“Ministers are slandered, vilified, addressed in anger – not by those who are the enemies of Christ and his gospel, but by professing Christians. And when the watching world catches glimpses of such behavior within the family of God, they rightly wonder what kind of ‘family’ it really is.”

I recently found myself in conversation with a pastor’s wife who was describing some of the grief her husband had endured through a turbulent time in one of his churches. Her/their experience bore all the marks of similar stories I have listened to more often than I care to remember over the past 35 years and longer. As she was speaking, the thought that went through my mind was, ‘But ministers are human too’ and by the time she had finished talking, those were the very words she used to round off the conversation.

It is one of the tragic curiosities of church life that the very men who are charged with the care of God’s people are so often treated in ways that show scant regard for their calling. It is almost as though the normal rules governing interpersonal relationships and how to handle difficulties arising within them are suspended. Ministers are slandered, vilified, addressed in anger – not by those who are the enemies of Christ and his gospel, but by professing Christians. And when the watching world catches glimpses of such behaviour within the family of God, they rightly wonder what kind of ‘family’ it really is.

None of this is to say ministers are faultless. If the greatest of them, the Apostle Paul, could describe himself as ‘chief of sinners’ (1Ti 1.15), then who are we to pretend we are anything better. Nor is it to say that ministers always handle their failures well. But it does raise questions about how well the members of the church understand and appreciate the Bible’s instruction on how they should relate to those Christ has entrusted with their spiritual welfare – even when they stumble.

There are a number of axioms and principles that should guide us as we try to frame the way we relate to men in the ministry.

The first is that we treat them with the respect their office deserves. Although they are mere men, they have been entrusted with a high calling. Their appointment has not been by their own choosing, or even merely as the result of a congregational vote. Rather, as Paul reminds the Ephesians, they are among the ‘people gifts’ the risen exalted Christ gives to his church (Eph 4.11). Or, as Peter makes clear, they are under-shepherds of the One who is the ‘Chief Shepherd’ (1Pe 5.1-4). So too, as James makes clear, the bar of their accountability is much higher than merely to their congregation or fellow-elders, or higher church courts: they ‘will be judged more strictly’ (Jas 3.1). In some church traditions, the formal letter of call to a new pastor is signed by every member of his congregation and they promise to ‘love, honour and respect him for his work’s sake’. This does not place him beyond criticism, but does afford him the respect that comes with the burden of his particular responsibility.

The second axiom is that we should encourage our ministers – even those that appear to be confident and gifted. Paul tells the Galatians (who by virtue of their regional temperament were apparently cantankerous by nature) ‘Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor’ (Ga 6.6). It takes more conscious effort to commend a preacher/teacher than it does to criticise and condemn. And when that becomes the pattern for how a preacher is treated, it is perhaps hardly surprising that he and his preaching are inevitably shaped by the way he is treated.

Read More