Being Christian About Clergy Killers
OK, let’s get practical. If there are people who are intent on attacking the pastor in at least 50 % of American churches, what are we to do about it? The first challenge is to respond in a way consistent with our faith. Whether you label all such people as “clergy killers” or not, you do not want to give them the power to make you distort your faith. Even if you consider them evil people, we are servants of Christ who asks us to “love our enemies.”
As I’ve talked to other clergy about this issue, the other complicating factor is that many of these opponents are, in many ways, nice people. In addition, many of them sincerely believe that they are being good Christians in their lives. I remember one influential person in my congregation who tried to organize a group to get me fired. While I was not in favor of that action, I actually liked the guy in many other ways. While I think some of his attitudes and behavior was wrong, he was not “evil personified.”
Giving Permission to Destroy the Church
At the same time, we have a stewardship responsibility for the health of the whole church. We might like a group of rowdy teenagers and think that they are good people, still we wouldn’t allow them to trash the church or do other damage because they got angry at the church not allowing them to have a dance. In the same way, we have a responsibility to prevent individuals, no matter how sincere, to damage the quality of the Christian community. That responsibility spreads to all members but is especially incumbent on the elders, deacons, and pastors of a church.
Attitudes Are Not Just Personal in a Church
We have a long debate within our culture about whether religion is a private affair or a community responsibility. There is an old saying that your freedom to act as you wish ends at the point when your fist contacts my nose. In a Christian community, you have an accountability as to how your behavior affects your neighbor. In Jesus’ ministry, that was indicated especially with respect to the most vulnerable around us—whether it be children, widows, the blind, or the lame. This same accountability applies to how one’s behavior damages the ministry of the pastor and the church.
Leaders Are Asked to Lead
Many of us are conflict avoiders. It is a whole lot easier to avoid dealing with a problem that may involve conflict and hope it goes away. We can also use our own understanding of the Christian faith and our need to be kind to each other as an excuse for inaction. Far too often, we also expect the pastor to handle the situation. While the pastor has a significant role to play, s/he should not be left to act alone. The corporate responsibility for action is what we will address in the next blog.
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This week I will release my mystery novel, A Star and a Tear about a pastor who emerges from a period of personal grief to help the police track down a serial rapist who has a religious fixation. Look for it on Amazon.
