Pastors often walk among their congregations and are experiencing either affection or anger; kissing or killing. Not every church is this way, but a vast many are.

Warning: This article uses elements of the “Hunger Games” trilogy that may be a spoiler if you have not read the third book.

In “Mockingjay”, the third “Hunger Games” book, Katniss Everdeen takes on the role of leading the districts in rebellion against their fascist Capital oppressors. There is a scene where she wears a uniform specifically designed for that task. As she debuts the uniform, her mentor describes what he thinks the crowd’s reaction will be.

He tells her, “They’ll either want to kill you, kiss you, or be you.”

That is an accurate description of the life of many pastors. Pastors often walk among their congregations and are experiencing either affection or anger; kissing or killing. Not every church is this way, but a vast many are.

The pastor preaches knowing who agrees with him and who doesn’t. He enters a meeting with the same casting call in his head. It is during this time that the pastor resorts to the third observation of Katniss’ mentor. He thinks, “You may want to kiss me, and you may want to kill me, but what I really need is for you to be like me. If you could just do and say as I do, then we would be fine.”

This type of thinking is more deadly than dividing a congregation into the kissers and killers. This type of thinking is death to the pastor.

Yes, Paul commanded his churches to imitate him (1 Corinthians 4, Galatians 4), but these were commands ultimately to imitate Jesus. The pastor who thinks everything would smooth out if his people would just be like him is playing a fool’s game. Yes, the pastor’s life should be imitatable, but imitation of the pastor for the sake of making church life easier will lead to a decline in diverse wisdom, a less glorifying view of Christ, and ultimately to a frustrated pastor (unless you really like arguing with yourself).

No, you may have a bunch of people who want to kiss you and another who want to kill you, but the real question needs to be, “Will they follow you?” They don’t have to love you. They might even be actively angry against you. But will they follow you?

Pastors, are you leading your family, your leadership, and your church with a clear vision? Are you putting before them the truths of the scriptures, applied to your context, and challenging to their hearts? Are you presenting a vision of loving Jesus in your communities (inside your church doors and out) that at times angers and at times comforts, but more than anything, leads?

Don’t worry about who is on what side. There will always be kissers and killers. What the church today does not need is a bunch of clones who are trying to be their pastors. The church also does not need a bunch of pastors just imitating their favorite national preachers either.

The church needs indigenous leadership for indigenous churches casting indigenous visions for indigenous people.

Lead them as you follow Christ, and then trust God for the outcome.

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Gordon Duncan is a Teaching Elder in the Presbyterian Church in America and is the pastor of Sovereign King Presbyterian Church in Garner, N.C. and chaplain to the Garner Police and EMS.