Have you ever noticed how arrogant and insensitive successful people are? It is so common that we begin to think that being mean to people is a mark of truly successful people in all walks of life. We might expect a drill sergeant to be harsh, but does this translate into the business world or academia?
How about in the church? Should we just give pastors and leaders a pass as we watch how they treat those under them? Or should those in leadership in the church exhibit different qualities than those in the world?
In our Fellowship, pastoral influence is based partly on spiritual genuineness in their walk with the Lord Jesus. Pastoral influence is also partly based on their relationships to those in their church and those under them in ministry. In our Fellowship, influence is based on trust. Do we trust the man who preaches to us on Sunday morning? Has he proven himself to be trust worthy?
You do not have to be smiling and cheerful and nice all of the time to earn trust. You have to be wise as a serpent and harmless as a dove. You have to be able to minister without prejudice. You can never take information spoken in confidence and preach it to the whole church or conference body. You have to tell the truth, and you have to be right most of the time.
An arrogant, selfish, mean pastor may work in some organizations. But in our Fellowship you have to set the standard by which anyone in your church could follow your example and still get to Heaven in the end.
I am grateful for my pastors and the ministry that they bring to my soul every week.
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