Today’s guest post comes to us from Mark Dance for FactsandTrends.net.

Real dangers were lurking among the crowds Jesus was feeding, healing, and teaching. These same dangers still exist in the congregations we serve today. Some are more obvious than others, so I’d like to point out a few.

A PASTOR NEEDS PROTECTION FROM CRITICS. As Jesus was teaching at the Temple, his sermon was abruptly interrupted by a lynch mob of critics wanting to stone a guilty church member. They set her up to bring Jesus down (John 8:6).

Does it surprise you someone was about to be executed in church? It shouldn’t, because people still get stoned at church for various reasons. Stones can look like anonymous letters, group emails, sniper Tweets, or Facebook comments.

Critics will use both passive and aggressive stones. An aggressive stone looks like an open hallway tackle on the way to worship. A passive stone may be a veiled prayer request. Church critics see themselves as the pastor-police who are protecting the church, but they are nothing less than schoolyard bullies. Ask your leaders to stand up for you the next time someone picks up a stone at church.

A PASTOR NEEDS PROTECTION FROM HIMSELF. Jesus did not excuse this adulterer’s sin; he released her from it. Jesus covered her disgrace with his grace, but I’m curious as to where the dude in this adulterous relationship was? Leviticus 20:10 says both should die.

Pastors don’t get a pass on secret or public sins. Instead of playing the victim, we need to guard our hearts by surrounding ourselves with trusted leaders who love us enough to protect us from ourselves. The pastor in the mirror is much more dangerous than his fans, critics, and even the devil.

Pastors don’t need to serve in fear. However, we do need to protect ourselves from all of the dangerous threats to our lives, families, and ministries.

Click here to read the other two dangers and the full article.

Your partner in ministry,

Nelson

© Nelson Searcy. All Rights Reserved.

About Nelson Searcy

Nelson Searcy is an experienced church growth strategist, pastor, church planter and coach, consulting with churches around the world. As founder of Church Leader Insights and the Renegade Pastors Network, he has personally trained more than 3,500 church leaders in over 45 denominations through live events, seminars and monthly coaching. Nelson is also the Founding and Lead Pastor of The Journey Church, with locations across New York City and in Boca Raton, FL. Nelson and his church routinely appear on lists such as “The 50 Most Influential Churches” and “The 25 Most Innovative Leaders.” He is the author of over 100 church growth resources and 18+ books, including The Renegade Pastor: Abandoning Average in Your Life, Ministry and The Difference Maker: Using Your Everyday Life for Eternal Impact, and At the Cross with the People Who Were There. He and his wife, Kelley, have one son, Alexander.