Stupid people. Stupid church. They should pay me more. They should come to church services. They make dumb decisions. They decided not to do what I wanted. They would rather be at their kid’s soccer game than come to church. They don’t give enough. Blah, blah, blah!
Too often, I read or hear pastors complaining about their church, even dragging their church’s name in the mud on social media. It’s everyone else’s fault but mine. I’m here at 9 am and preaching a perfectly good sermon. Where are they!? This is exemplary of poor leadership and lack of ownership. Leaders don’t blame others. Leaders don’t raise their hands in surrender because their people aren’t following. Leaders lead—shepherds shepherd. Jesus’ shepherds leave the 99 to get the one. They don’t blame the sheep for being lost.
Increasingly, we seem to be sending out pastors who think they have a 9-5 job. The congregation is a set-in-stone organization run by anyone but them, and people are supposed to be naturally thrilled that they are there. It’s like a father who gets mad at his kid for not acting like an adult. That’s precisely why a child needs a parent, which is not a 9-5 job. A church needs a shepherd not to do the required tasks like they work in a factory, but to lead the factory.
If you don’t like the culture of your church, do something about it. You are responsible for it. If you don’t like how much people give, cultivate an environment of generosity. That’s your responsibility. If you don’t like how your congregation behaves, win them over and transform them with God’s word.
When pastors complain about their congregation, they look far worse than the congregation. They make themselves look inept. They also sound like someone who does not believe in the Gospel or the power of God’s word to make disciples. Finally, they sound like someone who has a very wrong view of sanctification and the Christian life. Christians are simultaneously sinners and saints. Preach it! Not just in the pulpit but showing up at people’s houses and social events. You can do it and still have your precious boundaries.
Finally, a preacher who complains about his congregation sounds like Jesus complaining about the cross. Sorry, man, you have been called to preach. It ain’t pretty. Look at the prophets. It isn’t a 40-hour job. You aren’t working for a union. It’s messy. It hurts.
Finally, repent you sinner. Who are you to be so self-righteous? You show up every Sunday because you get paid. You are no great disciple yourself. Yet Christ puts up with you and, more than that covers you with His righteousness. You don’t have to be the pastor at your church. You get to. You get to speak peace to guilty hearts. You get to hold the hand of the dying and speak resurrection in her ears. You get to hand out the body and blood of Christ. You get to hang out with the saints in their good times and bad.
Stop crying. Trust the Lord and the power of His Word. Go to the people where they gather. Stop working, start leading. Rejoice in the privilege you have been given to give life to the dead by the Gospel. You will be just fine even if they nail you to a cross.
