Pastors, Church Councilors, Deacons or

Created Date: 8-Jan-2015
any Church Officer

Last updated: 22-Sep-2022
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Sections

1 Familiar Scriptures 2 Lacking in the Church Pastoral and Leadership Roles
3 Scriptures Missing 4 Insulting and Ignorance by Pastors
5 Why People Sometimes Stop Going to Church 6 Classical Life Cycle of a Church
7 Narcissistic People in the Congregation 8 The Attack against Pastors, a Warning and Consequence
9 Solutions on Using the Whole Word of God 10 Don't Feed the Animals?
11 Fighting Ego and Illusions 12 Negative Criticism Will Always Be There
13 Removal Reason of Anyone in Church Leadership    

An excerpt from contact information:

When we recognize and understand that our gifts on understanding and speaking about the scriptures is from the Holy Spirit then we will receive increased wisdom, revelations and feeling of love from God and for God, along with the growing understanding of our frailties as sinners.  When we think that we are somehow deserving and better than others because of increased knowledge of the scriptures, then we are purposely or unknowingly taking glory from God.

John 15:1-2
and
John 15:5		 1 I am the true vine, and My Father is the keeper of the vineyard. 2 He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, and every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes to make it even more fruitful.

5 I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing.

There are many people who love God, but publicly are putting their name above God on how they present themselves when speaking and acting in spiritual matters along with how they act in their public lives.  If we are not humble, then we are harming ourselves and limiting the Holy Spirit. 

Colossians 3:23-24 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Matthew 6:2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.

There are two amazing examples, of many, in the scriptures with Joseph and Daniel who show the proper acknowledgment of the source of knowledge is God.  Notice how they explained the gift of interpreting the dreams came from God and not themselves.

Genesis 41:15-16 15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” 16 “I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.”
Daniel 2:25-28 25 Arioch took Daniel to the king at once and said, “I have found a man among the exiles from Judah who can tell the king what his dream means.” 26 The king asked Daniel (also called Belteshazzar), “Are you able to tell me what I saw in my dream and interpret it?” 27 Daniel replied, “No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, 28 but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come. Your dream and the visions that passed through your mind as you were lying in bed are these:

Familiar Scriptures

If you are new or a seasoned Pastor, Church Councilor, Deacon or occupying any office in your congregation, consider these scriptures, which should be very familiar:

Jeremiah 3:15 And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.
1 Peter 5:1-5 1 The elders therefore among you I exhort, who am a fellow-elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, who am also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 2 Tend the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight, not of constraint, but willingly, according to the will of God; nor yet for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3 neither as lording it over the charge allotted to you, but making yourselves ensamples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd shall be manifested, ye shall receive the crown of glory that fadeth not away. 5 Likewise, ye younger, be subject unto the elder. Yea, all of you gird yourselves with humility, to serve one another: for God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble.
Hebrews 13:17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
James 3:1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.
1 Peter 3:15 But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
Matthew 6:1-5 1 Take heed that ye do not your righteousness before men, to be seen of them: else ye have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. 2 When therefore thou doest alms, sound not a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have received their reward. 3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: 4 that thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father who seeth in secret shall recompense thee.  5 And when ye pray, ye shall not be as the hypocrites: for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have received their reward.
Galatians 6:6 One who is taught the word must share all good things with the one who teaches.
1 Timothy 3:1-7 1 This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; 3 not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; 4 one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence 5 (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); 6 not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. 7 Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Lacking in the Church Pastoral and Leadership Roles

There are several things lacking and missed in apparently most churches.  These are the top three needs:

  1. Spend more time teaching the entirety of the Scriptures from the Old and New Testaments.  Use all of the areas in the scriptures, that call all of us into accountability.  Do not neglect some areas because of a fear that the congregation will be offended.
  2. A priority in creating home Bible study groups, where the home study groups split to grow more home study groups after a designated period of time. 
  3. Always be humble, gracious and approachable.

Scriptures Missing

In the place of scriptures, many church pastors are telling antidotal stories to teach morals, which too often also are designed not to make people feel accountable.  There is boundless relevance of the people in the whole Bible to use as examples that are relevant then and today. 

This author has heard a Pastor, on a Christian TV Show, speak about the use of modern-day stories are more relevant to help the listener understand scriptural verses.  The use of modern-day analogies may have its place periodically but the question to ask then is "did God not make the scriptures to be relevant for today?"

