“Humble yourselves therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your cares upon Him for He cares for you. Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.” (I Peter 5:6-9)
This is for pastors and other church leaders. In the same way, the above admonitions were directed first of all to pastors and elders. Peter was addressing “elders…as a fellow elder….”
Sometimes you have to take a tough stand, and then later, often months later, you have to defend it. My suggestion is youshould keep good records. To be able to open your book and say, “Okay, here’s what you said and what I answered” may end up saving your job. Or your ministry. Or sanity?
Hearsay or memory cannot stand up in a court of law alongside a journal where you recorded the exact conversation the day it happened.
Estherline has given all her pastors headaches. But I was new at the time and no one had cautioned me about her. I walked into her lion’s den unknowing.
When the lady who had been directing weddings in that church gave up the job, I was just entering as the new pastor. I called her. She gave me the names of two ladies in the church who could do the job. Estherline was the second. “She’s pretty rigid, Pastor,” the lady warned me.
So, when the first choice declined, not knowing any better, I called Estherline. She was only too happy to become the church’s wedding director. She held that little position for the next three-plus years. Until I fired her.