If you want to find miserable congregations find ones whose pastor and people are at odds with one another. In the heat of such conflict, pastor and people often migrate to extreme positions. In some cases, the pastor seeks to rule over every conceivable thing in the congregation with an iron fist. In other cases, congregations treat their pastor with levels of disrespect they would not display to anyone else in any other sphere of life. It should not be.
The question of how Pastor and people are to relate to one another is one that has been discussed over and over again by theologians and laypeople alike. In fact, entire church bodies have been broken because of debates about this question. It was a central issue among the first Lutherans who came to America from Saxony. When Pastor and people do not have a common understanding of this relationship, tension is present and the Kingdom work given to a congregation is often disrupted. Satan loves when Pastor and people are set against each other.So let us stick it to Satan by diving into the Word and hearing God’s wisdom for how Pastor and people are to relate to one another.
So what do pastors owe their people? Well first and foremost, they owe to them to hold firmly to the message of the gospel as it has been taught throughout the generations. This way they are able to encourage those who seek to walk in the Lord and can soundly rebuke those staying away from the flock. And this means that the pastor might dedicate himself to studying the Word and seeking God in prayer. He studies and prays not only for his good but because he is given oversight over the people in his congregation. He owes it to his people to make certain that what he delivering to them in the pure Word of God and not just a collection of his own pious thoughts. He also must make sure that the sacraments are administered according to Christ’s institution.
And when he interacts with his people, he must do so in a spirit of service. He does not lord his God-given authority over his people but uses his authority in way that serves his people. Yes, he makes himself a servant of all. He follows his Lord’s lead in laying down his life for the sake of the people he has been given by God to watch over.
And what do people owe their pastor? Well, first they owe him respect as the one whom God have sent to care for their souls. And this respect is to be offered up in many ways. They speak well of him as the one whom God has given to them for their good. They make sure his needs are provided for as he labors among them. And they are to obey him so that his work will be a joy and not a burden. They are not view him simply as a hireling of the congregation but as a gift that God has given to them for their good. So long as he does not command what God has forbidden or forbid what God has commanded, in spiritual matters he is to be followed.
Pastors must be honest about their failings in their role. At times pastors do not dedicate themselves to the scriptures and prayer as they should to be the best pastor they can be. It can be easy to coast on what they already know rather than seeking further wisdom. Also, personal frustrations can easily lead into selfish motivations. For these things, pastors must seek forgiveness
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As for laypeople, they must also allow the law to search them thoroughly. At times, laypeople can dismiss their pastor in deference to their own desires. Some laypeople can be exceedingly stingy in their support of their pastor. They can be tempted to speak more about their pastor’s flaws than anything else.
But pastor and people must meet at the cross, each confessing their sins. There they will be reconciled one to another in any way necessary. It happens there at that place were all their sins were paid for by our Lord Jesus. And as they are forgiven by him, they are again bound together by His Spirit as Pastor and people and raised up to live as new creations together in that relationship.
Some Readings:
Hebrews 13:17 Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.
Galatians 6:6–7 Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor. Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.
Titus 1:9 He [the pastor] must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.
1 Peter 5:1-3 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.