There are highly intelligent people in the world who are captains of industry, top sales people, engineers, computer programmers, medical doctors with supporting positions, etc. who use concise language and are capable or reasoning a matter quickly.  It can be insulting to many people or cause them to close their minds when hearing a Pastor's message that is filled with conjectures and stories that are too often given at an elementary education level.  The Scriptures are always the best choice because the Scriptures are God Breathed and designed by God:

Using the Scriptural messages of people from the time in the Bible is always relevant, concise and with Spiritual significance to yield more fruit by the hearer of the Word of God.

Isaiah 55:11

so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

Insulting and Ignorance by Pastors

Anyone who spends anytime listening to Ministries on the radio or Satellite radio along with going to Church, visiting Churches, or watching a Church Service on television is bombarded with too many Pastor messages that have:

Human Being have the capacity to rationalize anything negative as justified and after time can have their thoughts on right and wrong be desensitized.   This also applies to Christians besides the non-Believers.  Sadly, it has been said by way too many Christians that "God would want me to be happy and anything I do is covered under the blood" which is obviously wrong. 

On major Television Network News and Christian Broadcasting programs, there are often well know Christian Pastors and Authors who speak on topics or answer questions from the audience, where they are not prepared and end up saying some very ignorant comments.  It is better to say something like "I do not know about that particular area" or "I will have to get back with you regarding that topic."

One example, which this author was very embarrassed for the Speaker occurred on Satellite Radio on March 12, 2017.  A well-known Christian Author and President of a Bible College, when being interviewed responded to a question on Abortion and said that "Congressmen and Senators know that Abortion is wrong but they refuse to pass legislation to de-fund Planned Parenthood."   There are so many problems with such a blanket statement such as:

  1. An unsaved Congressman does not necessarily know or believe Abortion is wrong,
  2. The Christian Speaker should have given scriptural references, without the verse if time doesn't permit, to state the perspective on Abortion being wrong, and
  3. Also state that Planned Parenthood is paid by taxpayers to fix mistakes or an unplanned pregnancy which is not the responsibility of the taxpayer. 

There are many areas that have become part of a problem that could be described as almost epidemic.  The unsaved world naturally is going to be against God but Christian Pastors are the Ambassadors who should be very wise and show intelligence when speaking.  Also, Pastors should never be speaking with fear.  Fear is the opposite of Faith.  Pastors and anyone, including this author, who is a leader or in a position to teach needs to realize the greater scrutiny of a person's life by God and everyone that watches and listens.

1 Peter 3:15

but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
James 3:1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.

Why People Sometimes Stop Going to Church

One of this author's good friends said that he no longer goes to Church because of the impression that Pastors are empire builders that have the goal of increasing membership volunteering and contributions for their own self-gratification and monetary benefits.  After asking why this friend felt this way, he replied that while attending and volunteering, he too often heard comments from Pastors such as:

While, the mature in faith Christian knows that God uses all of us and Pastors need the support and monetary tithes to provide a place where people can come to hear a message that inspires and changes, the two bullet point comments have probably been heard by every Christian.  The implication, for the listener, is the Pastor somehow is better than the listener and if the listener wants to be a better Christian, then volunteering and tithing is the Pastor's recommended solution.  This is wrong for many reasons:

Pastors and people in leadership roles in any Church, need to appear more gracious and humbler when asking for anyone's time and monetary contributions. 

This author's friend, also had the unpleasant experience of seeing the Pastor of a very large Church living in a very luxurious fashion, who often appeared very arrogant.  It is the opinion of this author that many great Churches have amazing Works of God occurring in them, where it is too often seen that the Pastor believes that they are responsible for the Works of God.  When this occurs and a Pastor tries to portray that their leadership is the reason why, then there will be people in the audience who will be turned away. 

Classical Life Cycle of a Church

In a very broad and high-level view of the life cycle of many churches, the start is always God oriented and degrades over time.

Stage Description Explanation
1 The Serving Pastor Pastor driven to work all church roles to help it succeed.
2 Repent Message Pastor Pastor is wanting to help everyone in their Christian Faith.
3 Message Friendly Pastor Church has grown and Pastor doesn't want to offend anyone.
4 Financial Concerned Pastor Pastor is wanting more tithing to pay for expansion and higher salaries.
5 Power Oriented Pastor Pastor sees the church as a power base and empire.
6 Politically Correct Pastor Pastor's messages rarely call anyone into repentance.  The Pastor makes the church a social club and general accountability is lacking in administration.

