October is National Clergy Appreciation Month in the U.S. with the second Sunday of the month being Clergy Appreciation Day (perhaps also known as Pastor Appreciation Day or Ministry Appreciation Day).

If I were to take a poll asking people what they think about their pastors, I’d probably get a mixed review . . .

from quite happy to very disgruntled with the pastor.

The reasons behind those responses would vary, even if people marked the same level of satisfaction.  Some would be reporting objectively while others subjectively.  Hence, some could be based on reality and some on false perceptions.  Personal preferences and biases can enter in.

So, perhaps the question we need to ask is what God thinks.  A verse I have often heard used for Pastor Appreciation Day is 1 Thessalonians 5:12 –

Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work.

But, where does that leave those of you on the more disgruntled side … especially those who are basing your perception on reality because the pastor truly isn’t doing a good job or has made a series of poor choices?  Let’s keep going in 1 Thessalonians 5 to verses 13 – 18.

1. Live in peace with each other.
2. … warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.
3. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.
4. Be joyful always.
5. Pray continually.
6. Give thanks in all circumstances.

… for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

This entry was posted on Friday, October 2nd, 2009 at 8:00 am and is filed under Church Life. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.