“Where is then the blessedness ye spake of?For I bear you record, that, if it had beenpossible, ye would have plucked out your owneyes, and given them to me. Am I thereforebecome your enemy, because I tell you thetruth,” Gal. 4:15- 16.

The call to full time service for the Lord isthe very highest a man can receive. OurGodly pastor holds a sacred position ofgreat leadership and responsibility. He is aproven treasure of great value to each of us.As the new year begins, I wonder how eachof you has treated ours. He is human and Iwonder if God is pleased with the way wehave treated him. Have we balked, refusedhis leadership, hurt his feelings, ignored hispreaching and criticized his family? Havewe personally expressed our love andappreciation to our dear man of God?Refusal to be led seems to be the tragicattack of Satan in these days. Could it behappening here? I pray you will read thiscarefully and apply it to your heart andshare it with family members. I sincerelyurge you, each and every one, to wrap ourpreacher and his family anew in our love.Let’s see what the Bible says about “HowTo Treat My Pastor.”

First, we are instructed to Love him. “Webeseech you, brethren, to know them whichlabor among you, and are over you in theLord and admonish you; to esteem them veryhighly in love, for their works sake,” I Thess.5:12& 13. . It takes a very special kind of aman to be a good pastor and most deservebetter treatment than we have given. He hashis own family problems and worries, plusthose of the entire congregation. You needto demonstrate your love to your pastor.

Show it every way you can and teach yourchildren to do the same. I'm not talkingabout a traditional one a year gift and cardbut make him your family hero, honoredwith your love and appreciation. You can’tlove him too much. Make him your familiesmost special friend and express your loveand appreciation often. As a human he willbe encouraged and challenged to greaterlevels of service in the ministry.

The Bible next commands you to Obey him.Every group must have a leader to direct itsactivities and lead in the path of Godlyobedience. He. 13:17 commands, ”Obeythem that have the rule over you, and submityourselves: for they watch for your souls, asthey that must give an account, that they maydo it with joy, and not with grief: for that isunprofitable for you.” The pastor is yourleader, your boss in the spiritual realm andyour advisor in life. Your family needs theleadership of a well-chosen man of God. Heis “over” you as leader of your life anddirector of the things of the church. TheBible lists every other church officer underthe pastor. God holds him accountable tolead the church, not ignoring the wisdomand help of others but to bring it alltogether in the will of God. He must standon the proven commands the Word and notbudge from that which is clearly Biblical.Like the father of your family he isaccountable to lead and for you to follow.

Next, the Bible commands the members ofthe church to Respect him. Notice again thephrase in I Thess. 5:12 which says, "esteemhim very highly in love.” Teach yourchildren to respect him and you must do thesame. Men of God should be held in highesteem. Speaking against them to others isnot pleasing to God. The telephone issometimes the leading assassination weaponof choice and many a church has been

HOW TO TREAT MY PREACHERBy Dr. Hal Webb, Evangelist

severely hurt by unwise communications.Many a pastor has been shouted down in abusiness meeting by disagreeing adults whoutter words of rebellion and often misleadothers and traumatize their own families.Discussion must reflect respect, always.Your pastor is your commander and chief.God has placed him in this position andothers have no right to tear down anddestroy his labors. You must not slanderhim, drag your feet and demand your ownway. Think of the effect on your childrenwhen they hear you talk in critical, angrytones with little respect for the man Godgave you. All through the Old Testamentyou read the phrase, “they murmured”,over and over again. Your respect for yourpastor will be reflected in the community'sattitude toward him. Lift your pastor inyour words and manner and the church willgrow in effectiveness and reputation.

Let me also point out you are to Trust Him.The word “submit” in Heb. 13:17 is veryclear to understand. Every Christian needsaccountability to someone and we arecommanded to “be like-minded, having thesame love, being of one accord, of one mind.Again God says, that there be no divisionsamong you; but that ye be perfectly joinedtogether in the same mind and in the samejudgment. Not only the pulpit but in therealm of counseling, your pastor is avaluable and necessary tool of God. Often amember seeks advice from their pastor andhe Biblically shows them the answer andthey go out and do what they were going todo anyway. Their kids are in trouble butthey won’t seek his help nor take hissuggestions. Don’t doubt his sincerity,leadership nor practical advice. Do notreject and criticize his sermons. Rebellionbreeds mistrust and doubt and a bad spirittoward the pastor. If you allow this tohappen the devil will gain ground in your

church and family. Most often pastor knowsbest. Trust him and rely on his counsel andwisdom to help you walk with God.

