A Biblical Response to Ministry Bullying

After writing about Ministry Bullying, in which I linked to another article online, I’ve given some thought to a response.  A few verses from the Bible seem pertinent to the issue.  As I dwell on it more and more, it seems that we have strayed a long way from what God intended for His church.  Perhaps my thinking has been influenced by a book I recently finished reading: Reimagining Church by Frank Viola.  Viola presents his case against professional, paid clergy for churches, arguing that this is not the intention nor the experience of the New Testament church.

But we are in a situation where we do have professional clergy (I am one myself!).  The question is, how are clergy (pastors) to conduct themselves in ministry and in life?  A couple of verses from the New Testament shed some light on this.  The first is from Mark 10:42-45: Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.  Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.  For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”  This seems very different from how many pastors conduct themselves.  Now don’t get me wrong.  There are many great pastors who serve with excellence.  However, there are always a few who seem to believe that the church exists to serve them and their agenda.  Jesus makes it clear here in Mark’s Gospel that leaders are not to lord it over others or throw their weight around.  The opposite is the standard for us as leaders: to serve as Jesus served.  We are to work for the benefit of the other, rather than our own advancement.  We are not to seek our own agenda, but to follow the agenda left for us by Christ.

Similarly, Philippians 2:3-8 speaks of our conduct and attitude: Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

  Who, being in very nature God,
   did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 
  rather, he made himself nothing
   by taking the very nature of a servant,
   being made in human likeness. 
  And being found in appearance as a man,
   he humbled himself
   by becoming obedient to death—
      even death on a cross!

The theme of servanthood is reinforced here as well.  The Christian leader (and all Christians!) is to think of the other person rather than himself/herself.  We are not to be conceited and are instructed to do away with our “selfish ambitions.” 

Now it seems to me that the realities of today’s world would dictate against this.  Conventional wisdom would indicate that you cannot get ahead in life if you don’t “blow your own horn” or work to rise up the ranks.  “It’s not what you know but who you know.”  Unfortunately, the reality is that even in church circles this seems to be the way things work.  It also sometimes helps to have the right surname.

But God’s economy is completely different.  Everything about God’s way of doing things is opposite to human wisdom.  Consider this:

If you want to save your life…                                        lose it.

If you want to gain wealth…                                            give your money away.

If you want to be first…                                                    take last place.

If you want to build your reputation…                           do things in secret.

If you are insulted…                                                          turn the other cheek.

If you are wronged…                                                         seek reconciliation and forgiveness.

Perhaps you could suggest some others.  But as followers of Jesus, Christians are called to be different – not weird – just different.  I may be wrong, but it seems to me that many Christian leaders are anything but.  And when we are bullied, we are called to respond differently than we would like to.  Like Jesus, we may need to pray, “Father, forgive them.”

As a whole, I believe we’ve lost our way and need to go back to our roots of following Jesus.

If you’ve been bullied in ministry, I apologize on behalf of true Christians everywhere.  If I can help – pray, counsel, whatever – feel free to contact me.

God bless you!

David