SHOULD PASTORS BE HELD TO A HIGHER STANDARD THAN OTHER CHRISTIANS?

Christians should, in the interest of being “salt” and “light” to a lost world (Matt. 5:13-16), care about how they are perceived by others and should want to be a source of edification, not a cause of stumbling to their brothers and sisters in Christ (Rom. 14:13). As their knowledge of God’s Word Increases and they become more and more spiritually mature they will appreciate more and more what they communicate about themselves in terms of their testimony: in terms of their conversation (Ps. 19:14; Col. 4:6; Eph. 4:29), their conduct (Eph. 5:8), the company they keep (2 Cor. 6:14), the clothes they wear (Deut. 22:5; 1 Tim. 2:9), and in terms how they they carry themselves In general.

Should pastors be held, and hold themselves, to a higher standard in terms of their lifestyle than any other Christian? The answer is unequivocally, "Yes." First among the reasons for this is that pastors represent the highest Power and the most sacred and significant cause there is on earth. Of course pastors should hold themselves, and be held, to a higher standard than the rank and file of believers. Scripture dictates this, and it would seem that common sense would dictate this to men who serve as pastors.

Furthermore, pastors aren't in the same category when it comes to standards as those whom they pastor because, those who make up the of the entirety of the family of God are at various stages of spiritual growth, understanding and conscientiousness. Some. of them are "babes" in the faith, others are considered "children," others "fathers in the faith," etc. (1 Cor. 3:1; 1 Pet. 2:2; 1 John 2:12-14). A pastor is, and should be, someone who has attained a certain level of spiritual growth, understanding and conscientiousness that enables him to be an example to other believers and a shepherd to the flock of God (1 Tim. 4:12; 1 Pet. 5:2, 3). One of the biblically qualifying factors for a pastor is that he not be a man a "novice" in the faith (1 Tim. 3:6).

We live in times when irreverence and "putting no difference between the holy and the profane" (Ezek. 22:26) has become popular among Christians. No where is this more obvious and lamentable than it is where the ministry is concerned. The growing trend today is for pastors to endeavor in their deportment and in their dress to be as indistinguishable, as inconspicuous and as unidentifiable from any other Christian man as they can possibly be. Not a few pastors today appear to be going out of their way to flaunt their unconventionality and their disdain for those who manifest a desire to uphold the dignity of the gospel ministry in terms of their personal testimonies appearance-wise and other-wise.