“Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Tim. 4:12).
First, when a compliment is given after a sermon, accept the generous remark with a response of gracious appreciation.
Sometimes, during a college or professional football game, when a grown man displays a cringe-worthy celebration after scoring a touchdown, he needs to be reminded by a mature coach to, “Act like you have been in the endzone before.”
Some pastors need to behave like they have effectively presented God’s Word before, and receive with social grace a compliment instead of dismissing it with a comment of false humility such as, “Oh, that was not me, that was the Spirit.”
Second, put on clean, distinguishing, and appropriate clothing when preaching or teaching the Word of God.
There is a cultural trend in America for ministers to dress down and deliberately wear wrinkled shirts, tattered T-shirts, blue jeans, and mismatched clothing. At the very least, such clothing is distracting; at worse, it is disrespectful of the pastoral office.
If a person is to be formally presented to a King, Queen, or the President of the United States, they are instructed to put on appropriate apparel.
To represent the King of kings, and Lord of lords, wear the garments worthy of that honor.
In Exodus 28, details were given for sacred garments designed to be worn by Aaron and his sons. The garments emphasized the importance of the priestly office they held. Made of luxurious material, their clothing symbolized the glory, beauty, and special duties they administered before God. While ostentatiousness in dress is forbidden in the New Testament, appropriate and respectful dress is not.
Dress up pastors, not down. Show respect for the pastoral office.
Third, return the hour of worship to the sons and daughters of God. When the Church gathers for worship, it is because the saints want to say, “Praise is awaiting You, O God, in Zion; And to You the vow shall be performed” (Ps. 65:1). This is not something the unbeliever can say with authenticity.
The popular seeker sensitive model of worship is structured to attract individuals who are curious about the Church. To achieve this end, sound Biblical teaching is often replaced by sermons designed to reinforce one’s self esteem, and provide self-help techniques. Sin, righteousness, and judgment are not the focus of attention (John 16:8).
Little to nothing is said about repentance from dead works, faith toward God, the importance of baptism, Church authority, or the resurrection of the dead, which the author of Hebrews says are the elementary principles of Christ (Heb. 6:1,2).
As it was said in the days of the prophet Isaiah, so it can be said today,
“Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths
And honor Me with their lips,
But have removed their hearts far from Me,
And their fear toward Me is taught by
the commandment of men” (Isa. 29:13).
Fourth, lead the church to be a people of one Book, the Bible, whenever and wherever the saints gather for Bible study.
The practice of using a mundane uniform curriculum written by individuals far removed from the local assembly is intrinsically a buffer between the Christian and the Word of God. Small groups will often study a religious book about a Biblical topic, rather than exegete the Scripture.
Church of the living God, study the Bible directly. Pastors, have your people give themselves, like Timothy, to reading the Scriptures, preaching, and teaching the Bible (1 Tim. 4:13).
“A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college education” (Theodore Roosevelt).
“Within the covers of the Bible are the answers for all the problems men face” (Ronald Reagan).
“The Bible shows the way to go to heaven, not the way the heavens go” (Galileo Galilei).
“The Bible is the cradle wherein Christ is laid” (Martin Luther).
“If you are ignorant of God’s Word, you will always be ignorant of God’s will” (Billy Graham).
“A Bible that’s falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn’t” (Charles H. Spurgeon).
“I believe the Bible is the word of God from cover to cover” (Billy Sunday).
“The object of the Bible is not to tell how good men are, but how bad men can become good” (Dwight L. Moody).
Fifth, study more. The Biblical command is to “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15).
People know when their pastor has not spent time in the study. The messages are short and shallow. There is more milk than meat of the Word of God.
Jesus told Peter to “Feed my sheep,” (John 21:16,17) not fleece them, nor make merchandise of them, or dismiss them to search for sound teaching on their own. The Biblical exhortation is to “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind” (1 Pet. 5:2, KJV).
Pastors, devote yourselves whole-heartedly to prayer and the ministry of the Word (Acts 6:4).
Sixth, teach the people to co-operate instead of competing with one another. “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another” (Rom. 12:10).
If two ladies want to do the bulletin for the Church, encourage them to take turns, or work together each week, but stop competing.
The apostle Paul asked the Philippians to “fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others” (Phil. 2:2-4).
Seventh, stop congregational voting. The Biblical view of the early Church in the Book of Acts is that of Christians acting with a consensus on important matters.
When men were needed to look after the needs to the widows, individuals were selected by consensus, and not by a vote based on majority rule (Acts 6:1-5a).
When the Jerusalem Council met c. 50 AD to discuss the issue of Gentile converts to Christ, there was a consensus on what was required. This consensus was not based on the will of the majority, but the unifying presence of the Spirit of God who can unite Christians in love (Acts 15).
