The difficult task of warning his people and strengthening their faith can be accomplished only by the pastor who is knowledgeable and solid in the faith himself. Titus 1:5-8 lists character requirements for a pastor, qualities evidenced by someone whose faith is genuine. Verse 9 then adds, “He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.” In other words, a good pastor must know doctrine and truth, he must live it, and he must teach it. Being a student of the Word, laboring over truth and the best way to communicate it–these are huge responsibilities. Honor your pastor by appreciating this.
Honor him also by listening to his instruction. Hebrews 13:17 reminds believers, “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your soul, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning.” Someday your pastor will answer to God for whether he has remained true to his calling. Let your response to the Word help him do this with joy. 1 Peter 5:1-4 outlines more of the pastor’s duties and qualifications, and verse 5 follows up with the responsibility of those under the pastor to respond humbly.
Nothing would give your pastor greater joy than knowing that you are growing in the Lord and pleasing God. The Apostle John wrote from a shepherd’s heart when he expressed, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth”(3 John 4). When you have learned from your pastor, when your pastor’s ministry has helped you grow, let him know.
Those who accept the pastoral position with an honest desire to serve God and love people face many discouraging days. Few people know the tears that accompany the responsibility of preaching, teaching, counseling, and pleading with people stagnating in their Christian life or blindly headed toward destruction, working their way toward the flattened-squirrel condition. When someone criticizes your pastor, recognize that you’ll almost never know the whole story; despite unfair complaints, your pastor won’t share facts which could vindicate him because much that he knows is confidential.
Pastors are human and therefore not perfect; if perfection were a requirement, we’d have no pastors. Thankfully, your pastor is not your priest and doesn’t stand between you and God. If he falls into sin, or if he asks you to do something contrary to the Word of God, you should not follow him (1 Timothy 5). But if he’s serving people, teaching and living God’s Word, and warning of sin, appreciate and honor him.
–second in a series of three