A common experience of ministers is being the subject of
complaints. Nothing breaks a pastor’s spirit more than complaints. Blessed is
the pastor when one having a complaint comes to the pastor, face to face, to
give voice to their complaint and is open to dialogue with the pastor about the
source of the complaint. Cursed is the pastor when the infamous “they” are
cited as having a complaint. “They are saying you do not visit enough.” “They
are saying they are not being fed by your sermons.”
“They” is often used to indicate a quantifiable group in the
congregation are dissatisfied. Frequently, the message carrier will resist
naming who “they” are. “Well, pastor, I was told this in confidence, but I
thought you ought to know. I would be betraying their confidence if I gave you
their name.” How does one handle the complaints/dissatisfaction of nameless
ghosts? Are “they” a couple of people or fifty percent of the congregation? Is
the complaint legitimate or is it a matter of personal preference? Or is the complaint
one which comes from a person who is a chronic complainer about everything and
everybody? Besides, the vague “they” is a good screen behind which to hide, and
seems to add weight to the complaint.
Complaining about those in religious leadership is not new.
The exodus journey had not more than started and complaints began to be voiced
to and about Moses. Was it because there
were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness?
What have you done to us, bringing us out of Egypt? (Ex.14.11) And the people complained against Moses,
saying, “What shall we drink? (Ex. 15.24) The whole congregation of the Israelites complained against Moses and
Aaron in the wilderness… when we sat by the fleshpots and ate our fill of
bread; for you have brought us out into the wilderness to kill this whole
assembly with hunger. (Ex. 16.2-3) And finally Moses responded to their
complaining … (H)e has heard your
complaining against the Lord. For what are we? Your complaining is not against us but the Lord. (Ex.16.8)
What would be the result if ministers were to use Moses’
response? Your complaining is not against
us but the Lord. We say the call of a minister to serve a congregation is
in response to the action of God. God is the leading influence in a particular
pastor and a particular congregation coming together. The disease of
complainers is that of “me-ism.” What I
like or dislike is paramount. The yapping of complainers is most irritating and
disheartening. Of course, that road runs both directions. The complaining of
ministers about their congregation or particular individuals is demoralizing to
the congregation or individuals.
What if we all, members and ministers were to seek to follow
the advice of the Apostle in Philippians 2.5 Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of
others?
Murmurings, gossip, complaining are the airborne viruses
which spread unhappiness in the church, regardless who is the one sneezing.
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