Bruce Lyon Elder: Restoration Fellowship Assembly

If a Pastor commits a sin his first action aught to be to come before his God and Father and confess his sin and ask for forgiveness. If what he/she has done is very serious and could bring a negative reflection of the assembly, he may have to relinquish his position. We need to remember this:

1Jo 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin.
1Jo 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1Jo 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

We aught not to expect our Pastor/Teachers to be without sin. To put them on that kind of pedestal is not in keeping with how we aught to see things.

A Pastor/Teacher is a human being subject to all the temptations we all have to endure and overcome. We all to not do that perfectly, we all fail and sin, but we have a loving advocate who intervenes on our behalf before the throne of God for us.

A Pastor who comes before his congregation admitting that he has sinned in whatever manner aught to receive from all his congregation a prayerful response that God will guide him and protect him and as he repents forgive him. As Jesus said, "let him who has not sinned caste the first stone".

Satan's favorite targets are the leader in the congregation. Since that is so we need to constantly pray that God will shower them with His stedfast love and lead them along the narrow path that lead to life everlasting.

December 03 2013 • 2 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Glenn Harrell Bi-vocational Minister, writer

I rather ask:
"SINCE a pastor sins, what action should be taken and who should enforce it?"

Christians, including the leaders and teachers, are often driven underground and resort to hiding their sins and flaws because of unfortunate theology and wrong expectations.

The age old debate about just how responsible sports figures are to live a clean life for the benefit of the youth who adore them is similar.

Just how chaste and moral do the teen-age Pop Idols have to be before they too have led many children astray by their actions?

Anyone who desires and fulfills the office of Elder/Teacher is set up before God and man as one who has stricter standards and will face a different judgement. "My friends, we should not all try to become teachers. In fact, teachers will be judged more strictly than others." 
(James 3:1)

Any church can be concerned if their pastor (Elder, Bishop, Priest, Presbytery, Ministry Leader) does not have:

1- An accountability group. Self chosen men whom he voluntarily chooses to maintain accountability. (this is good for each of us)

2- An biblical theology concerning moral behaviors that is in agreement with scripture, no matter the personality, position or failure. How foolhardy to believe that a fallen pastor can now be more effective.

3-A quickness to confession. Confession will be as broad as the offense.

4-A boasting of weakness. The weakest among us qualifies to become the strongest because he fully understands Jesus statement, "Without me, you can do nothing."
"If I have to brag, I will brag about how weak I am." 
(II Corinthians 11:30)

5-A platform of humility (Philippians 2:1-11)
If your leader seems to be more interested in building his Empire than God's Kingdom, you can be sure he is captured by the Devil himself.

In the early church, Elders (pastors) were plural. Each congregation had more than one and the accountability was in place.
Today, a church may well hand over all the keys to the one leader and run away, hoping he will do all the work for them. This backfires because pride and power will corrupt the best of men and Church members are never to be divorced from the work of Ministry. (Ephesians 4:11-16)

What is it that a Leader can do that effectively disqualifies him from being a leader ever again? (II Timothy 3)

1-Habitual lying
2-Out of control drinking
3-Greed for money
4-Extended loss of control of their familiy
5-Sexual sin of a relation of infidelity. Unfaithful in marriage. One woman man.

Like everyone else, pastor/leaders can be forgiven and restored to fellowship, but leaders can forever compromise their ministry as a leader before the people as Pastor by one fatal mistake. 

How many Pastors have lost God's approval and live in an un-confessed state before the people?

 "It is not the person who commends himself who is approved, but the person whom the Lord commends." (II Corinthians 10:18)

Is this not why many churches have lost their influence and power? Just as the ship Jonah nearly sank-- Saul, Samson and David all lost future blessings.

Yes, an individual can permanently forfeit the right to lead a congregation. He can be forgiven and go on to do many other things for God, but the standard remains for Church leaders as "above reproach". Society and even many churches are choosing pity, compassion and counseling over God's standard of Holiness and "above reproach".This may seem noble, but it is death for the church. 

Pray for your leaders as they wear a big target for Satan to pierce.
Ease up on your leaders beyond those clear requirements of scripture. 

I love the quote I read. "How about a little slack for those of us who aren't perfect from those who haven't been caught yet." --unknown

Let them be human and be assured that they will make mistakes.
Encourage them to have fellow elders whom they respect as accountability partners. Tell them often of your appreciation of their example of Christ-likeness as you see it in their life.

Glenn Harrell

December 03 2013 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Seth Freeman

Every Pastor sins. Pastors are people just like you and I. One of the worst things we can do is place our Pastors on pedestals and expect them to be more than human.

That being said, all people, including Pastors need accountability, fellowship, mentoring, and discipline. 

It sounds to me like you probably aren't very close with your Pastor. If you were, then I assume you wouldn't have a problem confronting him as you would a friend who sinned.

I think the best answer I could give you would be to follow Matthew 18:15-17 - "If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector."

December 04 2013 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report