And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV)
This week at the arts camp I was talking with one of the girls whose family is looking for a new home church because their church is closing. I was telling her about how our church functions and how very different it is from my former churches. One of the things I said was that our pastor takes very seriously his call to shepherd the church. The apostle James warned the early church:
Brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers.
You know that we who teach will be judged more severely. (James 3:1 GW)
James is warning those who want to be in a church leadership role that their integrity and conduct matter. He does not say that there shouldn’t be teachers, but that those that teach should be aware that they will be held to a higher standard and judged accordingly. By whom? By the congregation or community? Maybe, but I think James’s point here is that GOD will judge leaders at a higher standard. After all, “If what a person has built survives, he will receive a reward. If his work is burned up, he will suffer ⌞the loss⌟.” (1 Corinthians 3:14-15 GW) Integrity and character matter.
Lately several very high profile pastors have had to step down from influential ministry roles because of integrity and character issues. This saddens me, as it hurts the Church and her witness, in addition to deeply scarring other people in these situations. I wonder how a church leader who, evidently has been trusted to lead God’s people, who (hopefully) studies and preaches God’s Word, and who (hopefully) prays and maintains a relationship with God, can have such character and integrity problems. Character matters.
But these situations do bring me back to a sense of gratitude for the pastors I’ve worked with in the last several decades of my life. They were men and women of honor, integrity, and people after God’s own heart. Their desires were to honor and serve God as they served the people in their churches. None was perfect as a person or as a leader, but God still entrusted his children to them. Being a leader who lives a life of integrity because of deep commitment to God is not easy. But what he or she builds will survive long term and, hopefully, at the end of their lives they will hear the words all of God’s children yearn to hear: “Well done, good and faithful servant…share in the joy of your master.”
Shepherding God,
Thank you for the men and women you call and put into leadership roles in your Church. Today we pray that each of them – no matter the context or setting – may be strengthened to be men and women of integrity, honor, and character – people who are seeking first your Kingdom and Righteousness. We pray for people who have deep “church hurt” and trauma; we pray in the name of Jesus that your Spirit and your people would bring healing and restoration to them. We pray that each of us would run with endurance the race set before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus and building what survives, so that we someday hear you say to us, “Well done, good and faithful one. Let us share in this joy!” AMEN.
His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little, I will put you in charge of many things; share in the joy of your master.’” (Matthew 25:21 AMP)
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. (1 Corinthians 9:4 NIV)