OUR PASTOR IS BEING CRITICIZED=+
A pastor is not immune from criticism, but what should=+
a church member do when it seems=+
to be a major problem?=+
by=+
Wendell E. Miller=++

Q. We are members of a Bible-believing church. Some in the
congregation are saying cruel things about our pastor, and
it seems that they are trying to make him leave. We have had
pastors who were more eloquent; but he faithfully preaches
the Word, and he faithfully ministers to the needs of the
congregation. I am so hurt, frustrated and angry. What can I
do to help our pastor? He is relatively young and
inexperienced in the ministry. What counsel can I give him?
What can I do about the way that this problem is affecting
me?=++

A. There are a number of biblical principles that apply to
problems of this kind. Not only are these biblical
principles applicable to the questions that you have raised,
but also to various problems in interpersonal
relationships--especially where a loved one has been
offended.=++

First, consider what is appropriate and discreet. Certainly
you should be praying for your pastor and his wife. Perhaps
you can also give help and comfort to your pastor's wife,
and perhaps your husband can give help and comfort to your
pastor.=++

However, unless your pastor has a deep respect for your
husband--including both his Christian maturity and his
wisdom--it may be better for some other mature
Christian--even a stranger--to present the biblical
principles that he should consider.=++

One way to help your pastor would be for your husband to
give a copy of this article to your pastor, asking him to
read it and see if it can be helpful. You may want to
suggest this approach to your husband and discuss it with
him.=++

In my answers to your question, I will address you, your
husband, your pastor's wife, and other members of the
congregation as "believers"; and I will address your pastor
as "pastor." Each person who is concerned about the
situation should individually consider the principles that
apply to himself and act accordingly.=++

Jesus said, "I will build my church" (Matt. 16:18). The
Scriptures also say, "Surely the wrath of man shall praise
thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain" (Ps.
76:10).=++
Pastor, believers, you need to remember that Jesus said that
the local church is His church. Also, Jesus told Soul of
Tarsus that Saul was persecuting Him (Acts 9:4). So, at
least a part of the offenses of these people are offenses
against God, not offenses against you, pastor, and not
against you, believers.=++

Further, you need to remember that God has more power than
you do; and He is able to restrain the actions of those who
are making trouble in His church.=++

Pastor, believers, could it be that you are carrying a load
that is too big for you and that does not belong to you? The
Bible says, "casting all your care upon him; for he careth
for you" (1 Pet. 5:7). In prayer, you should turn this
burden over to the Lord; and perhaps you should confess to
God that you have not been trusting Him to care for His
church.=++

Now, believers, with regard to your concern for your pastor,
it is particularly difficult to see a loved one being hurt,
whether it be your pastor, marriage partner, child or
parent. However, it seems that you are not trusting God to
give your pastor what is best.=++

The Bible says that God will not allow anything into your
pastor's life except those things that will work together to
make him more Christlike (Rom. 8:28,29); and that the
purpose in the trials is to bring praise, honor and glory to
your pastor at the Judgment Seat of Christ (1 Pet. 1:7).=++

Believers, can you trust God to take care of your pastor?
You know that He loves your pastor more than you do, and you
know that He has more power to protect your pastor than you
do.=++

Perhaps you should pray, confessing a lack of trust in God
with regard to God's love for your pastor (Rom. 8:38,39), or
with regard to His faithfulness in providing His promised
care for your pastor (Rom. 8:28,29; 1 Pet. 1:7), or with
regard to His ability to keep His promises for your
pastor.=++

Pastor, believers, no doubt you know that God has commanded
forgiveness upon the remembrance of the offense (Mark
11:25), but have you considered the fact that refusal to
forgive is rebellion against God?=++

Believers, could it be that you have been thinking, This is
my church and my pastor, and they can't do this to me? No
matter how much you, your family, your parents, your
grandparents, and all your clan have put into the local
church through the years, remember, it is Christ's church-
-not yours.=++

Believer, perhaps you need to confess to God that you have
been hurt and angry because of your pride. If so, confess
your sin to God.=++

Pastor, could it be that you also have been thinking, "This
is my church." Could it be that you have forgotten that you
are only the undershepherd? Could it be that you have
forgotten that you are a bondservant who was bought for a
price (1 Cor. 6:19,20), and that bondservants do not have
rights? Could it be that you have forgotten that you have no
right to be treated better than Jesus was, but instead that
it is your "right" to suffer patiently, as Jesus did (1 Pet.
2:19-21)?=++

Pastor, how do you feel toward the perpetrators of evil?
Believer, you mentioned that you feel hurt and angry. The
ones who are doing evil are out of fellowship with God.
Pastor, believers, should not their spiritual condition make
you sorrowful rather than hurt or angry? Pastor, believer,
consider your feelings toward them; consider what has been
said above, and see if there is a spiritual problem in your
life that is responsible for hurt or angry feelings. Then
act accordingly.=++

What about frustration? Pastor, believers, are you
frustrated because the situation is out of your control? The
situation is not out of God's control. When you turn the
problem over to Him and let Him handle it, there will be no
need for frustration.=++

