Respect For The Ministry
 

How do you feel about ministers? Are they special people called of God who deserve special treatment and respect or are they equals to brethren? I'm thinking of the time when there were kings. People had to bow and say your majesty or your eminence to the priests. How would you treat royalty? I'm also thinking of someone like Lee Stoneking. Does he deserve to be treated with respect because he is a minister? Do we have the right to criticize his beliefs if we don't agree?

Re: Respect For The Ministry
 

If any of us have any respect coming our way then we should be respected for what we do. Not for the titles we have garnered.

If we gain any respect let it be because we ministered to someone. Not because we called ourselves a minister.

Re: Respect For The Ministry
 

There most certainly is a respect worthy of those who especially labor in pastoring and feeding the flock.

However, respect does not mean an iron curtain, or that they become an Untouchable from accountability, feedback, criticism, etc. They are serving the flocking of God. Part of serving is listening.

Re: Respect For The Ministry
 

:thumbsup

Respect must be earned before it can be given.

Re: Respect For The Ministry
 

All people deserve respect, but not built up so much that they (ministers) are revered in a higher manner than those who support him. Too many times, minsters are built up and molded into a figure closely portraying God. Until recently, I was priveleged to be pastored by a gentleman who shunned (for lack of a better word) the thought of him being better, acting better, living better, etc than those he pastored. And he actually got out and did the dirty work too. Someone in ministry that gets just as dirty as the flock earns my respect from the get-go.

Re: Respect For The Ministry
 

Any position of authority should be respected such a minister or the president of the local 4-H chapter. Having said that the self-important reverence bestowed on so many pastors absolutely sickens me. We've been out of the UPC for decades so seeing recent web casts of various sermons brings back a flood of emotions after seeing all the black suit wearing preachers sitting like supreme court judges on the platform while the message is being given.

Re: Respect For The Ministry
 

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DM, maybe you should word this different. We should treat everyone with respect, if we are a Christian.

Luke 6:31 (MSG)
"Here is a simple rule of thumb for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them! If you only love the lovable, do you expect a pat on the back? Run-of-the-mill sinners do that. If you only help those who help you, do you expect a medal? Garden-variety sinners do that. If you only give for what you hope to get out of it, do you think that's charity? The stingiest of pawnbrokers does that.

I think LS deserves our respect he has reached thousands for Christ.

I won't discredit anyone I'll let God do that. If you want to point out facts and errors fine, but do it in love and concern, not in bitterness. If we succeed in discrediting someone and tearing them down, the viewers may acknowledge your victory but fear you for the way you achieved it.

Re: Respect For The Ministry
 

:thumbsup

Re: Respect For The Ministry
 

Jesus said for us to "give honor to whom honor is due". A minister who serves as a shepherd to the sheep is, IMO,"'worthy of his hire". Those who make themselves "lords over God's heritage"... well, lets just say I'll respect them... but at a distance.

I had a pastor once who was very good, had the qualities of a shepherd. Caring, compassionate. But, as the church grew, his ego grew and he began ruling the church with an iron fist. I had a lot of repect for the brother, and, though no way, no how would I sit under his ministry, I still find it hard to say anything disrespectful of him.

Respect is earned... not demanded.

Re: Respect For The Ministry
 

WOW!

My Pastor just spoke about this on Sunday morning.


A point he made that I think often too many people forget is that our respect for our Pastors, Prophets, etc is not to be oriented towards the person, but towards the office itself.

"Do you have a man of God in your life? Really?"


The words and advice of my Pastor are not to be taken lightly, and not to be taken on the same level as my friends. It's called respect for the office and the offices that God has ordained are actually referred to as "gifts" from God.

We should "mark those who labor among us" and respect the office that they hold.