Narcissistic People and People with Psychological Disorders may be in the Congregation

Unfortunately, with so many areas in life that cause psychological traits and disorders, along with being born with a trait or problem, Pastors should try to get some basic understanding in human psychology.  This author has asked a few Pastors and apparently classes on human psychology are not always available in Biblical Curriculums or Pastors are not interested in this area when taking additional education programs. 

There are many areas in a Church organization and services that require understanding, recognizing and learning how to deal with people.  Everyone has specific traits and needs on communication and feeling valued.

As an example of one of the personality traits, that can disrupt and severely hurt a Church fellowship, is narcissistic people.  A Church is often a haven or an oasis for a narcissistic person because the narcissist relishes and thrives off of getting others to give them attention, possible financial assistance and many other areas that are not in the Church's best interest.

Acts 20:29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

The Attack against Pastors, a Warning and Consequence

Pastors are going to be:

  1. Attacked verbally,
  2. Gossip against,
  3. Fired by a Board of a Church,
  4. Possibly physically attacked / threatened, and
  5. Battle against temptations of greed and lust. 

Pastors need to recognize that the Satanic Forces around all of us are also going to use weapons to discredit and destroy a Pastor.  The Pastor's defender is God and when doing God's Will then God will always take care of the Pastor.   How the Pastor handles the attacks is very important and must be done Biblically. 

The Pastor and Leadership of a Church, and even a Bible Study Group, need to be prepared for temptations.  It is almost beyond belief how many Pastors have been caught publicly and exposed to the Media for the embarrassment of someone who is representing God.  The most common four areas are:
  1. In Adultery,
  2. Improper handling of Church Funds for obsessive salaries and bonuses,
  3. Outright embezzlement, and
  4. An ostentatious lifestyle of the rich and famous.  
Deuteronomy 17:17 And he shall not acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away, nor shall he acquire for himself excessive silver and gold.

Not much needs to be explained scripturally why these four areas are wrong, yet there are still other areas of wrong doing.  Pastors and Teachers have a greater level of accountability as explained in the scriptures such as 1 Timothy 3:1-17.  If an explanation is required, then this ignorance of the importance of ambassadorship (3rd Commandment) of a church leader is proof of unwarranted leadership roles.  

Axiom Statement

A Pastor, Evangelist or anyone in a position of Christian leadership that while in church leadership:

must immediately resign and NEVER return to a position of leadership in a Church or Ministry.  In place of returning, after a long period of restitution has been attempted, then the person can return to a position of service only in a Christian congregation which involves no possibility of leadership.  Returning to a role of leadership, puts God up for public shame.

(Note: These six bullet points are part of the Four Greatest Sins.  The only exception for leadership is someone in a prison scenario or a recovery group, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, where the leader and all members may be involved in one area of the six bullet points.)

Forgiveness is absolutely there from God, but a Church Leader participating (or participated) in any of the six bullet points is similar to Esau not holding his birthright in high regards, which God required of all first-borns in the Old Testament Dispensation Period.  Esau traded the birthright for a bowl of stew to eat, as read in Genesis Chapter 25.  Esau forsook his birthright responsibility which his parents, his brother Jacob and others witnessed or learned later thus putting God up to public shame.  The consequences for Esau are explained more fully in Hebrews 12:15-17

Hebrews 12:15-17 15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; 16 that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. 17 For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.

If any of us are going to a place of worship that has leadership, by someone who has committed anyone of these six bullet points while being a church leader, then we:

  1. Must demand their resignation, through proper procedures as detailed in Matthew 18:15-20 and 1 Timothy 5:19-20, or
  2. Stop going to the place of worship which this person is in a leadership position. 

Attending a place of worship, with a leader who committed any one of these six bullet points while being a church leader, then this puts God up to public shame because the person was a spokesperson for God.  The ramifications are:

  • The Honor and Dignity of God has been publicly disgraced.
  • New Christians will be discouraged or even stop going to Church.
  • Non-Christians will not necessarily believe in the power of God can make people better.
  • The magnitude of these six bullet points will most likely damage the victims for their entire lifetime.

Again, the person is absolutely forgivable, but should not be in a leadership role of any kind in a Church, Ministry and even a Bible Study.

