How to Really Love Your Pastor

How to Really Love Your Pastor
John R. Petrilli

If someone were to ask you what the most important job is in the whole world, what would your answer be? President of the U.S.? A chief surgeon? A civil rights leader? While all these positions merit our respect and admiration, none of them come even close to the work of the Christian pastor.
There’s no higher calling than that of shepherding God’s flock. The qualifications are high for a reason. The demands are great, and the rewards are equally rewarding. I dedicate this article to all the men who give their all to help us develop in our faith. Hopefully it will spark in us the desire to serve with and support them with renewed vigor and deeper commitment.

YOU CAN REALLY LOVE YOUR PASTOR BY REMEMBERING HIS NEEDS. Hebrews 13:7a, 16

“Remember your leaders.”

Thanks to the financial and moral impropriety scandals of the seventies, Christian church leaders are more frequently looked upon with suspicion and a general tone of distrust than in decades past. While abuse should be exposed and dealt with, the bad name it has given to the ordained ministry has done a great deal of damage in the way the general public perceives a man of God and his important work. For this reason a number of people hesitate to support pastors in a financial manner. Although Paul waived such support, he makes it clear that God’s design is that of a paid ministry that frees up called men to feed and care for the flock (1 Cor. 9:11-14 ; 1 Timothy 5:17-18 ; Acts 6:1-7). The writer to the Hebrews urges his readers to “remember” their pastoral leadership. One way we can honor this Spirit-born request is to share in the financial support of the ministry. And when we do contribute to a pastor’s financial support, it’s actually a fragrant offering to God Himself! (Philippians 4:15-19). But support goes much farther than mere dollars and cents. Pastors have a tough job and can really be blessed by that word of appreciation, affirmation and encouragement from their charges. We tend to forget they are human and need all the same kinds of supports the rest of us do to function at their highest level of efficiency. So when God uses them to speak truth into our lives, we really need to let them know how the Holy Spirit is using them.

YOU CAN REALLY LOVE YOUR PASTOR BY FOLLOWING HIS EXEMPLARY LIFESTYLE. Hebrews 13:7b

“Consider the outcome of their life, and imitate their faith.”

Today’s children’s literature and programming is very different than when most of us boomers were kids. Yet, in many fundamental ways, it’s the same. This can be seen in the way kids respond to the “heroes” of their day. Heroes have traditionally been individuals who model the best of human traits – courage, honor, concern for others, unselfish service. Thankfully, most of today’s heroes continue in that train. So who’s your hero? Who do you, as an adult, look up to as an example to follow? The Hebrews were encouraged to follow the Christian example set by their pastor. The believers at Thessalonica and Corinth did so, and were the better for it (1 Thess. 1:6 ; 2 Thess. 3:7-9 ; 1 Cor. 11:1).

YOU CAN REALLY LOVE YOUR PASTOR BY APPLYING THE BIBLICAL INTRUCTION HE SHARES TO YOUR LIFE. Hebrews 13:7, 17a

“Remember those who spoke the Word of God to you. Obey them [their teaching from Scripture].”

It’s a good thing to attend church services, sing, drop an offering into the plate, and mingle with fellow believers. But if we walk out of Sunday services without having given close attention to the exposition of God’s Word, we’ve wasted our time. What’s more, once we resume our work week, we’re to be applying that pastoral Biblical instruction on a daily basis. I fear that we give less attention to the Sunday sermon that we do the required reading for a college course. In such a course we painstakingly record notes on the lectures, then do a considerable amount of additional reading, analyzing and memorizing. What kind of growth spurts would we see in our Christian lives if we actually took God’s Word that seriously? It’s said of the first Christians that they “continued steadfastly in the apostle’s teaching” (of God’s Word, Acts 2:42). That commitment and discipline resulted in both quantitative as well as qualitative growth (Acts 2:47 ; 20:32). We should “go and do likewise”. Anything less is an exercise in futility, like someone going to an image consultant, then ignoring all the recommendations for personal improvement (James 1:21-25). To do so will result in a fruit-bearing life (Luke 8:15) that’s enjoying continual growth (1 Pet. 2:2) as it deepens in its love for God (John 14:21).

