Dwight L. Moody is credited with saying something like, “Ministry would be great if it weren’t for all the people”. I’ve never heard the context of this quote, and I’ve seen it in various forms, but it’s been spread throughout the ministry subculture for a reason: People suck. Some doctrines are discussed but never observed (think angels on the head of a pin), but the dogma of man’s inherent sin is readily visible in any church pew (or mirror, for that matter).
The fact is people tend to feel the liberty, even the invitation, to openly criticize their pastors at will and without regard for the impact their words may have. Favored critiques include comparisons to previous pastors, pastors of other churches, and pastors on TV’; quantities of humor, altar calls, mission trips, offerings, and sermons; length of messages, prayers, and their wife’s skirt; and how well the pastor cares for them, their children, their nieces, their great-aunt’s-friend’s-cousin’s-dog’s-lover. The criticisms voiced openly are enough to advocate a lockable prayer closet, but it’s the criticisms spoken behind closed doors and learned of later that really tempt the pastor to dunk parishioners just a little longer than necessary during baptism services.
Gossip is a cancer, and harsh criticism is a sure way to demotivate even the tireless of pastors. Why do Christians tear one another down? Why do we tread on the servant-leaders God Himself has assigned as our authority? Pastors all over the world are being burned out, exhausted, and discouraged by the words of those they sacrifice so much to serve. Matthew recorded Jesus’ teaching on the appropriate approach to conflict, I think maybe we should go with Jesus on this one. If you’ve got a problem with your pastor, maybe you should give him a call.
Burned Out Pastor 