Pastors should keep in mind that some nationally and internationally well-known and respected Pastors / Evangelists, that appear to be truly Christians, have participated in these areas and have fooled millions of people before being exposed.

It is the opinion of this author that besides charlatans, there are many good Pastors who love God, but are using their position for all types of gains which will eventually be publicly exposed because it is a misuse of God's name.

Exodus 20:7 You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.

Unless we all think the problems with Pastors is a recent phenomenon, consider what Napoleon Bonaparte said many centuries ago:

"I am surrounded by priests who repeat incessantly that their kingdom is not of this world, and yet they lay their hands on everything they can get."

Also, there is the instructions for a King of Israel, which is in a higher position of authority over people than a Pastor, where a Pastor should know they are accountable not to do the three things listed (updated to modern terminology):

  1. Not to multiply possessions / assets.
  2. To only have sexual relations with your spouse.
  3. Not to use the tithes, gifts and offerings to the Church or Evangelism to become wealthy.
Deuteronomy
17:15-17
 		 15 you shall surely set a king over you whom the Lord your God chooses; one from among your brethren you shall set as king over you; you may not set a foreigner over you, who is not your brother. 16 But he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, for the Lord has said to you, ‘You shall not return that way again.’ 17 Neither shall he multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away; nor shall he greatly multiply silver and gold for himself.

Lastly, it is quite evident also, regarding problems in the Church, that there are wolves that have come into the congregation as Matthew 7:15-20 warns us all.

Matthew 7:15-20 15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

Solutions on Using the Whole Word of God

The solution always for a Pastor is to pray before composing thoughts regarding the message to be given on an upcoming Church Service or Event.  A good method is to write down general topic thoughts and begin reading the Bible along with searching on the Internet or in a Concordance to have the Holy Spirit guide content.  Consider:

  1. The congregation and the listening audience demographics are certainly mixed with new comers to veterans in the Faith so that a Christian Message has to be clearly understandable by all and yet with substance enough to help mature Christians.  Always remember to start with the tenant or foundation of a topic with Scriptural references and then continue to expand using more Scriptural references. 
  2. All problems in life, which we all face, have solutions and comfort in the Scriptures.  A Pastor needs to stay focused when addressing the congregation with Scriptural references throughout a message.   Comedians have often said that if the audience does not hear a joke every few minutes, then the Comedian is not doing his job.  Mentioning only one or two Scriptural references in a 20 to 40-minute message is wrong.
  3. Do not avoid controversial areas of the Word of God.  Capital Punishment, Abortion, Adultery, Consulting Spiritual Medians, etc. are not taboo subjects.  If the Pastor uses the Scriptures, then the convicted listener may repent and the unbelieving person may become a Believer. 

It has been said by many Pastors, "If you do not like the message that I am teaching from the Scriptures, then take it up with the home office as I am just the salesman representing the product who is God."

The sequence of the Seven Churches in the Book of Revelation represent a pattern of the health of the Church throughout the history of formation before the Tribulation Period.  Many Biblical Scholars state that we are living in the last Church age of the Laodicean Church which is noted for having a name but nothing else because they were lukewarm. Read Revelation 3:16.  This is a warning to consider in leading your congregation.  It is not this author's intention to make a joke but I often state "we are living in the LameOdicean Church Age", which is a derogatory comment meaning lame.  

Don't feed the Animals?

We all have heard about or seen the signs at National Parks which state for visitors not feed the animals because this will teach the animals to beg for food rather than do what is natural for the species.  Pastors need to realize, beyond John 21:17, that part of their ministry to the congregation is to teach them to help themselves and learn on their own and in small home groups.   Numerous Churches have published articles that show that the greatest growth by their members occurs in home study groups.

John 21:17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.

Fighting Ego and Illusions

One of the hidden dangers that every CEO, Owner of a company and Manager will always face is employees reporting that

  1. All work is going great,
  2. There is nothing wrong, or
  3. There was a problem and it was fixed. 

If the Pastor is doing something wrong then most likely it is not going to be said because the Pastor's Church employees are often afraid of discussing anything critical which might cause them to be terminated.  Additionally, in the Christian arena, people are hesitant of offending.  (Read more on Power regarding this area.)

