10 SURE WAYS TO KEEP YOUR PASTOR OR WATCH HER WALK

Eph 4:11-16 (NKJV) “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, (12) for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, (13) till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 

A Pastor is one of Christ’s five office gifts to the Church. Yes, pastoring is a gift... and a pastor happens to be a GIFT that God gives to a church. The term pastor comes from “shepherd,” one who guides and cares for a flock.

Serving as a pastor is a remarkable and awesome blessing and privilege, but sometimes pastors can be the most misunderstood people in the church. Often their hours are long, the pay minimal, the criticism considerable and constant. Despite the joys of serving God, feelings of disappointment and discouragement can plague the best of them. However, here are 10 ways God can use you to become a blessing in THEIR life, which also enhance your ability to receive from their ministry:

1. Roll up your Sleeves and Become a Part of the Team – Attend church faithfully and show that you’re eager to follow his leadership. This will bless your life and be a tremendous encouragement to your pastor. Look for opportunities to use your gifts and talents for the work of Christ. And become a soul winner. People all around us are lost in sin, dying and going to hell. Do all in your power to win them to Jesus Christ. Tell them what Christ has done for you and what He can do for them. “Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.” (James 5:19-20)

2. Be Openly Responsive - Nothing excites a spiritual leader like seeing people respond to the preaching and teaching. Show him that you’re listening, and even say “Amen” once in a while. Not only will it make his day, but it may make the service shorter... as it is a proven fact that preachers often unconsciously repeat themselves when they feel they’re not connecting with their hearers.

3. Submit to the Leadership of your Pastor - The Bible places special emphasis on submission to spiritual authorities. The writer of Hebrews says, “Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.” (Heb 13:17). We are also instructed to follow and imitate those spiritual leaders as they follow Christ.  “Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.”(Heb 13:7)

4. Treat him with Proper Respect - Treat him with as much or more respect that you would anyone else in authority. Sometimes folks tend to think of him as an employee, instead of their spiritual leader. A pastor, however, is God’s appointed man, to help guide the soul of you and your family, and needs our love and respect. Express your respect to his authority by addressing him as “pastor” rather than by his first name, especially while on the church premises. 

5. Commit to Stand with Him Through Tough Times - Be a REAL friend… not just a fair-weather buddy. A genuine friend is someone who remains steadfast with you regardless of what may come. He stands with you in the adverse circumstances of life, does not forsake you when others may abandon you, helps guard you when you are off guard, helps hold you accountable to your values, forgives and encourages you if or when you fail. 

6. Toss out the Cookie Cutter - Don’t expect your pastor to do everything the same way the last pastor did. Trust God to use your spiritual leader to bring about relevant and effective ministry to the present need... and don’t stereotype him either with the strengths or short-comings of other spiritual leaders you’ve known. Let your pastor be himself. Your pastor is an imperfect human being, and is unique with his own distinct personality, gifts and talents. Not all pastors are the same, so don’t put him in a box and expect him to be a duplicate of others you’ve known.

7. Give Him/Her the Benefit of the Doubt - Support your pastor even when he can’t publicly explain why certain decisions or actions have been made. Oftentimes, to protect the privacy of others, pastors and leaders frequently cannot disclose everything publicly... and professional ethics sometimes demand silence over issues that are very sensitive. If a tough decision takes place, support your pastor and avoid the criticism that usually comes along with such situations.

8. Knock off Behind-His-Back Criticism - Ministers, as well as virtually all public authority figures, are often the subject of incessant criticism. The Monday Club? If there is a legitimate matter that concerns the leader, it should be addressed to him personally… but criticism behind one’s back certainly doesn’t help them, and when distributed about can cause a lot of harm to a leader’s reputation and credibility. And it will cripple the church, Some never recover as Pastors refuse to consider serving there.

9. Squelch Gossip and Bad Mouthing - Do not speak against or listen to gossip or slander about your pastor. If you hear negative comments, respond with a positive one. If misinformation is being spread, correct it with the accurate information. Or, if people are gossiping, just walk away.


10. Stay focused on the big picture - The big picture is JESUS... to love, forgive and seek to bring souls into the Kingdom of God. Don’t get weighed down by church politics, nonsense, offenses or whatever else goes on, but keep your focus on Jesus and on what the church and the pastor are really all about!

Dr. Dale A. Robbins