The value of this counsel is seen in what happens when a Biblical principle, such as heterosexual marriage, or exclusive male pastoral leadership, is put to a vote in a Denominational meeting. Anger, division and chaos reigns.
What in the world are the people of God doing voting on matters which God has spoken about in His Word?
Pastors, stop congregational voting.
Eighth, make the Bible your By-Laws and Rule of Faith. When a difficult situation arises in the local assembly, there is often a rush to secular By-Laws and Robert’s Rules of Order to determine what is to be done. This is wrong. Only the Bible is God-breathed. Only the Bible is adequate to guide the conduct and comment on the affairs of the Church. The Psalmist said,
“Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path” (Ps. 119:105).
Simply put, do God’s work God’s way according to Scripture, and every question and conflict in the local assembly can be resolved on biblical terms. Doing this will glorify the Lord.
Ninth, encourage male leadership. When a person walks into the local assembly and sees a majority of women greeting people, passing out the bulletin, taking up the offering, teaching a mixed class, leading in prayer, chairing the committees, being appointed as deacons, and serving communion, a role reversal has taken place.
The biblical foundation for male leadership in the Church can be traced back to the beginning of time. In Genesis 1:27, we read that God created man, and then woman to be a helpmate. There are conservative and godly Christian women who understand and accept this divine order and are grateful for it, without feeling diminished.
“While men and women are equal in value, worth, and dignity before God, they have been given distinct roles and responsibilities. This is further emphasized in 1 Timothy 2:12, where Paul states that he does not permit a woman to teach or assume authority over a man.
God’s design for male leadership is also evident throughout Scripture. We see examples of male leaders such as patriarchs, priests, kings, apostles, and elders. Jesus Himself chose twelve men as His closest disciples and entrusted them with the task of building His Church. This pattern of male leadership is not based on temporary cultural circumstances but is rooted in God’s timeless plan for His people.” (“Empowering Male Leadership in Church: A Biblical Perspective for Christian Growth”; Bible Based Living)
Pastors, set in order the things that are lacking (Titus 1:5-16).
“Rise up, O men of God!
Have done with lesser things;
give heart and soul and mind and strength
to serve the King of kings.
Rise up, O men of God!
His kingdom tarries long;
bring in the day of brotherhood
and end the night of wrong.
Rise up, O men of God!
The church for you doth wait.
Her strength unequal to her task;
rise up, and make her great!
Lift high the cross of Christ!
Tread where His feet have trod;
as brothers of the Son of Man,
rise up, O men of God.”~William Pierson Merrill
Tenth, as a matter of honor, make your ministerial calling and election sure, or, resign from the ministry.
Statically, 24% of U.S. senior Protestant pastors have seriously considered leaving full-time ministry in the past year (The Christian Index, Henry Durand). Most pastors stay in the pulpit, but many live a life of quiet desperation.
There are individuals who know they are not worthy to be called, pastor. They have either missed their true calling in life, or, they know they are not living up to the moral and ethical standards of a biblical pastor. Secret sins soil their soul bringing shame, guilt, and a terrifying fear of discovery.
It is far better to resign with honor than to be exposed and bring dishonor to oneself, the local assembly, and the name of Christ.
Charles Spurgeon wrote of a pastor who preached so well, people said he should never come down from the pulpit, but lived so badly during the week others said he should never enter the pulpit again (Lectures to My Students).
Every pastor knows his own heart. If you are wicked, do not pretend you are just weak willed in “only” one area.
The wolves among the sheep stay for money, power, prestige, a good retirement, or to enjoy the fertile hunting ground to satisfy the dark passions of the heart such as homosexuality, pedophilia, the ability to exploit widows, or seduce those young women “loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts” (2 Tim. 3:6).
Pastor, seriously consider resigning or, recommit yourself to Christ and live out the ethics of your calling, like the Unknown Zimbabwe Martyr who authentically gave himself to the Lord. This is what he wrote.
“I’m a part of the fellowship of the unashamed. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I’m a disciple of His and I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.
My past is redeemed. My present makes sense. My future is secure. I’m done and finished with low-living, sight-walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living, and dwarfed goals.
I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don’t have to be right, or first, or tops, or recognized, or praised, or rewarded. I live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by Holy Spirit power.
My face is set. My gait is fast. My goal is heaven. My road may be narrow, my way rough, my companions few, but my guide is reliable and my mission is clear.
I will not be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed.
I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice or hesitate in the presence of the adversary. I will not negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.
I won’t give up, shut up, or let up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, and preached up for the cause of Christ.
I am a disciple of Jesus. I must give until I drop, preach until all know, and work until He comes. And when He does come for His own, He’ll have no problems recognizing me. My colors will be clear!”
The Collected Works of Stanford E. Murrell 