Once again, I found myself sitting in worship privately grieving that the pastor of the church would give his forced resignation at the end of the service. Please, God, not again!
While the secular world “fires” people, I do not give up hope that His Church will do this differently. After all, this pastor was called of God to come there, so how can any man or group interfere? Shouldn’t we treat these men of God with reverent tenderness, if not with more plain old human compassion than anyone, lost or saved, has? As our Lord’s family, we must show the lost world a far better way than dumping our men of God, and their families, into the street.
As a pastor of over 40 years, let me offer some spiritual balm. Let us work harder to match the personality of a prospective pastor with the needs and vision of the church. If there is a power-hungry pastor, deacon or church leader, let’s call it what it is, unbiblical and sinful. Let us better train and mentor our church leaders, pastors and deacons alike, to work with one another with team spirit. Reasonable compromise and consensus skills, along with conflict resolution skills, should be polished by all.
In the end, let us all agree to disagree instead of saying, “My way or the highway” or “this is a deacon-run church.” I’ve seen too many godly pastors and staff members kicked to the curb because of these godless attitudes and actions. Or, how about this one: “I was here before you, and I’ll be here when you’re gone.” While that may be true, it is also true that God called the pastor to that church, and it’s God who must call him away — not you, me or anyone else.
What are we to do, as lovers of His Church, when it seems clear that change is necessary? As men and women of God, let us be humble, yet openly honest with one another about the problems. Let’s talk about our expectations and disappointments with a large measure of grace. Let’s agree on a reasonable plan and schedule of transition.
Most of all, let’s show the lost world a better way. Indeed, let’s eradicate those bad reputations that too many churches get by finishing off their wounded. In practicing the patient love of Christ with member and pastor alike, we give our community good reason to come to our church, not reason to stay away.
Ron Underwood
Associational Missionary
Kershaw Baptist Association