What often seems to happen to Pastors, is egos are inflated and there is a belief that every is going perfectly where God is using them mightily.  The Pastor should consider if things are going perfectly, then the Pastor's Church is not being attacked by Satanic Forces.  This means the Satanic Forces do not see the Pastor's Church as a much of threat to their missions to destroy the Christian. 

Negative Criticism Will Always Be There

Pastors always need to remember that Church is a Hospital for Sinners so a Pastor is ALWAYS dealing with people with problems.  People, in many cases, are going to be offended.  When the Scriptures are being taught, God's Word calls all of us to conviction that leads to better lives and a Faith and love for God. 

Many Pastors daily are confronted by people coming for help in so many painful circumstances like adultery, addictions, abuse, loss of job, financials problems to name just a few.  Professional athletes, who practice during the week before the game on a weekend, always need a day or two to recuperate.  The Pastor, when counseling too many hours will need time to recuperate also.  When a Pastor resumes to focusing on the general requirements of preaching God's Word then there can be the danger of the Pastor refusing or avoiding any positive constructive criticism with the thought it will negatively influence a sermon.  The refusing is because the Pastor has reached a threshold of too much negativity.

Solutions to understanding and dealing with getting weary of facing potential negativity along with other areas:

  1. If it is possible, have an administrative assistant for the Pastor.  The assistance can help in filtering emails, letters and phone calls. 
  2. Additionally, if the technology is available to the Pastor, then have automated outgoing emails to handle incoming emails.   If a Church has a website, then a generic email address for correspondence to the Pastor should be set up.  Any emails sent to the email address should trigger an automated response with something to the effect of "Thank you for contacting the Church.  We value our congregation and visitors' emails!  Your email will be directed to one of the Pastors as soon as possible and we will reply back if required.  In the meantime, please look at our website for more information that may help you.  We look forward to seeing you at all of our scheduled events including Service this Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday."
  3. All correspondence should be read no matter the content.  The author has been in two congregations when the Pastor has publicly had to apologize for not returning phone calls, replying to emails and generally not making himself available. 
    (a) In one case, which is a mega-Church, the Pastor in his apology said that if he read anything negative in an email or letter then he immediately would delete or throw away the letter because he said he couldn't handle any more negativity. 
    (b) Also, this Pastor, said at that time, he had a feeling that he was being used mightily by God so negative people didn't need to be in his life. 
  4. Set up a group of peer friends, who are trusted by the Pastor, to meet weekly for personal time to discuss how things are going in the Pastor's Church and in the Pastor's personal life.  The group needs to have the trust and friendship where they can say anything and will listen to anything in confidence coming from the Pastor.  This will give the chance for the Pastor to talk openly and candidly about anything that is a problem or requiring a solution that the Pastor has not solved.  This group will also be committed to prayer for the Pastor.
  5. Be very, very careful to never be a counseling session alone with someone of the opposite gender without another witness or counselor.  Besides the potential for incorrect perceptions and negative gossip, there is the undeniable opportunity used by Satanic Forces to use vulnerabilities of emotions and attractiveness to cause sexual immoral thoughts and actions.    If possible, have a counseling room that is sound proof but with general visibility with windows so that others can see inside.  There is scarcely a person who doesn't know about so many prominent and local Churches having sexual scandals.  This should be expected by all Pastors as all Christians are in a war where we are on the front lines and in the trenches where a Pastor is a high-profile military target when using military analogies.

Removal Reason of Anyone in Church Leadership

This is an excerpt from the "Removal of a Pastor" topic:

This section of this topic is dealing only with Church Leaders who commit adultery.  It does not apply to someone:

  1. Who is not in Church Leadership and commits adultery.
  2. Someone who had been an adulterer before becoming a Christian.  When a person accepts Jesus Christ as their personal Savior then any sin such as adultery, done before becoming a Christian, does NOT prohibit the person becoming a Church Leader.

All Christians, that are in any kind of Church leadership which includes this writer who is a role of an Evangelist, are called to a higher level of accountability, James 3:1, where there are gifts by God given for the role.  If a Church Leader commits adultery, then that person is putting Jesus Christ in a position of "public disgrace" which is part of the offense listed in Hebrews 6:4-8 shown below where Christians and also non-Christians are looking, trusting, relying on and depending upon a Church leader for guidance and leading by example. 

It unfortunately has to be stated that God and all of us absolutely require our spouse, sons, daughters, friends, visitors and even ourselves have protection and no fear from the predatory act of adultery by a Church leader in a Church venue and also in the life of a Church leader. 

