God’s people. Take the approach found in Ro 12:18, “If it is possible, as much as it depends on you, be at peace with (Your pastor).”
#3. If you find it necessary to talk to your pastor about your disagreement, consider THIS as the way to do it (CLICK HERE!).
#4. If you do not find resolution, take God at His Word as found in Romans 12:19, “Never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.'” Do not take an active role in running the minister off (Heb 13:17 A & C), but rather pray watching for how God will handle it.
#5. Do not gossip or defame the pastor remembering the way you treat others is the way you treat Jesus… ” (Mt 25:45 & Lk 9:48).
#6. Treat your pastor the way YOU would want to be treated according to The Golden Rule (Lk 6:31).
#7. Consider these passages…
Jn 13:35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
Eph 4:29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
1 Thess 5:12 Respect those who labor among you & are over you in the Lord & admonish you, 13 & to esteem them very highly in love because of their work.
1 Tim 5:17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.
1 Chron 16:22 Touch not my anointed ones, do my prophets no harm!
If you are presently at odds with your pastor and wish he’d leave the church, you either: 1) Didn’t finish reading this post, OR 2) Are arguing against it passionately. That’s fine… take it to God in prayer. Ask Him to work both in your pastor AND in your own heart.