Don’t Fight the Pastor’s Battles - Present

If you are willing, please re-read the two blogs entitled, “Do Your Job Well,” and “Do Work Son.”

The reason I invited you to re-read these blogs is because they have a great deal to do with the relationship you have with the office of the pastor during the time it is vacant. It is NOT your responsibility to be the pastor, only to maintain the forward progress of the church.

Sadly, the predominant cause of a pastor leaving a church, in my experience as well as those in close proximity to me, is that there is some sort of unrest in the congregation about the pastor or even an accusation of improper activity on the part of the pastor. Even as I write those words, my heart aches over the personal losses to churches and pastors in events such as these. Regardless of the situation, churches loose ministry opportunities in the community and gain a reputation for corruption and back-room meetings, while pastors trade respect for rejection not only in their former community but, as far as the demon called Gossip can reach; the church is stained for the foreseeable future.

This new view of the church by the community affects no individual more prevalently than the ministers who remain in that church. They are rejected as though they were parties to both sides of the affair. They are hated for being two-faced ministers, and rejected for being pulpit-grubbing self-promoters. They are shunned inside and outside their church because of the pain inflicted in the lives of others, and for being the, “Hypocrite we knew he was!”

Inside or outside the church these ministers feel rejection, shame, and even guilt. I can see the faces and hear the voices of so many who openly accosted me after the resignation or removal of a pastor, as though I was the mastermind behind it all. Bitterness, on the part of the minister, is a natural response to this, as is an internal ‘need’ to fix the problem.

This, “I’ll show them,” attitude will win you no friends, nor will it grow your church. It is impossible for you, being that many accuse you for the entire situation, to overcome the weight of public appeal and win the ear of those around you long enough to change their opinion.

The mess that was made by either your former pastor, or the church your currently serve must not be brushed under the rug; however, it also not effective to grab your church by the scruff of their neck and rub their noses in the mess they just made. Though it may be temporarily gratifying to treat your church like a young puppy who just peed on the carpet, it will not yield a profit for the kingdom.

Please understand that the hurt and pain will subside, and so long as you and your spouse support one another in the home, the Lord will provide the strength to carry on. Continue to see the prize toward which the Lord has called you and wait on his strength, guidance, and peace to propel you toward good work, and the turmoil in which you now sit will subside.

Proverbs 3:5-8

⁵ Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
⁶In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
⁷ Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.
⁸It will be healing to your flesh
and refreshment to your bones.