YOU CAN REALLY LOVE YOUR PASTOR BY APPROPRIATELY YIELDING TO HIS GOD-GIVEN AUTHORITY. Hebrews 13:17b,c

“Submit to [your leaders’] authority, for they keep watch over your souls as men who will have to give an account.”
When we love someone we also respect them as an individual. We’re considerate of their ideas, and value their input into our lives. One of the ways we can express love for our pastor is to show respect for them and the important work they perform (1 Thess. 5:12-13). Our independent culture has largely lost sight of what it means to demonstrate honor for someone. Everything is becoming so casual. Those who deserve respect are often treated with a familiarity that lacks a sense of proper appreciation for the special place God has placed that person in. We’re to treat all God-appointed persons with genuine respect and honor, because all authority is a gift from God for our individual and collective benefit (1 Pet. 2:13). Jesus taught that godly authority is driven by selfless service that focuses on needs of others (Matt. 20:25-27). It’s never self-serving, but exercised in a spirit of helping others (2 Cor. 1:24 ; 10:8a). Godly leadership is motivated by love, not the acquisition of personal power (1 Pet. 5:2-3). When a church is blessed by this kind of leadership, it can’t help but roll up its sleeves and get to work for the glory of God. While reaching consensus is an important step, there’s something to be said for weighing the pastoral input very heavily in organizational decisions.

YOU CAN REALLY LOVE YOUR PASTOR BY COOPERATING WITH HIM AS HE FULFILLS HIS ASSIGNMENT TO SHEPHERD THE FLOCK. Hebrews 13:17d

“Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.”

Leadership can be a lonely place. It’s not easy to cast vision and motivate those one leads. Jesus Himself was challenged as He endeavored to train the Twelve. Idiosyncrasies and misperceptions notwithstanding, our Lord succeeded in equipping these men for the herculean task of reaching their world with the Gospel. Our pastors face many of the same kinds of obstacles and hurdles as they seek to mature us and mobilize us for ministry. The Hebrew recipients of this letter received a postscript reminding them that failure to work with their pastor would place them at a spiritual disadvantage. Our pastors are mere men. Flawed, imperfect men. Yet, the Lord has called them to lead and feed His people, and for that we can be thankful to and cooperative with them. As we do so, we’re, in essence, allowing God to carry out His work in our midst. Now that would be a great ADVANTAGE to us. Blessing awaits all who follow their Lord and their pastor as he leads them into green pastures of personal growth and ministry development.

YOU CAN REALLY LOVE YOUR PASTOR BY REMEMBERING HIM IN YOUR PRAYERS. Hebrews 13:18

“Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way.”

I recall a poster in the men’s dormitory of the Bible Institute I attended. It stated, “No one will ever know what miracles have been accomplished through prayer.” I remember that slogan because it’s true. In a day that places so much emphasis on bigger and better things material, the fact remains that prayer is one of the most powerful and fruitful activities a believer can engage in. It requires no degrees, no money, and no membership on a board. No, just a heart that burns to see God’s will done in the lives of others. Some of Christianity’s greatest advances have been made through the knees of unknown disciples of Jesus who gave themselves to this highest and holiest of callings. Most of us don’t live in a monastic setting where we’re free to invest hours into prayer, but God welcomes and honors whatever time we do give to this foundational ministry. The early church prioritized prayer, and so should we. In a military engagement, the officers and generals plan and execute the strategy that brings them victory. Pastors are much like these generals. They have the demanding responsibility of charting the church’s course and leading the troops in their battle against the forces allied against Christ and His kingdom. Few need prayer for wisdom, strength, grace and perseverance as do our pastors. I know, I’ve watched them in action, and have myself served in this capacity. Believe me, without the prayers of their people, they can do little in the way of building God’s Church. They need your prayers desperately. Won’t you consider starting this practice if you aren’t doing so already? Your pastor will be eternally grateful!