Pastor, believers, are you praying for those who are causing
trouble? Are you praying for their spiritual welfare, not
merely praying that they will quit annoying you? Jesus
commands that you love your enemies (Luke 6:27,28). He is
not commanding that you "feel good" toward them, but that
you do purposefully for their good. These two verses in
Luke's Gospel account teach that one way to love your
enemies is to pray for them.=++

Up to this point, pastor and believers, the advice that has
been given has been directed toward 1) helping you handle
the stress in a biblical manner; 2) helping you to have a
Christlike attitude toward those who are causing trouble in
the church; 3) helping to obviate hurt or angry feelings;
and, most importantly, 4) helping you to glorify God in your
life (Matt. 5:16).=++

Further, up to this point, pastor, I have assumed that those
who are criticizing you are entirely at fault and that you
are without fault. Of course, for whatever wrong they have
done or are doing, they are 100 percent at fault. But, could
it be that faults of yours have been a factor in the
problems in the church? Pastor, consider yourself to see if
you have been at fault even to a small degree; and then
consider what God would have you do about it.=++

Pastor, have you sought counsel from those in your
congregation who may have more experience and wisdom than
you? Have you accepted suggestions graciously--even from
those who are less experienced and knowledgeable than you?
Have you been willing to do things that the official board
and others have suggested? Or, have you wanted everything
done your way? What attitude has the congregation seen in
you?=++

Pastor, have you taken criticism with a spirit of humility
and looked to see if there are changes that you should make
in your personal life or your ministry; or have you
considered that you are above criticism?=++

Pastor, could it be that God would have you to ask
forgiveness of those who are attacking you, for something inyour attitudes or actions in the past?=++

Remember, if you were ten percent wrong, then you were 100
percent wrong in the ten percent; and your duty is to seek
reconciliation for your ten percent, not to hold the 90
percent against others.=++

Pastor, could it be that God would have you ask the entire
congregation for forgiveness for not seeking counsel, not
graciously accepting counsel, or for wanting your own way in
church decisions? If you did, would it demonstrate
Christlikeness to others and bring glory to God--and
possibly heal the church?=++

Pastor, believers, how have you reacted to those who are
being critical? Love "is not easily provoked"(1 Cor. 13:5),
and love does not keep records of the wrongs done by others
(1 Cor. 13:5 NASB).=++

Pastor, believers, have you been adding fuel to the
controversy; or have you been letting it burn out? What have
you done with regard to telling others of the actions of the
offenders? Have you put a cover over the offense (1 Cor.
13:7 "beareth all things"), rather than telling others of
the verbal attacks?=++

Pastor, have you preferred to be wronged rather than fight
for your "rights"?=++

If it has been necessary to confront the offenders, have the
confrontations been done in a spirit of reconciliation? Has
the knowledge of the offense and the offenders been kept
within the smallest group possible in accordance with the
successive steps of Matthew 18:15-17?=++

Certainly, as finite beings, there are times when honest
differences of opinion arise. These honest differences of
opinion should be solved without pride (1 Cor. 13:4), "but
in lowliness of mind" (Phil. 2:3), "preferring one another"
(Rom. 12:10), and "submitting yourselves one to another"
(Eph. 5:21).=++

Sometimes honest differences become serious contentions. The
contention between Paul and Barnabas (Acts 15:37-39) was so
strong that they separated into two missionary groups. Each
thought that he knew the best way to serve God, and it can
be assumed that the cause for the contention was sinful
pride. However, perhaps God worked even through this
contention to work out His will.=++

Perhaps the Apostle Paul required more of himself and
required more of others than did Barnabas. Perhaps John Mark
would have experienced a second, and possibly final, failure
as a missionary if Paul and Barnabas had taken him with
them. Perhaps the successful discipleship of John Mark
required the leadership of Barnabas apart from Paul. Could
it be that God used the sincere disagreement and strong
contention of Paul and Barnabas to utilize the best talents
of all three parties?=++

Pastor, believers, what is your attitude toward those who
leave to work with another group? Is there a willingness to
admit that it may be the leading of the Lord? Do you rejoice
with those who find a place of service with another
Bible-believing church, or do you look upon them as traitors
to your church? Do you pray for God's guidance and His
blessings on their work? Are you ready to greet them and
fellowship with them as occasions arise?=++

Separation into working groups that are more harmonious can
be beneficial to the overall program of God. In contrast,
discord and division in the local church because of pride,
jealousy and personal power struggles are grievous to our
Lord and to the Holy Spirit; and it is the duty of all
believers to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of
peace, except where truth and purity demand church
discipline or separation.=++

Pastor, believers, each of you should consider the
principles that have been given and determine which ones
apply to yourselves. Then do whatever God would have you to
do. As you act and react biblically, the offenses of others
cannot keep you out of fellowship with God, and God will be
glorified in your lives.=++

Copyright 1985 by Wendell E. Miller=+
Downloaded from http://www.biblical.counsel.org=++

May be reprinted and distributed in quantities if distributed free or at cost, and if=+
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