There are two extremes to be avoided as far as the treatment
of ministers is concerned. One is any tendency to treat them with disrespect
or even with contempt. There was more than a suggestion of this evil
in the Church in Galatia. Judaizers were present in the church there.
They had developed enmity towards the apostle. He says: "Am I therefore
become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?" (Gal.4:16). It is
a serious mistreatment of the minister to develop a hostile attitude
to the truth which he proclaims.
Another extreme to be avoided is any tendency to put the minister on
a pedestal by way of undue reverence. There is an implication of such
an attitude in the reaction of Cornelius to the ministry of the apostle
Peter: "Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped
him" (Acts 10:25). Peter had to remind him: "Stand up; I myself also
am a man" (v26). He must not be lauded, put on a pedestal and blindly
adored, for, after all, he is only a man. But he is God's man, and therefore
he must not be treated with disrespect, or contempt, or be ignored.
What, then, is the right treatment of the minister? A man who spends
his life in the ministry of the Word and prayer, serving men's souls
faithfully, should be properly honoured by those among whom he labours.
Writing to the Thessalonians in his first letter Paul says three things:
(a) You are to know your minister. "Know them which labour among
you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you" (1Thess.5:12).
Yes, they "admonish" you. Prepare for that. Their words must not antagonise
you. You are to recognise, or "know" your minister. The people of God
must in other words get to know their faithful gospel minister in a
personal way. They should be sensitive to his personal needs. They should
try to help him and relieve him from burdens that may diminish the effectiveness
of his ministry among them. Many problems arise because people don't
take the trouble to know their minister. Of course pastors may fail
to get to know their people sufficiently well, and that is a fault.
But very often they struggle because people are not taking the trouble
to get to know them.
(b) You are to esteem your minister, "to esteem them very highly"
(1Thess.5:13). The faithful gospel minister should have the high esteem,
the respect, of God's people. He is, after all, God's ambassador and
should be treated as such. He is of course only flesh and blood like
others, and is fallible. However, too often when problems arise the
poor minister becomes the object of criticism and antagonism. And often
that leads to a weakening of the ministry, especially in the area of
'admonition'.
(c) You are to love your minister, "(and to esteem them very
highly) in love for their work's sake" (1Thess.5:13). It is often said
that the pastor must earn the respect of his people, and there is a
truth in that. However, the poor pressured pastor ought to have the
love of his people. He is to be known and esteemed "in love". You must
love your minister "for their work's sake". What are they trying to
do? To win souls and be faithful to their Master in caring for them.
They don't earn love for that, but rather they deserve, and need your
love for that work.
When there are such attitudes of knowing and esteeming the minister
as God's man and loving him for the work done under God, albeit he may
preach uncomfortable truths, then there will be a fellowship which will
tend to manifest peace and blessing among the members of the church(v13).
Any comments or questions please E-Mail
me or Rev William Macleod
the Editor.
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