The Perfect Pastor!

1 Corinthians 4:1-21

"When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we entreat. We have become the scum of the world, the refuse of all things." -1 Corinthians 4:12a-13

The church that was located in the port city of Corinth had as its founder and initial pastor the Apostle Paul. This fledgling church flourished in the pagan surroundings and began to see much success for a church in that day. 

However, it wasn't long before problems began to pop up. The pagan culture that the gospel was rooted into began to show buds of pagan living within a Christian community. There could only be one place for the church to put the blame for all of its problems, on the pastor.

It never ceases to amaze me the way churches behave toward their pastor. They are either deeply in love or holding pitchforks and torches. The expectations never stop increasing. So much so that one barely recognizes Paul's job description in verse 4:1. To be "servants of Christ" and "stewards of the mysteries of God." Are you kidding? I have known pastors that never even took theology and languages in seminary so that they could get to the "real work" of growing the church (as if that was their job)! They would read leadership books by the dozen and yet could not have a slightly intelligible discussion on the meaning of a single passage. The ability to be funny is preferred over foundational teaching, the focus on the blessings of the kingdom are emphasized more than the persecution of sin, and the eloquence of speech is more  valuable than the exactness of the message.

Why would people within the church prefer such things? Why would Corinth and why would we move so quickly from the men and women that are laser targeted on the supremacy of Scripture? Could it be that they do not make us feel better about ourselves? Church services have become another way for us to medicate our emotions through the pseudo-worship of God. The music says his name, the sermon probably has Scripture (right under the title of the sermon), and the worship room may have a cross but the focus is on us. What we want, what makes us happy, what helps us feel for a moment ...well...perfect.

We behave as if we are kings, like we are rich (blessed), and that we have all we want so why bother with theology (vv. 8-13)? Our faith has become something that we vicariously live through our pastor. He now must have the perfect family, yard, car, and work schedule. We want our pastor to be "all things to all men" but mostly just to me. Those pastors that dare kick against such things are shown the door to live their existence with those that are less eloquent, too young, too old, or too technical.

Perhaps our eyes have become blind to the true purpose of our pastor.

Perhaps we have forgotten what it means to be in want spiritually.

Perhaps we have it too easy.

Paul is clear. We are not better than our pastor and should not be on spiritual easy street while he maneuvers through oncoming traffic. We should not throw our Bibles into the rear window ledge of our cars and expect him to bring deep insights through hours of study (but only 20 minutes of preaching). We must learn to care for one another instead of all rushing to be the first to be coddled (and leaving the church if the coddling is not enough). 

We must take the burden of our feelings of perfection off of our pastor and allow him to live God's job description.