Congregational life

1 Thes. 5:12-22 (ESV)
We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, [13] and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. [14] And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. [15] See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. [16] Rejoice always, [17] pray without ceasing, [18] give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. [19] Do not quench the Spirit. [20] Do not despise prophecies, [21] but test everything; hold fast what is good. [22] Abstain from every form of evil.

Paul draws to a close with a few admonitions concerning congregational life. “Respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you… admonish the idle, encourage the faint hearted, help the weak, be patient with the all.”
Christians live in community. Community is frustrating. It is easier to withdraw and be your own person, than it is to live in community for one another. Christians need to belong to congregations. Congregations need pastors. Pastors could use respect, if not for their person then for their office. Pastors are human too. They tend to have quirks. If you don’t have quirks before you go to seminary, you will probably have a couple by the time you leave, they develop somewhere between Hebrew and Greek. They don’t all share the same personality either. Some are outgoing and industrious. Some are introverted, and maybe don’t get the same things done. Yet God entrusts them with the spiritual care of a congregation, and that is rarely an easy task. I mean I enjoy it immensely, but it isn’t always easy.
I think many pastors get burned out and quick caring for their flocks. They begin to let things slide. Sometimes they get caught up in weird theological positions. Sometimes they introduce practices contrary to sound theology. And often congregations, and or members thereof become frustrated with them and rightfully so. My advice? Respect them regardless. Work with them.
Bo Giertz was a dunce of a pastor leaving seminary. He blossomed to be the best pastoral theologian of the Twentieth Century. His congregation suffered with him, and gently corrected him. Would that we had more congregations that could do that! They sent him on a sabbatical early on. They shipped him over to go live and study the practice under a tried and true pastor. This is the idea behind a vicarage in our church. It is a good plan. Of course the results vary depending on the people involved.
Be patient with them all. That is be patient with the other members of the congregation. Don’t bite and snap at each other. We are all forgiven brothers and sisters, share that forgiveness. It really isn’ the end of the world if flowers are misplaced, or the tapers are lit out of order, go do it yourself if you think you can do better.