  1. The sin of adultery is a form of blaspheming the Holy Spirit for a Church leader, as such a person is called by God as a role of God's representative to the Christian community and non-believing world with special anointing of gifts from God, just like Prophets in the Old Testament. 
  2. The Church leader who commits adultery does NOT suffer the loss of Salvation, as it is impossible for anyone to lose Salvation, but the sin of adultery for a Church leader has a specific consequence along with others, which is to no longer serve in any role of leadership in a Church, with the exception in the areas to serve as a leader in:
    (a) Prison Ministries,
    (b) Alcoholics/Drug/Sex Anonymous Ministries, and
    (c) Adultery type-of Recovery Ministries
    where disclosure of a person's weaknesses and mistakes are part of recovery, rehabilitation and examples for others to know they can overcome their problems.
  3. Failure to cease serving in a role of Church leadership is a continued grievous sinful action of putting Jesus Christ in "public disgrace" as explained in great detail in the "regarding Hebrews 6:4-8" topic link.
James 3:1 Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.
Hebrews 6:4-8 4 It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age 6 and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. 7 Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. 8 But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.

ONE OF THE GREATEST PROOFS that a person serving in Church Leadership should never return to the role of leadership after adultery is given in the scriptures concerning Moses, who did NOT commit adultery, but falsely represented God.  An adulterous Church Leader has misrepresent God.  A few Biblical Scholars, which this author agree, state that Moses is a perfect example of the seriousness of representing God correctly.  Moses for 40-years lead Israel during the Exodus, and there one incident that God forgave him but the significance of misrepresenting God had a very punitive consequence.  Some of us might initially think it is not fair for this to happen to Moses after 40-years of faithfulness, until we realize we cannot commit specific sins that will publicly dishonor God and God's Glory

Moses is one of the greatest teachers in the scriptures, that far surpass any modern-day Church Leader's abilities.  The mistake that Moses made occurred during the Exodus wandering when Israel needed water.  God had instructed, in an earlier occasion to strike a rock to bring forth water for Israel.  On the next occasion, God instructed Moses to ONLY speak to the rock and water would come forth for Israel.  On the second occasion, Moses was angry at the people so Moses strikes the rock disobeying God, Numbers 20:6-12.  Moses misrepresented God by striking the rock the second time, which gave the impression to the people that God was angry at the people, when God was not.  Also, the striking of the rock the second time, broke the model of the future Jesus Christ missions.  The rock is an idiom for Jesus Christ and the water the Holy Spirit, where Jesus Christ was to be smitten once in His first mission at the Cross, and not smitten the second time in His Glory.  Moses then had the consequence of not being able to enter the Promise Land.

Exodus 17:5-7

(first striking rock)		 5 The Lord answered Moses, “Go out in front of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6 I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 And he called the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the Lord saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”
Numbers 20:6-12

(second striking of the rock)		 6 Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the entrance to the tent of meeting and fell facedown, and the glory of the Lord appeared to them. 7 The Lord said to Moses, 8 “Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink.”

9 So Moses took the staff from the Lord’s presence, just as he commanded him. 10 He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” 11 Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.

12 But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.”
Revelation 22:1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb

(Future Eternity of water coming from the Throne of God.  God is our Rock of Salvation.)

There is the question if God will be still present in an adulterous and repented church leader's work at a Church?  Yes is the answer, but that is because God's Word will never go out void, Isaiah 55:11, but every moment the adulterous repented church leader is working in church leadership is a sin against God.  Furthermore, if makes God appear to have no power to change lives if a church leader, who should be mature had adultery even in the past, and can sin in such a grievous sin.

Isaiah 55:11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

God absolutely still loves a Church leader who has committed adultery and the sin will be forgiven by God, but there are still consequences besides no longer being a role of Church leadership for the remainder of their life.  Grace and Mercy applies to all of us, as everyone of us are sinners, where there are always other areas to serve God and build Rewards in Heaven because of our love for Jesus Christ. 

What to read next?

What is Salvation?  Is it possible to lose Salvation?  We have eternal life.  Evolution is not real.  When a Christian suffers is there benefits from it.  Rewards in heaven.  Do we Tithe?  What does the 3rd Commandment tell us?  What is Grace and Mercy?  Is there an Age of Accountability?  Is there a place of unending punishment and exile form God?