This leads me to urge you to Listen to him.Prov. 13:10 urges,” Only by pride comethcontention, but with the well advised iswisdom.” The more you understand of theWord of God, the better. Be sure to attendevery service of your church. Bring yourBibles and a notebook and record Biblicalthoughts from the sermon. Require yourchildren to pay attention, don’t bring toysfor amusement but teach the importance oflistening and learning from the message.Avoid distractions, adopt the truth andaccept the rebuke. An army that refuses tolisten to its leader will be defeated easily.The advice of the doctor, dentist ormechanic is sought and followed. Give yourpastor that same courtesy and learn all youcan in spiritual things. Soak up everysermon and apply the truths to build yourpersonal relationship to God. Listen as if theLord was talking and remember He is,through his man.

How about Use Him. The pastor's commandis to lead and yours is to follow. Be sure toshare personal and family problems withhim. Jer. 3:15 states, “I will give you pastors,according to mine heart, which shall feed youwith knowledge and understanding.” Withhours of prayer and study, throughexperience your pastor can give you muchhelp and blessing. God gave him to you asyour leader and instructor in spiritualthings. Many professional men meet yourneeds in different ways. Where would yoube without a mechanic to keep your car inrunning order? Your dentist can keep yourwhole family in happy smiles. Be true toyour teeth and they will never be false toyou. The lawyer knows about law and theteacher knows how to teach your kids. Your

pastor is your spiritual professional. Hisoffice is never closed and he waits to be ofservice to you. Ask him!

Lastly be very sure to Support him. TheBible lists 5 ways you can do so. First,attendance in all services. I Cor. 15:58urges, ”Be ye steadfast, unmovable, alwaysabounding in the work of the Lord.” Noservice in your church is less important andyour family's attendance in all of them iscrucial to the church and to your family.Rearrange your schedule for revivalmeetings and missionary conference. Don’tallow sports or other busy pursuits to causeyou to be absent. Please understand, “Anyabsence from a service of my church is avote to close it.” Then a pastor needssupport by generous finances. A hardworking pastor is, “Worthy of doublehonor,” I Tim. 5:17. This is quite easy tounderstand as double pay. Add up theaverage pay of the congregation and doubleit for the man of God that heads yourchurch. Housing, family needs, insurance,gas to do visitation are all ways to showsupport to the man of God. I almost lost mycool with one deacon who said, “We keepour pastor poor to keep him humble.” Suchan attitude is a shame for anyone toentertain. Be sure your pastor's burden doesnot include his finances. Support of thepastor should also demonstrate loyalty. “Notforsaking the assembling of ourselvestogether, as the manner of some is; butexhorting one another: and so much themore, as ye see the day approaching, Heb.10:25. Be present in your seat for everyservice. I want to also urge you to brag onhim to his face and others. “A man hath joyby the answer of his mouth, and a workspoken in due season, how good is it,” Prov.15:23. Line up with your pastor like a flyingwedge of geese and “Honk” encouragementto him. Share messages and blessings withyour friends. They may have a dull,

ecumenical pastor who is a bore while yoursis exciting. They will get curious and cometo hear the one you are so thrilled with andperhaps join you in your church. A goodman of God needs to be praised as God’strue servant. Lastly be sure to pray for yourpastor. The Bible urges,” Brethern, pray forus,” I Thess 5:25. Help hold him up andremember his family as well. Satan knowsthe best way to wreck a church is to shootdown it’s pastor. Be sure you bathe him inprayer and your church will grow strongeras you call down God’s blessing on it’sleader.

In closing I want to say that after servinghundreds of pastors, our's is the very best. Ipray you will stop and think what yourreactions have been toward him. Have youdissected him before others with words youwill face at the judgment seat? Have youexcused your kids actions and limited hisright to help guide them? How manyinvitations have you proudly stood glued tothe floor, refusing to deal with your sin oraccept a new challenge? How manyinvitations have you "ho hummed" throughmaking no decision as the pastor stoodhoping through one more verse of theinvitation? I ask you to seek out our pastor,confess your shortcomings and correct yourrelationships toward him and his preciouswife. We seem to be in a rut, our church isnot growing, visitors are scarce, the youthgroup has lost its enthusiasm while servicesare neglected with little concern for the lost.Where are the new members, when was thelast baptism, and how can we be so worldlyminded, caught up in our own will andway? We are nearing the end of the churchage. Please, lets each of us rededicate ourlives, dump our pride and selfish desires,truly stand with our pastor and pray andwork for the genuine revival we so need. I'lldo my part and hope you will do yours.