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Ministry today is more difficult than it has ever been. It seems that each day we hear of another colleague in ministry who has fallen into immorality, another who has burned out, another who has in some way weakened the credibility of those called to God’s ministry. Why is this happening in record numbers today?
I think that, amidst the hectic expectations that we encounter in “real” ministry, we often lose sight of the commitments we made when we first accepted Christ as our Savior and Lord. Perhaps the standards by which we promised to live when we followed His call to be His ministers have been overshadowed by exhaustion or carelessness. Whatever the cause, we in ministry more and more are facing a crisis of integrity, righteousness, and credibility.
I believe it is crucial that we regain our focus and recommit ourselves to a lifestyle pleasing to the Lord, to our congregations, to our families, and to ourselves. We pastors are joined together by a common call of God to feed His sheep, but we are also tied by a common commitment to purity, holiness, righteousness, and faithfulness. This agreement transcends theological differences, denominational connections, and local congregational constraints. We are bound to one another by our calls and by the knowledge that one day the Great Shepherd will be the final Judge.
Several years ago, I introduced a concept I called the Shepherd’s Covenant®. It is a strategy for the moral, spiritual, and ethical protection of pastors based on the guidelines practiced by the Good Shepherd. The Shepherd’s Covenant® is built on the acronym G-R-A-C-E. Here are the basics of that covenant:
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G
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Genuine Accountability — There is a great difference between being cordial and collegiate. We need colleagues in our lives who will ask us hard questions and allow us to do the same with them. “Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself” (1 Samuel 18:1).
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R
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Right Relationships — Our ministries can only be effective when our actions and reactions toward members of our families, our colleagues in ministry, and the members of our congregations are pure. We must be clergy of peace. “Live in harmony and peace, and may the God of love and peace be with you” (2 Corinthians 13:11).
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A
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A Servant/Shepherd’s Heart — The example that the Good Shepherd gave to His followers was in the first place that of a servant – the towel, the basin and a sincere willingness to be humble (John 14) – and in the second place that of an overseer who carefully watches his flock. “I lay down my life for the sheep” (John 10:15).
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C
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Constant Safeguards — We must be vigilant. To put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:10) is not merely an option. It is a necessity if we are going to successfully obey the command of our Lord to flee the various onslaughts of Satan.
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E
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Embracement of God Intimately — The deeper one’s relationship with God through His Son Jesus, the more successful he will be in living a life above reproach and setting an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity (1 Timothy 4:12). An intimate relationship with Him makes it all possible. “Come near to God and he will come near to you” (James 4:8).
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While this new year is still young, look at the first of these elements. How are you doing with accountability — genuine accountability?
- Do you meet regularly with a colleague?
- Do you really engage and challenge one another?
- Do you pray for and support one another?
You need your accountability colleague — your colleague needs you! I realize accountability relationships are fluid, but they are very worthwhile. If you are having a tough time finding someone, select a pastor in town who has an assignment similar to yours and ask him to join you for a coffee break. It is amazing how productive those times can be. Honest, the members of the clergy that most often find their ministries in jeopardy are those who have no accountability. So, how are you doing?
‘‘A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24).
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