“Let Us Prey,” a 2017 book by Ball and Puls on narcissism in the church suggested that nearly a third of pastors in a North American context were narcissists. That research has subsequently been challenged. The Australian Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse made findings that a high percentage of religious leaders were not offenders.
It’s clear in the backwash of the Ravi Zacharias, Bill Hybels, etc. scandals that there are Christian leaders who are phony at best, pathologically destructive at worst.
But the majority of those who serve God in a recognised way, do serve God and people faithfully. I think that’s easily lost in the milieu of outrageously hypocritical leadership.
For those who have pastors who work hard, who listen, who are approachable and relational, who apologise sincerely and regularly — especially for important issues, who give credit where it’s due, who can be reasoned with, who occasionally change their minds, who steward power by giving it away — especially to the weakest, who have no skeletons in the closet, who chase reconciliation with passion, who LIVE the life of their calling, perhaps it’s really timely to tell them how well they’re doing.
We don’t need to heap excessive praise — nobody who serves God needs excessive praise, but just a solid and humble recognition, like we all need from time to time.
Especially if they’re seriously discouraged by the Ravi Zacharias scandal, and the bad rap that ministers may be getting as a result, give them your quiet reassurance that they’re faithful to their calling.
For those who are pastors, and you read these job descriptors of a godly character (1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1), be fair about yourself. If you genuinely love and do what is good, are self-controlled and disciplined, I pray you experience God being pleased — by your faith to serve diligently as a servant shepherd (Hebrews 11:6). The treasure that counts is sown up in heaven, and your reward will be much.
The facts of the matter are these — there are generally 50 percent of pastors who don’t make it to the finish line. Some of these do the wrong thing and are found out. But most burn out, are abused out of their positions, or find they’re suited better to other work. There are probably just as many pastors who serve lifelong, who do the wrong thing as there are who are found out, but overall, most of those who have great longevity survive for the right reasons. And yes, there will always be exceptions!
We know there are many pastors — a significant minority — who give their all and are treated badly; the faithful who are not rewarded, like the old-time prophets, in this lifetime for their valuable ministry.
We could pray for these, who suffered just like their Saviour, who received no justice this side of the eternal cusp. We could thank God for them, who, like the martyrs were sacrificial in very many ways. We can also understand the impact this had on their families — many of whom may have long walked away from the church.
Most of all, we all can recognise that the famous few heretics have given the many faithful heroes of faith a bad reputation. We should save some love for those who are or have been genuinely serving God faithfully.
Christian leaders, for the most part, are not as good as many people think they are, but they’re also not as bad as some may think they are, either.
It can be easy to forget that many Christian leaders genuinely try to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with their God. Indeed, there are many who risk much for justice, who behave as mercifully to all as equally as they can, who are humble to a fault.
Photo by Sven Brandsma on Unsplash
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