The church has never run short of pastors who have fallen into moral failure and disqualified themselves -- either for a season or for good -- from the work of ministry. How are we as members of congregations to respond with the love of Christ and the wisdom of the Father in such situations?
More and more popular ministers have come out in the last few years as having fallen into serious moral failures that have ruined marriages, ministries and their relationships with God. But we must remember that fallen pastors are fallen people, too, and they need the grace of God.
Jesus died on the cross for the sin of all those who choose to repent and turn to Him in surrender. A pastor who falls morally does not have lesser access to grace and redemption than a non-vocational minister.
How are we as the flock to respond to a fallen spiritual leader?
Know that Jesus is still in charge
So many churches feel that the end of the pastor will be the end of the ministry. This is not the case as our pastors were never truly in charge of the church. Sure they called shots, preached most Sundays and handled most of the finances, but God was and is still the one who makes the church grow.
Ephasians 5:23 tells us, "For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior."
Act in love
God never calls us to act in hate. Ever. Instead, He calls us to love at all times. Just as Jesus acted in love and compassion from the time of ministry until the very end when He brought our sins and curses to the cross so that we might be free even if we didn't deserve freedom.
Romans 3:23-24 says, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."
Avoid gossip
In all seasons, gossip is always a bad idea. While it is good to, at one point, shed some light, there is no point in letting a conversation about the pastor's failures carry on in multiple conversations.
Pray for God's honor and restoration
It's not true that all we can do is pray, but prayer remains to be the most powerful weapon we have in winning back the broken hearts of fallen pastors. They have always needed our prayers and they need our prayers more today.
2 Thessalonians 3:1 tells us, "Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you."
