Written by Dan Doriani, professor of biblical and systematic theology at Covenant Theological Seminary.
Criticism. All pastors eventually face it. It’s tempting to hope critics will go away without anyone acting. Indeed, time may heal a wound or reveal that a problem is inconsequential. But when critics persist, we must lay aside fear and anxiety over time-and-energy-consuming escalation. We must address them.
Why does criticism come? Church members sometimes think a pastor’s gifts and labors are deficient. It could be that you’ve failed to meet an unrealistic expectation, such as when a member thinks you, as his pastor, should have prevented a hardship that providentially befell his family. It could be that your pastoral leadership is questioned out of jealousy, such as when a man gets angry because he wasn’t selected for a leadership position. Or maybe the expectations were justified because you failed to prepare well for preaching, for a meeting, or for an event.
As a pastor, you should be ready when critics come. You should be able to say, “Your criticism is serious. If I’m guilty of these charges, those who evaluate me must know and hold me accountable. Let’s contact them now.” Petty complaints tend to melt away at this point, and that’s a gift, but church leaders must hear and assess substantive and persistent complaints.
If criticisms are valid, we pastors must be held accountable to repent or improve (or both). But if your church’s or denomination’s leadership concludes the critics are misguided, they should report that you’ve been exonerated. After criticism has been carefully evaluated and a clear judgment call has been made, critics should stop talking, be reconciled, and let the Lord judge (Rom. 14:1–6, 10). Hebrews 13:17 tells believers to obey and submit to their leaders so the leaders can serve “with joy and not with groaning.” If a critic can’t submit to this teaching, he may need to find a new church home, or the church’s leadership may need to begin a discipline process. Whatever the case, the criticism can’t go on unaddressed.
Pastors, be wise. Don’t avoid conflict. For the peace of the church and for the sake of your own joyful and effective service, address persistent criticism.
—Dan Doriani
