PERILS FOR A PASTOR

A little compromise can lead to a large collapse. Sometimes, a pastor may steer clear of a “big” sin and allow a “small” temptation to bring him down. If you hear a woodpecker attacking your house, you will run it away, but the greater danger is from termites insidiously eating away until there is destruction. Thus, Paul has a solemn charge for Timothy and the Holy Spirit for us today through these words in 1 Timothy 5:21-22.  We must beware three perils for a pastor that may be overlooked, while deadly serious. 

There is the peril of SHOWING PARTIALITY, “ I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality,” (v. 21). 

In general, the church family needs to see a pastor without prejudice—that the wealthy do not claim precedence over the poor in the ministry and attention they receive, or the desires of the elderly are weighed more than the needs of the young, and a host of other ways we may show partiality. 

But, specifically—in context of what the Apostle has just said concerning the discipline of elders, (v. 19-20), all are to be treated equally. If one must be confronted about a sin, then sin cannot be tolerated in another. Simply because one leader may have greater ability or wider influence cannot subvert the need for impartiality. There must be accountability even for the lead pastor by the other elders. Too many men fall without such accountability.

Further caution is given about ACTING IMPULSIVELY, “Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people’s sins,” (v. 22a).

Again, there is a general principle to apply in all things, “Haste makes waste!”  That is a term we have heard, and though the quote is not found in Scripture, the principle is.  Here is one: “Also it is not good for a soul to be without knowledge, And he sins who hastens with his feet,” (Prov.‬ ‭19‬:‭2‬‬), and there are others. We can run ahead of God and act on impulse without intelligent forethought. That is a runaway locomotive that ends in a train wreck!

Still, we must come to the contextual prohibition that has to do with the ordination of elders. Selection of men in key leadership roles in the church must be preceded by thorough investigation. A man may have a charming personality and obvious ability—but if there is hidden immorality, then sooner or later it will surface with scandal. It will reflect on the church in negative ways, harming our testimony and giving the enemy cause for mockery with the charge of hypocrisy.  As another old saying goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

The third peril presented is ALLOWING IMPURITY, ”keep yourself pure,” (v. 22‬‬b). 

All of these are connected. Partiality in our heart will eventually show in prejudice in our dealings with others—so that sinful spirit undermines our ministry. That may bleed over into our choice of elders—elevating our buddies and weeding out anyone who would dare question us—which will bring a collapse of our credibility. Such compromise in ministry will likely be manifest in compromise in morality.

Generally, we can categorize the peril of impurity in two areas: sexual indecency and doctrinal infidelity. Compromise at either point is to open the door for the Devil to bring us down—and cause many followers to stumble over us when we fall. 

Sexual indecency is a danger for any man. God created us a sexual beings, and put passions in us for pleasure in marriage and procreation from marriage. Yet, sin takes a God-given drive beyond the bounds of holy matrimony. It usually does not begin with physical adultery, but temptation comes through the gate of our eyes, worms its way into our thoughts, and begins to raise passions in our heart. When this spark of lust is fueled rather than forsaken, it will consume us in the inferno of indecency.

Doctrinal infidelity is another deadly compromise. God has given us His unadulterated Word, and we are to concentrate and communicate with Biblical integrity. Again, a man hardly holds and heralds sound doctrine one Sunday and then obvious heresy the next. Rather, he begins to avoid certain uncomfortable truths while claiming to still believe them, yet in the name of pragmatism does not declare them. Before long, he starts rationalizing further deviation. Like erosion eating away at the foundation, eventually a collapse comes in his belief system. 

Men, keep yourself pure from these perils for a pastor!